Disclaimer- I don't own anything. Sonic the Hedgehog and all characters belong to SEGA.


"The last thing I remember is someone saying that I had broken the man's nose when I kicked him." Rouge concluded her story as Shadow removed the last heart monitor attachment.

The hedgehog smirked, thoroughly pleased that his partner was able to deliver such a powerful kick in her weakened state. But his smirk faded as he asked, "Then I suppose you don't know what they did to you?"

"No, I'm afraid not." The spy solemnly confirmed. "I was unconscious the whole time." Rouge's large ears drooped and her downcast eyes stared at the covers covering her body.

"Not your fault." Shadow reassured her, locking eyes with her and receiving a small grateful smile. "But we do need to get you back to GUN as soon as possible though to have you checked out by our medics."

The only thing left that the Ultimate Lifeform needed to remove was the IV, but first he needed a band-aid. Fortunately there was a medication cabinet in the small room against the left wall. The whole thing was locked down tight, but one drawer was unlocked which was loaded with band-aids and bandages.

After grabbing a band-aid, the hedgie removed the IV, completely freeing his fellow agent.

Once Shadow had finished and stepped back, Rouge threw back the blanket covering her body allowing her to see the plain light blue hospital gown for the first time. The pure horror was evident on the bat's face. Staying fashionable was as important to Rouge as being able to breath, and the fact that she was now wearing something so plain and unfashionable was a total nightmare.

"Shadow? Who put me in this hideous gown?" The former jewel thief cringed.

"The humans here." Her partner answered. "And they also washed off your makeup." He knew it was better for her to find out and freak out in here than out there somewhere once she learned.

"THEY WHAT?!" Rouge cried just as the striped mobian had expected. She jumped out of bed only for Shadow to have to quickly catch her as tumbled to the floor.

Shadow easily picked up the albino bat bridal style and placed her back on the bed. The ebony hedgehog waited patiently as Rouge re-caught her breath that she lost on the way down to the floor.

The male mobian asked after his friend's breathing evened out. "Are you ready? We need to escape before someone realizes what's going on."

"Yes, I think so." Rouge answered as she threw her legs over the side of the bed for a second time. Then with Shadow helping to support her, she slowly slid off the edge and carefully stood on wobbly limbs. The bat smiled at Shadow's typical emotionless face as her appendages held her weight, but when she took a step her strength gave out and the crimson striped hedgehog had to catch her again.

The Ultimate Lifeform helped Rouge stand back up straight but keep his hands securely on her waist. The spy sighed, clearly disappointed that she could not walk on her own.

"Go on without me, Shadow." The treasure huntress said downheartedly, causing the agent to raise his eye ridges in surprise. Rouge never gave up so easily. That was one of the things he admired most about the bat, her determination.

After quickly regaining from his shock, the dark hedgehog sternly replied, "No."

"But..."

"No buts. I'm not leaving you here." Shadow said. "And that's final." He added authoritatively when he saw his friend was about to argue.

"But I can't walk." She claimed sadly.

"Then I'll carry you. But I am not leaving you here." The Ultimate Lifeform declared stubbornly.

Ruby and aqua orbs stared at each other for a whole minute before Rouge finally gave a small nod, agreeing to go with him.

"Alright then, let's get out of here and report to Commander Tower." Shadow replied as he pulled his partner's right arm across his shoulders and place his hand securely against her side.

"We can just use our wrist coms to call in now." Rouge proclaimed, looking down at her left wrist.

"Can't. The coms don't work underground."

"Of course, I should have known. They took mine." The albino mobian rolled her eyes only to regret the action as it further agitated her headache that she has had since waking.

The two agents then turned and gazed down at the hedgehog's red striped wrist to see his com was still attached to the right golden ring.

"Good thing yours looks like it's part of your ring or they would have taken yours too." Rouge replied.

"Hmm, but it won't take them long to find out where you got yours." The Ultimate Lifeform pointed out. "If they haven't already. Time to go."

"Right." The bat agreed. "Wait, did you say underground?" Confusion and surprise clearly in her voice.

"Yes. The lab we're in is underground." Shadow answered as they made their way to the door. Rouge was slowly putting one foot in front of the other. "I got at least that out of one of the lab assistants.

"It would be silly for me to think that they're still alive, right?"

"Don't worry, I didn't kill him." The hedgie replied as they reached the door. "He's tied up in a storage closet along with the other wicked human that claims to be a doctor that was going to use me as a specimen." Shadow tightened his grip on Rouge as he said, "Chaos Control."

In a flash of cyan, the two GUN agents reappeared in the still empty corridor.

Shadow was getting ready to head down the hall when he heard a weak moan of discomfort from Rouge. Scarlet irises locked on the female's face only to find her slightly green. He knew what that meant.

"Are you sick?" The hedgehog asked only to receive a 'What do you think' look from the bat who was leaning heavily on him. "Right." Looking around quickly, Shadow saw a waste bin sitting at the nurse's station.

The Ultimate Lifeform brought his ailing friend over to the nurse's desk and eased her down into the station's chair. No sooner had Rouge set down and Shadow placed the trash bin before her, after dumping all its contents onto the floor, then she began to retch.

Sweat ran down her brow and her eyes sparkled with unshed tears. The black hedgehog could see Rouge's face cringe up in pain as her stomach continued to expel everything in it, which was barely anything, being the last time she ate was at the cabin four nights ago now.

After five agonizing minutes, the spy finally handed back the waste bin then slumped exhaustively against the backrest of her chair.

The crouching agent placed the waste bin to the side then took in the appearance of his companion. Pale as a sheet, white fur tuft plastered to her neck by sweat, eyes screwed shut, and her breathing was quick and shallow.

Rouge sluggishly opened her bloodshot aqua green eyes to gaze into Shadow's concerned red ones.

"I'm fine, hon, let's go." The jewel huntress said as she went to sit up, reaching for a ebony shoulder.

"Wait. I have to cover our tracks first." The striped mobian stated. The bat gave him a strange look before realizing as in 'tracks' he meant the trash bin.

The Ultimate Lifeform picked up the waste bin only for his enhanced smelling ability to get a big whiff of the foul smelly vomit inside. Shadow was grateful that when Professor Gerald Robotnik created him he made him without a weak stomach, because after smelling this he would have surely expelled everything as well.

After quickly picking up all the trash and putting it back in the waste bin, Shadow chaos controlled back into the room he found Rouge in. He left the smelly trash bin inside and then re-chaos controlled out.

Without saying a word, the crimson striped hedgehog hoisted the white bat up and wrapped arm across his shoulders again. They slowly walked down the corridor in search of an escape.


Hope you enjoyed this chapter.

But I'm not too pleased with the chapter's title. What do you think I should call this chapter?

Please review to let me know if you like my work thus far and would like me to keep writing. And let me know your ideas on what I should name this chapter.

Until next time. Ciao!