Inside Dr. Peregrine's patient room, Sonic was lying on a firm white bed while Peregrine circled around to him with her labcoat sleeves rolled up and a gel tube in her hand. Meanwhile, Shadow was out in the hallway watching them through the room's glass wall. He placed his right hand on the glass to ignore his reflection and focus on the one who needed the most attention.
"I analyzed the data from your quill surface scan. The burn's not deep enough for a graft, thank God. Here, we need to apply this." Peregrine sat down on a stool next to Sonic's bed. She put on a pair of gloves and opened her gel tube's cap. "It's for pain relief."
After she squeezed a bit of the gel onto a gloved finger, she reached over to the splotched dark blue side of Sonic's face. But Sonic clenched his teeth and flinched away, pressing his back quills into his pillow.
"Please Sonic," Peregrine spoke in absolute seriousness.
"I can't - " Sonic was having sporadic second thoughts. "Wouldn't it be easier if I just take the stuff and do it myself?"
"No. We can't risk getting any in your eye." Peregrine set the tube on the bedside table.
"Risk…" Sonic stared at the foot of the bed. "I'm used to risk. Hum…"
"What?"
Sonic gulped. "Ah, nothing. Just… maybe… heh… maybe that's how I got this burn."
"How so?"
"I…" Sonic turned to Peregrine shyly. "I ran into a battlezone thinking I could make it outta there. And that's when I got hit by the bomb." He pointed to the affected area.
"I see." Peregrine nodded. "Then that means you'll have to avoid the risk-taking for now and trust me."
"Uh-huh. It's kinda hard." Sonic closed his eyes bitterly.
Peregrine understood well; while employed at G.U.N. she had performed many immunity tests on the blue hedgehog under a false pretense. "I won't inject you with anything."
Sonic reopened his eyes partway. "…Okay." He closed them again and nudged his head to signal it was alright for Peregrine to proceed. So, she reached out, carefully, and began dabbing the pain-relieving gel over his left face. He shivered at the beginning, but as she continued, he became more relaxed.
When she was finished, the doctor took out a translucent bandage and sealed it over the treated burn. It kept Sonic's left eye shut, but it was necessary to protect his damaged face from the elements so it could heal properly.
As he rested in bed, Peregrine held a picture of a water drop up to him, explaining that later, he should try the next step of her treatment plan: hydrotherapy in a pool. However, Sonic promptly waved his hand in refusal. That was taking things too far.
Eventually Sonic fell asleep, his back curled against onlookers, still keeping himself guarded. Dr. Peregrine stood up and delicately switched off the patient room lights. She then quietly traveled over to the door next to the glass wall where Shadow had been watching (and not moving a muscle). Opening it, she emerged into the lit hall and closed it behind her.
"You did a good job, Doctor," said Shadow as she unrolled her sleeves. "I can't believe it. He's fast asleep now."
"Yes, well, we'll see if he sticks around a little longer so we can check his overall health." Peregrine approached. "When you were under intensive care G.U.N. had to monitor your condition even after your fever broke." She folded her arms next to him, peering into the darkened room as well.
Sonic was so still in there - it was as though he had found peace for the first time since birth.
Shadow kept his hand on the glass, and would not let go. The burden wouldn't leave.
"…What about his mind?"
Peregrine shot Shadow a curious glance.
"You've treated his face, but is there someone who can help his mind? Maybe the assistant who extracted my chip."
"No, not him." Peregrine shook her head. "Not anyone. I don't see Sonic accepting psychological treatment right now. He'll assume it's 'brainwashing.' You're familiar with it enough to want to avoid repeating it."
"Yeah. I am." Shadow grew melancholy.
Peregrine unfolded her arms. "There's one person he won't feel threatened by, and that's you."
"No." Shadow tensed. "Please, don't tell me that." His hand clenched onto the glass.
"We've worked with you to overcome G.U.N.'s hold. It may not be complete, but…"
"Doctor, the one who damaged his mind, was me." Shadow turned up at her.
"Through command," Peregrine added.
"That doesn't change what I've done."
Now Peregrine was losing patience. "If you continue rolling on what wasn't fully under your control," she reasoned at the black hedgehog, "how is any 'change' going to happen? Answer me that."
Shadow couldn't. He could only take his hand off the glass and send her a troubled stare.
"Sonic forgave you. Are you going to focus on a new task, or be stuck in sin?"
She made the latter sound easier and lazier than the former. And Shadow couldn't stand the thought.
"Hm…" he went. He turned to his soundly sleeping brother, who was shrouded by darkness and glass. Lifting his arm and straightening the cuff on his wrist, Shadow hesitated, saying, "If I pry too much, he'll get suspicious that I'm being a controlled middleman like I was before."
"He's already aware that you are." Peregrine smiled rather cheekily. "Just not controlled. You know he wants to reconnect. If he does, I'd be surprised if he didn't find himself in a happier state. What do you think?"
Shadow was done with excuses. He puffed his chest. "Then… guess I'll have to try. Although… I'm really not much better off than he is. Vivia, I'll need some professional advice; I can't do this on my own."
Dr. Peregrine put a finger underneath her chin. "'Professional advice,' huh? I wonder if I've got any available contacts…"