Okay, so I think I like how this turned out, except, again you'll have to use your imagination. It's a short one shot, so I can't just write out a whole plot line, so just make up how she got hurt by yourself :) Other pairings make appearances! yay!

Disclaimer: I don't own the Sega characters.

Fear

Death was a strange subject really.

Flesh, so fragile, yet bones so strong.

Blood, so thick, yet seeps through wounds so fast.

Horror movies never bothered her conscience, her interior much too calloused to be disturbed by a fake scene created by imaginative movie directors.

A gun shot had impact on many things, the loud ringing in her sensitive ears for one, but how could something so small as a bullet take one's life?

She never thought much on this topic, but as her abdomen was flowing freely of crimson ooze, a sharp pain making the simplicity of breathing complicated, the thoughts flitted through her mind in a cycle.

A whispered string of curses slipped through her lips as she struggled to sit up with her elbows to inspect the damage.

The sight of her gaping side would have been enough to make any normal being empty the churning contents of their stomach, but Blaze merely blinked, the shock and loss of blood hazing her mind and thoughts.

Cold.

She had never felt so cold.

The flames she created warmed her to the very core, an encased curse.

But the loss of her inner liquids seemed to cause a leak in her self-heating mechanism, as a feeling of frigid fingers was beginning to claw towards her fading spirit.

Shaking fingers fumbled to rip the bottom of her already soaking shirt, carefully putting as much strength of pressure against the wound with her cloth.

Not being able to comply to the strength, Blaze's elbows collapsed, and she was once again laying on her back with a fatal wound bleeding profusely.

"Great. Just great." she muttered through clenched teeth, biting her lip to ease the pain in her side.

Through fading vision, a vibrant green flash faltered her eyesight's sharpness for a mere moment before dissipating.

"Blaze!"

Someones voice was pulling her away from the pit of darkness that she was heading towards, death nearing in arctic clutches, threatening to distinguish her thriving flame.

A distant touch.

Gentle.

Her body was being lifted and pressed against something soft and warm, a living still thriving person was holding her fading form. Peeling her lids open to the curtain call, a pair of red orbs hovered right above her own amber ones.

She felt her forehead being pushed against someone his for security, to try and grasp reality in her foggy state.

"Don't you dare leave me." Whispered words echoed in the cavern of unconsciousness.

Placing the voice with a face to match the ruby pigmented irises, Blaze choked out his name, "S...Shadow."

Shadow nudged her face with his own muzzle, his grasp on her limp form was desperate. "You cannot die Blaze. Stay awake. I'm here." he reassured, his words wavering from his usual neutrality, to the fragile line of panic.

Her response was a small smirk. "W...who would have...g-guessed. T-the Ultimate Life Form...b-breaking?" The pain was becoming unbearable. Had it been through and through, she would have been stubborn and still walking.

But the bullet was lodged inside her, festering the broken walls of skin. There was no way to rid of the pain besides letting go.

Death awaited, and she was mentally preparing herself for her last breath.

Shadow shook his head defiantly. "No. I can heal you." he stated, showing her the green emerald that was held tightly in his palm

Blaze inhaled a shaky breath, tears pricking her eyes as she shook her head softly. "C...can't. My body...only...Sol Emeralds...c-can heal me."

The ebony hedgehog frowned. No, this couldn't be happening. Of course, the only one able to fluctuate power from the Sol emeralds enough to heal would be Blaze, but since she was too weak...

"No."

Shadow was in denial. He was suppose to be the Ultimate creation, yet first Maria had died against his power, and now here lay Blaze, dying before his eyes as he could only helplessly watch.

"No."

Why? Why did everyone he love be taken from him? Could life be more cruel?

"No."

Blaze nudged him weakly, a smile playing on her dying lips, "yes."

Shadow hadn't realized he had been sputtering his denial aloud. He met her gaze with one of pure determination.

He would not sit idly by and watch another one whom he love die without trying to accomplish something.

Blaze could see his persistence flickering in the white reflection of his eyes. His fingers were grasping a false hope.

Before she could protest, he lifted her weak body and flashed to a hospital.

A sliver of luck held him in place as he appeared in a pristine white room filled with doctors in crisp white lab coats.

"She's been shot." he announced, holding building emotions in place.

Immediately a stretcher was brought into the room, and doctors hurriedly placed the dying feline on the mobile bed to wheel her to a different, more equipped room.

Shadow was about to follow, knowing that Blaze absolutely hated hospitals, but was stopped by a female skunk nurse stepping in his path with a clip board in hand, her shoulders square in her white coat and black framed glasses balancing at the tip of her triangular pink nose.

"I'm sorry sir, but you'll need to remain in the waiting room as we proceed surgery." she spoke softly, but Shadow could tell it was recited from past events. Anger boiled in him, and in a moment of pure fury, he whirled around, hand at her throat and pressed her against the wall, his eyes bleeding with pain.

The woman's sky blue eyes grew in panic as her legs flailed around, her fingers prying at his to release her throat.

In the distance of his hazed fury, fast clicking of heels approached and prodding fingers were pulling at him to release.

"Shadow! Let her go! It's not her fault!" Rouge's familiar voice was yelling at him in anguish.

Her pleas fell upon deaf ears as he remained where he was, a deadly look glowing in his eyes as green energy licked up and down his form.

Only when Knuckles pulled him back with all his strength did his grip on the woman drop, sending the echidna and hedgehog tumbling to the hard ground, as Rouge rushed to the skunk's side to help her recover.

"Get a hold of yourself! You could've killed someone!" Knuckles yelled as they regained balance.

Shadow dropped his steely gaze and pressed his back against the far wall, his eyes glazing over. Rouge approached after having helped the doctor to a resting place, her heels clicking slowly and steadily toward her friend.

She knew he must be in overwhelming pain. First Maria, now Blaze. How do you comfort someone who has experienced so much pain?

"Shadow?" she asked with tentative steps. "Are you going to be okay?"

The truth was, he was afraid.

The Ultimate Life Form felt fear for the first time in a long many years.

Her question was answered by the barely audible shaking in his hands. Deciding to leave him to his thoughts, Knuckles and Rouge sat upon the waiting room chairs, spreading the news of the disaster. Soon enough, friends began cycling in.

Cream walked, already in tears, clutching Amy's hand like she was her base. Amy's lips was trembling as she swallowed tears, while Sonic and Tails sat in their seats fidgeting from nerves.

Despite all the commotion that rang about him, Shadow didn't perceive any of it, not bothering to answer anyone who called his name. He remained where he was, numb in fear.

Time passed without count, and Cream had cried herself to sleep, now snuggled tightly in Tails' side. Amy leaned on Sonic, whom had his arm around her in support, seemingly not bothered in her closeness in such a tense situation.

Meanwhile Rouge and Knuckles whispered quietly in the corner, their glances being shot over their shoulders to the hunched over ebony hedgehog.

The sound of footsteps coming towards the waiting room caused every head to snap up towards the opening door, revealing another nurse, her hair tied up in a solid netting, a mint green gown over her clothes, and blood stained gloves.

Shadow was on his feet faster than Sonic could ever dream, clenching his hands tightly at his sides.

"Are you all here for Miss Blaze?" she announced, peeling off her tainted gloves, and tossing them in the garbage to the side.

Everyone nodded in silent anticipation.

"Well I am here to tell you that she will make it. It took longer than expected to get the bullet out, for we had to avoid contact with her blood as much as possible." the nurse explained, showing her hands that now had burn marks and peeled skin from the fiery liquid.

"Can we see her?" Amy asked, standing up from her seat.

The nurse nodded. "Yes, but only a few at a time. She's resting now, I would think she won't be up for another hour or two. Follow me."

Everyone began to surge forward towards the nurse, but Rouge suddenly stopped their paths, letting Shadow go on ahead alone. They all got the message and returned to their seats, sighing anxiously.

Shadow didn't pay any mind to the others, only focusing on each step he took towards the room where Blaze lay dormant in deep sleep. When the nurse finally opened a door, his breath caught in his throat, from both relief, and dread.

There she lay, her pale fur flushed, and her once powder white muzzle dull like chalk. An IV remained pierced in her skin, the clear liquid hanging in a plastic bag to her side, pumping in the medication to her bloodstream.

Slowly, he approached the bed, noting that the nurse had left to her duties and that he was all alone with her battered form. A large amount of gauze was taped to her side where the bullet once embedded, the reminder that he almost lost her still clear in mind.

Reaching out with shaking fingers, he caressed her face, wishing so badly that amber eyes would pierce him with that golden stare he yearned for.

His exhilarated heart beat began to calm, knowing that she would be okay, living in the moment that they were both alive and together. He almost lost his chance to tell her of his love. As soon as her lids peeled open, he would let her know the truth.

Leaning down cautiously, he pressed a light feathered kiss to her mouth, and whispered his devotion.

And he could've swore that just as he pulled away, the tiniest twitch of a smile came upon her lips.