Hello all! I decided to add on more chapters to this story- it was supposed to be a small spin off to my story 'Peace and War', buuuut I loved it a lot and the idea was seriously speaking to me so this will be a multichapter fanfic.

I hope you all enjoy! I own nothing.

I'm Not Weak

Chapter 2-Nightmares

Infinite's road to healing and self-discovery was by no means easy- obviously, not at first. Rookie realized that while it was great that the world was saved, he signed up for a LOT of trouble in taking in the ex-villain.

It was a odd thing to say, but Infinite had no one left for him. He didn't know how to handle things that for someone like Rookie, was more or less average or... at least, something he could handle because he had people to guide him. Infinite... well, he had no one. And the small detail became apparent one particular incident.

It was now going on two months since Rookie saved the doomed jackal from his demise. Infinite was free from his room, but was very, very uncomfortable with being in the same place as him. He took to staying in there almost all the time, just to avoid Rookie and anyone else who would show up to the home. He was still very weak from his injuries, and couldn't get around very much without some form of help.

Problem was, he refused to accept help. Or talk. Or leave the room. Or even LOOK at the child who saved his life.

Infinite never understood why the child didn't just toss him out of the house. Kill him, drown him, hell, even shoot him! Anything was better than this... this confusion he was dealing with!

He'd been convinced that Rookie was waiting, plotting for some sick way to slowly, painfully end his life. He made it a point to stay in his room, back pressed as close to the wall as he could physically manage, eyes alert for anything that would try and attack him without his knowing. That child was plotting something... he was going to end him for sure... he could feel it!

Infinite felt his hand running across his still healing chest. At this point, he was no longer wearing bandages, but the wound was still a nasty scabbing mess. It stung slightly whenever he touched it. But no matter how much it healed, it was still THERE. It was his reminder...

'I'm a failure... and this damn scar, that doctor, that ruby! All of it! It's just a reminder of how much of an idiot I was! I failed everyone! I'm still weak... dammit... DAMN IT ALL!'

Infinite was still taking the guilt of what he'd done to Rookie hard. He couldn't bring himself to talk to the child because as far as he was concerned, Rookie had every right to end his life. So why?

Infinite coughed, feeling even weaker as his body shook and his head pounded. He wasn't feeling well- hadn't been for over a week- but he choose to ignore it in favor of surviving. He had to... he was all he had left.

Rookie, meanwhile, was very worried. For the past two months, he'd been left with his hands hanging in the air. After Infinite was finally 'discharged' from the bedroom, the opposite happened, Infinite had all but barricaded himself in the small bedroom. That was red flag number one.

Number two- Rookie didn't know how to approach him. Infinite would never look him in the face when he would go and try to coax him out of the room, and it was getting to the point that the wolf was certain that his new guest wasn't eating. He didn't look too well, either- his eyes, when he could see them, had evidence Infinite hadn't been sleeping too well, and his whole body wouldn't stop shivering, as if he was constantly cold. Despite the weather, and the constant heat flowing in the house, Infinite was shivering something fierce.

'I wonder if he's getting sick again... he just got over an infection and he's not letting me care for him! He's gonna get worse at this rate... what should I do?'

The most Rookie found he could do was give Infinite more blankets- when the jackal allowed him near the bed. Usually it would be Infinite trying to look intimidating by growling and, once or twice, leap at hi before he'd tumble out of the bed and hurt himself. He would still refuse help, and would sometimes still be there hours later, too exhausted to want to move.

Two months. Rookie was growing worried, but now, he was getting fed up. Infinite was getting sick! He wasn't letting him get worse any longer!

One night, a thunderstorm rolled into the area. Rookie used to hate thunderstorms, but after the war, he's come to appreciate them more often. He would sit outside and watch the storm as it went past, feeling the nice cool air and rain hitting his fur. It reminded him of his family and the time he'd spent with them just taking walks outside around their village.

As he walked through the home, deciding on getting a cup of tea to accommodate the relaxing weather, Rookie heard a ear- splitting scream coming from upstairs. He knew immediately it was Infinite, but why would he yell or howl or scream like that?

Rookie put down his cup and raced upstairs. Upon entering the bedroom, he found Infinite, trapped in the stages of his nightmare. Rookie sighed, shoulders slumped. After all this time, when he finally got to sleep, and he's fighting nightmares!

Rookie tossed Infinite's barricaded nonsense out the window and approached him. The jackal was tossing and turning, eyes rapidly moving behind tightly closed eyelids. Rookie placed his hand on Infinite's forehead- and withdrew it quickly. Infinite's forehead was burning up!

'Oh Infinite... you're sick again... I wish I knew why you wouldn't let me help you...' Rookie thought sadly as he stared at the fever-ridden jackal. He snapped out of it and bolted out of the room, grabbing some medication for him to take, as well as some rags to help him cool down.

'He's spiking, but it's not too bad. Maybe I can coax him awake and try to find out what's been causing his insomnia.'

Infinite was unaware of Rookie coming in the room. He was still too trapped in his nightmare to notice anyone around him.

Infinite groaned in pain as he slowly opened his eyes. He had no idea where he was, or how he ended up there.

"Wha-? Where... where am-?!"

Infinite heard a slight jingling. Looking down, he saw his hands were bound together by chains and a very tightly bound rope. He wiggled his fingers and wrists, but the ties were not coming loose.

"H-Hey! HEY!" He called out in a panic. He was growing frantic now- without his power, without his sword, he was helpless. "Show yourself and release me at once!"

'Oh? And why would I do that? You killed hundreds of people, you know.'

Infinite knew the voice, but didn't click name to voice until he saw the face of his captor. "Y-You... you're Shadow the Hedgehog... what the hell are you-"

His questions were cut off by a swift kick to the jaw. Infinite fell to the side, his whole right side of his face throbbing. He struggled to sit up, spitting up a little bit of blood.

"Wh... what's... happening..." Infinite panted as he looked up at Shadow. His red eyes were eerily bright, almost glowing in the mostly dark area. Shadow approached him again, and delivered another swift kick, this time, right to Infinite's chest.

"GAHHHHHHH!" Infinite yelled in complete agony. His chest... why was it hurting so much? He'd healed, right? It was just a scab! It was supposed to be a scab!

'How do you like it, hmm? Left as nothing but a trembling mess... just like you left so many others to die.' Infinite thought he heard another voice behind Shadow, but his vision was a bit blurry, so he was unsure. He tried to blink it out, but it only made the vision worse.

"What is... happening...?" He muttered as he saw another pair of feet enter the area. The shoes were red, which should have been an instant reminder, but it wasn't clinking in all at once. His head was still ringing.

As his vision finally cleared, his eyes widened. Now he knew who the shoes belonged to.

"You... damn blue hedgehog...!"

Rookie sat next to Infinite, placing a damp rag across his forehead. He checked the thermometer that he managed to stick under his patient's tongue, and winced- 101.2 fever. Not as high as he thought it would be, but high nonetheless.

He didn't feel comfortable giving Infinite medication, especially in the state he was in. He was probably dehydrated, but Rookie had no way to get fluids in him. He sighed and looked at the suffering jackal.

'I wish I could make this easier for you, Infinite... I know you're hurting in there, but only you can break out of this.' Rookie thought to himself as he monitored Infinite, hoping he could at east break out of his nightmare, or whatever he was fighting.

'Ohhhhh, lookie here. You actually remember me! I feel SO honored!' Sonic said sarcastically. Shadow gripped the jackal's hair a bit tight and yanked his head up, forcing him to face Sonic.

Or rather, the scarred version of the once proud, blue hero. His face was covered in dried blood, and his left eye was clawed so bad he couldn't open it.

Infinite felt a bit sick actually seeing an injury like that, but swallowed it back and put on his bravest face. "I don't know what you're playing at, hedgehog, but release me at once so I can fight you!"

Sonic laughed. Infinite grew angry, and tossed his head back, attempting to get Shadow off his hair. It backfired; Shadow gripped his hair to the point it felt like he was trying to peel his head, and kicked him hard in the back. The jackal yelped loudly and tried to keep himself on his knees at the least, but the pain was oddly intense.

'Heh. Just as Shadow told me. You're still weak. Pathetic doesn't even cover what scum you are.' Sonic stepped closer to Infinite, then knelt down so they were face to face. Infinite was horrified.

Sonic looked... crazed. Mad with something; power? Anger? Hatred? Infinite couldn't pinpoint it, and it scared him a lot more than he wanted to admit.

'See, here's the thing. Infinite.' He spat the name at the jackal, as if it disgusted him that bad. Which it probably did.

'I don't think I need to explain to a 'legendary mercenary' how much of a fool and a weakling you are. You did manage to end me, though, so I guess I should at least give you some points.' Sonic pressed his fingertips to Infinite's chest.

'That Phantom Ruby...it could've really done something. If it hadn't fallen into YOUR useless hands!' He started applying pressure to the wound, and Infinite shut his eyes tight and tried to stifle a scream. It hurt, it hurt, it HURT!

'OH! I almost forgot! There's some people who would LOVE to see you again.' Sonic abruptly stopped whatever he was doing, and Shadow kicked Infinite's legs.

'Stand.'

He tugged on the jackal's fur, forcing him up. Immediately, Infinite's stomach turned, and the nauseous feeling quickly turned to dread as Shadow forced him to walk.

They didn't go far. Shadow finally let him free, although his hands were still tightly bound. "Well? What is this huge surprise?" Infinite had to keep up his tough act; he was certain he was going to die here.

'Boss...? That you?'

Infinite's demeanor completely changed. He wasn't ready for this... he would never be ready for them...

"N...nrgh...no..." Infinite was mumbling, fingers gripping the blanket a little tighter. Rookie had been sitting with him for the better part of the evening. He glanced up and noticed it was still raining outside.

'Infinite...' Rookie squeezed his hand and decided to keep fighting his strange fever. It was all he could do for now.

'Please wake up soon. You're starting to scare me.'

'Huh. So his pathetic ass shows himself now? Kill him.' The second in command, a gruff jackal who shared Infinite's heterochromatic eye color, stepped from the shadows. Sonic and Shadow grinned and roughly pushed Infinite towards his greatest failure to date.

'Go face them, Leader. Go show them how low you've fallen.'

They turned around, and disappeared, leaving Infinite with his second in command. The deceased jackal still maintained his military style headband and utility belt, but the eyes glowed with anger.

'You have some nerve. Don't even know why we still call you boss.' The jackal grinned and walked around his ex-boss like a animal stalking its prey. 'Not like you were there when we got ambushed. When we were all picked off and we needed YOU, but you just HAD to run away!'

A sharp kick and once again, Infinite was sent flying a few feet away. He lay on his side and curled up a little to try and fight against the strong urge to vomit.

"I... I didn't... mean for this... t-to happen..." He finally managed to get out. Another member of his squad appeared next to the military jackal, and Infinite felt his guilt level fall to lower grounds. It was the same jackal who died in his arms that fateful day.

'But you weren't there. You didn't even kill the guy who murdered me.' He may of been the oldest member of their squad, but he always a strange, childlike aura around him. Infinite would've never told anyone, but he tended to protect him the most because of that.

Although... the kid was right. He failed to take Shadow down after what he'd done. And even with the Phantom Ruby in his possession, he STILL failed!

'You let that hedgehog live. And I had to die for no good reason. That's really messed up, uh... Infinite.'

He had to admit, hearing him call his true name... sounded weird. He wasn't angry, just... sad. Disappointed, if nothing else. But he definitely wasn't angry, and the ex-leader didn't know how to feel anymore.

'Yeah, Finny! You just left us to DIEEE!' The only female jackal, who was a bit lighter in fur color and who had golden eyes, strutted in. She was covered from head to toe in blood and her left arm was gone at the elbow.

'Teehee! How does it feel, Finny? You get to suffer just like us!' She said a bit too happily. Leaning close to Infinite, she grinned and pressed a small blade to Infinite's blue eye.

'I wonder if I should just cut this out, hmm? Not like you're gonna need it anyways, right?'

Infinite felt his heart racing as the blade came dangerously close to his eye. He pulled back to avoid any damage...

... just as his ex-teammate took her blade and jammed it in Infinite's side.

Rookie was startled out of a twilight nap by the sudden scream of Infinite. He jolted awake, and saw the ill jackal twisting as if he were in pain. He was twisting close to the edge of the bed, and Rookie had to push him back with all the strength he had.

'What is happening?! He must be having one hell of a nightmare! I've gotta snap him out of it, and quick!'

Left to bleed out on the ground, Infinite was unaware of how serious his wound was. He tried to turn on his back, but a cold boot stepped on his injured side, causing more pain.

'Ohhhhhh no you don't.' The second in command sneered. Infinite realized he could barely take in air, and coughed up blood in an attempt to clear his lungs out. He was stuck where he was, unable to free himself, and helpless.

'You never deserved that power. Hell, you should've been dead from that hedgehog! You should've been dead, not us! YOU SHOULD HAVE DIED!'

Infinite felt the stomp over and over, the knife driving so deep in his body he was certain it was coming out the other side. It hurt like no other pain before; not even that day in the lab could compare to this!

"P...Ple...ase... I-I..." Infinite sputtered. He shut his eyes and opened them again, trying to adjust his sight. He took in a deep a breath as he could manage.

"I'm sorry..."

The jackals surrounded him, and his second in command knelt in front of him. He was no longer angry, Infinite blearily noted as his eyes drifted closed.

He hated him. They all hated him in some way, shape or form.

Infinite could not blame them at all. It was all his fault... he was too weak to stop Eggman, he fell into the mad doctor's ploy, he lost to the hedgehogs, he murdered so many innocent people, he took away the voice of a young child who had the guts to save his worthless life, and he couldn't protect his own pack!

He truly was weak.

"I... I am w-weak...I..." Infinite didn't hear anything as his vision dimmed, except for one thing...

'You are weak, Infinite. And you deserved to die.'

Infinite's eyes snapped open, and he bolted upright in his bed the damp washrag falling in his lap. Rookie almost tumbled out of the bed at the sudden movement.

Infinite looked horrified. His eyes were wild and unfocused, and he was trying to escape the confinement of his bed. His hand was gripping his side as if there was something there. Rookie scrambled to recover his bearings before sitting next to Infinite and trying to calm him.

Rookie couldn't use his voice, so he grabbed Infinite's hands tightly and tugged him close to him. Infinite went a bit crazy from the unfamiliar contact.

"GET OFF ME! I'M NOT WEAK! YOU CAN'T BREAK ME!" He screamed in Rookie's ear. Rookie had to hold Infinite down before he did something to himself, but the thrashing and screaming was getting kind of painful to endure.

"STOP! LET GO! LET ME GO!"

Rookie kept holding on. Infinite kept thrashing. This went on for almost twenty minutes before Infinite finally realized he was safe and slowly began to calm down. Rookie was a bit sore by that point, and his head was ringing, so he was thankful for the break.

"I... I'm so sorry... I left them to die..." Infinite mumbled in Rookie's shoulder. He was drained of his energy, and was using Rookie as a support more than anything. Rookie rubbed Infinite's back and felt around for his phone. As soon as he got hold of it, he typed out:

'Are you alright? You had a slight fever; I think you had a nightmare.'

Infinite stared at the screen for a while, almost lost in the bright mini light, then raised himself and stared at Rookie. He noticed the rag the wolf child was holding, and realized that Rookie was caring for him.

"A... fever?" He asked, lost. No wonder he'd felt so lightheaded before... "Am I... I sick?"

Rookie typed something else on his phone.

'No, I don't think so. I think you're just overexerting yourself again, and you haven't been caring for yourself too well.'

Infinite just stared straight ahead, completely out of it. Rookie typed out another question.

'Infinite... have you ever had a nightmare before?'

The jackal collapsed back against his pillows, staring at the walls above him. "I killed them... I couldn't even save my own pack..." he spoke softly. Rookie tilted his head and placed a hand on Infinite's arm to get his attention.

'Your teammates... The Jackal Squad, right?'

Infinite nodded. Rookie looked painfully worried as he tapped his chin. Finally his shoulders slumped and he typed out something on his phone. When he held it up, Infinite's heart stopped.

'They are all buried at a cemetery about a hour outside of this location. Umm... me and Sonic... we found them. They did not deserve to be left out there like that. So we, uh... buried them. I can take you when you feel ready.'

Rookie put down his phone and watched Infinite process what he'd just read. After a few moments, he shook his head and his hand reached out towards Rookie. Rookie was unsure of what Infinite wanted, so he did what came naturally to him- he grabbed it.

"Don't... don't take me there. Not now. I... I'm too weak to see them." He said, his voice still soft and a bit cracked from all his screaming. He tilted his head a little and smiled lightly. Rookie blinked- that was the first time Infinite gave him an expression other than angry.

"You... you really believe there is something left for me here..." Rookie smiled and nodded. Infinite shook his head and let his hand fall on his blanket.

"...thank you. For... saving me." Infinite looked a bit confused as he spoke the words, but Rookie understood. Infinite wasn't used to the strangeness of kind hearted people. Rookie typed out a question.

'I know you haven't eaten. Do you feel strong enough to come downstairs? I want you to eat something.'

Infinite hesitated. He'd grown comfortable in the room, and stepping out of his comfort zone so suddenly after his nightmare...

But Rookie was looking at him, hope sparking in his eyes. He gave him another chance at life, and he owed it to that child for him being alive.

But was that really a good thing?

"Y...Yes. I will come down." Infinite said. Rookie's smile widened and he got off the bed to allow him space to get off the bed. Infinite came down from the bed... and fell from not using his legs for so long.

Rookie came to his aid, and slung his arm over his shoulder so he could hoist Infinite up. Infinite was too tired and a bit uncoordinated to actually push him off, so he rested his head on his shoulder and let Rookie lead him towards the stairs.

"Thank you..." Infinite wondered, as he shuffled towards the stairs and away from that nightmare, if this is what he truly deserved. To be given a second chance, when his entire team lost their lives.

'I don't know... what I should do from here... and I... I'm scared...'

And complete!

Please let me know what you all think!

Until next chapter!