Chapter Three: Passing Time

Central City like most major metropolitan areas was a maze of skyscrapers, downtown shopping centers, and other private and public establishments. Amy ran as fast as she could down the city's sidewalks while ignoring her body as it pleaded for her to catch her breath and give her heart a moment of rest. The city streets Amy had run past were clogged with bumper to bumper traffic. The problem was made worse as additional fire trucks, police cars, and news crews all struggled to reach a destination Amy was terrified to discover. The traffic up ahead was being diverted and the surrounding roads were blocked off by police that had made it first to the crash sight earlier. As Amy rounded the corner she pushed through a crowd of onlookers. What she then saw made her heart sink. A two mile long trail of debris littered the errilly vacant road. Investigators were beginning to document the crash scene by placing evidence identification markers at the various points of debris and first responders were searching the area for any missed casualties, witnesses, or debris. Amy could not help but shed a few tears as an investigator put a number nine marker next to a fifteen foot long jet wing that had been ripped off the aircraft in the ensuing crash.

"Sonic… Tails... I'll be there soon." Amy's lungs and heart felt that they were about to burst from exertion. Amy ignored the pain and ran faster toward Hope Hospital.

Hope Hospital's doors automatically opened upon Amy arriving at the hospital drenched in sweat. The cold air felt rejuvenating but her heart was beating as fast as ever. Amy's legs felt like lead as she fast walked to the receptionist at the other end of the large hospital lobby when an announcement over the intercom played. To the dozens of people waiting in the lobby their eyes were glazed over, having heard the announcement so many times before, "Here at Hope Hospital we strive every day to save lives like any Hero would. But did you know you could be a hero too for a Creature in need? From Human's to Squirrels, Wolves, and even Cats our world is filled with creatures who are in dire need of a Hero to donate blood. All creatures need blood to live and have different types of blood that their body needs. As a result our hospital is in critically short supply for many creatures. Consider being a Hero for someone in need. Talk to our receptionist about donating blood today!"

As the announcement ended Amy reached the receptionist desk where two creatures sat, a Human Female in her late twenties who was jotting down some notes on a piece of paper and an Male Gopher who was busy at work entering data into a computer while talking on the phone.

"Hello miss, how can I help you today?" The female receptionist asked, looking up at the pink hedgehog that just arrived.

"Two of my friends were in a really bad accident, their names are Sonic the Hedgehog and Miles Prower, a Fox." Amy said, holding her hands together in front of her tightly. She forgot to breathe as she waited on baited breath to hear news of her friends.

The receptionist casually looked away and reached for her phone's control panel and pressed a series of buttons as she picked up her phone. "Hello, a family or friend of the Blue hedgehog and Fox are here. Yes, she is a hedgehog. Did you want me to-? Okay. Okay. I'll do that- yes, then I'll send her to you if she is able and willing. Bye."

The receptionist looked back toward Amy, "What is your name Miss?"

"Amy, Amy Rose."

"Miss Rose, have you donated blood before?"

"I- I have."

"May I see any valid form of identification to verify your identity and one that has your blood type?"

"Yes, of course." Amy rummaged around in her purse before handing over the two identification documents.

After the receptionist verified the documents she had Amy sign her name and the time she asked the pink hedgehog, "Are you willing to donate blood for Sonic?"

"Yes. You can take as much as you need!" Said Amy, as she slammed her hands on the receptionist desk, "Will he be okay?"

"Ma'am, I'm a receptionist, not a doctor or nurse. Now, I need you to go through the door on my left and head to room 104. It will be the last door on the right. They will take your blood. Disinfect your hands before you enter. Antibacterial foam soap is on the wall left of the door."

"I'll do that, thank you so much."

Amy rushed to the mentioned door, disinfected her hands, and walked to room 104. Inside a nurse was waiting.

"Please come in and take a seat. Relax. The blood donation will take five to ten minutes. Also, please do not tell anyone of what has and is transpiring here. We are breaking several health codes and procedures because if we wait for the official paperwork and process to clear you to donate your blood your friend may have… complications. Let me see your finger..."

Amy displayed her finger.

"This device is going to test your blood just as a final precaution on our part. You'll feel a slight prick."

The device pricked Amy's finger as it registered the data of her blood type to be compatible to that of Sonic's.

"Your blood is compatible. Let's begin immediately." The nurse then began to wipe down Amy's arm then the Nurse began the blood donation process. "Let me know if you feel nauseous or dizzy."

"I'll be fine. Take as much as you need. How are Sonic and Miles? They were in the plane crash..."

"Let's wait until after the donation process before we discuss this."

Amy half ordered and half begged the nurse, "I want to know how they are. I can handle it. Please. Tell me."

The nurse paused for a moment, double checking her heart rate and pulse before deciding to tell her what the medical state of her friends were.

"The hedgehog, Sonic. When he was brought in he had a large… laceration across the front of his chest. He had been given a patch job but it was insufficient to stop the bleeding completely. The subject arrived in a state of hyperthermic shock and was unconscious. He was immediately given an IV of liquids and an injection of Dobutamine which helped his condition somewhat. He is in the first floor's Intensive Care Unit awaiting a blood transfusion.

Amy sat in complete silence as tears stealthily poured down her face.

"Your other friend Miles the Fox... when he was found he was suffering from cardiac arrest. Most unusual for a child. He was given CPR with the help of two good samaritans until medical staff arrived and an AED could be deployed to restart his heart. He is currently in a coma in the Cardiovascular Wing of the ICU. Both of their conditions are being monitored closely."

Amy used her free hand to cover her face as she began audibly crying.

"I'm sorry I don't have more positive news to share."

Amy's crying evolved into outright sobbing as tears streamed down her face.

"If you have any questions or concerns, hospital volunteers patrol the lobby and the various floors of the hospital and can offer emotional support, tea, coffee, cookies, and can pass along questions for doctors and nurses should they be presently unavailable for questions."

After that statement neither Amy nor the nurse exchanged words for the remainder of the blood donation process as nothing more could be said.

Amy was sitting in the lobby drinking some orange juice and nibbling on a small bag of cookies in a state of self apathy when she noticed Vector the Crocodile, Espio the Chameleon, and Charmy Bee of the Chaotix Detective Agency entering through the hospital doors. Vector, the leader of the Agency glanced around the hospital and spotted Amy. Vector turned his muscular head and jaw and motioned for Charmy to go check them in. He made a similar motion with his head over toward where Amy was sitting. Charmy flew over to the receptionist to check the trio in, as detective agents on official business. While Espio nodded and seemingly disappeared from view as he blended into the surroundings, effectively invisible. As Vector walked over to Amy, the hedgehog noticed Vector had a large briefcase handcuffed to his hand. He took a seat across from Amy so as to be facing the entrance of the Hospital. He reached for a newspaper on a nearby table and opened it so as to best hide himself as he nonchalantly poked a hole in the middle of it to look through as he sat silently and pretended to read.

The green Alligator with headphones around his neck spoke quietly to Amy, "How are they?"

Amy having had time to process everything that had transpired simply replied, "Alive."

As Vector spoke, his grovely voice was surprising soft. Like a hard boiled detective that was not really prepared to handle such a sensitive conversational topic and worried about causing harm with misplaced words. In the end, the gentle giant decided to go with blunt, he was on a Job after all, "Amy, we received a message and a copy of the flight logs and were paid in advance by Tails's AI to complete an investigation as to the crash and Tails's whereabouts. With that obviously finished, this whole situation is about to get significantly more complicated."

"More complicated how?" Amy asked, warily.

"Charmy, our agency's tracker flew ahead and was able to make first contact with the crash scene. Espio and I arrived shortly thereafter. Espio and I gave Tails CPR until emergency services arrived. To make a long story short, the reason bee boy did nothing was not just because he was too weak to do CPR. It was because inside the wrecked aircraft was a Chaos Emerald. The same Emerald that is in my briefcase as we speak and the same Emerald G.U.N. undoubtedly has footage of Charmy retrieving from the crash before G.U.N. could retrieve it themselves. We- speak of the devil. Here comes G.U.N. as we speak. Let's hope this doesn't get ugly."

Five creatures entered the room, four Humans and an Eagle. Four of which had Guardian Units of Nations etched on their uniform while one of the Humans wore an expensive suit and was holding a briefcase. They paused as they stepped inside until the Eagle spoke, "Find them."

The three human's with G.U.N. markings on their uniform began looking for their target. One of the human's walked over towards the back of the room where Amy and Vector sat.

"Gentlemen. You arrived much quicker than we expected." Vector said, as he put down his newspaper and held the briefcase in both hands on his lap.

The human whispered into a well hidden communication headset. The remaining members of the group gathered around Vector.

The Eagle, clearly the leader of the group, stepped forward and spoke, "Vector of the Chaotix Detective Agency I presume? Our intelligence indicates your retrieved a powerful artifact that is of extreme importance to both the government and to the security and stability of the United Federation. We are politely asking that you surrender control of said artifact for the good of our Nation and of the World."

"Sorry, but I'm on a Job right now. It's not mine to give away. I'm waiting for another person to show up. You'll have to speak with them when they get here if you're hoping to get it." Vector said matter of factly while keeping his literal death grip on the briefcase.

The Eagle examined some ruffled feathers on his wing then spoke in an ominous tone, "Mr. Vector, it would be very bad for your agency to go against the Federation. Some would call that treason. Others would call it an act of domestic terrorism. We'd hate to see anything bad happen to such a… reputable business venture such as yours. I've read our file on you and your employees. You take any job as long as the price is right and it does not get you involved with anything dirty or illegal. In addition, you have a soft spot for those in need and often will take less or no pay for a job well done. It would seem credit agencies don't share your level of altruism. As a result, you have several past due loans. Some from less than reputable sources. You're in debt to some very dangerous people Mr. Vector. Maybe an investigation is in order to ensure nothing nefarious is actually going on? I wonder, do your employees know from whom your loans are coming from?"

Vector glared at the Eagle, "Thats-"

"With tax season around the corner, it would be such a shame if your Detective Agency was randomly selected to have an audit. As I'm sure you know, that would make your life very difficult, wouldn't it? Now, I am an obsessive sort when not distracted, I fortunately get distracted by shiny things. If you were to surrender control of the Chaos Emerald, the one we know your agency is in possession of, we would be more than happy to overlook your agency's financial dealings and failings. So, what do you say?"

The Eagle finished speaking and smiled a mischievous grin. The kind from one who loves his job a little too much.

Vector's mouth was locked open momentarily, inhaling and exhaling air nervously before speaking, "Like I said, you'll need to wait for my client."

"Very well, Mr. Vector. We'll all take a seat and wait patiently for them to arrive."

The Eagle was about to sit next to Vector when he was stopped by an indiscernible voice that came seemingly out of nowhere, "The seats already taken." Said Espeo, the purple chameleon who just then uncamouflaged himself and was putting away his kunai knives.

The Eagle grinned as well as an eagle could, "I see now, the Chaotix Detective Agency huh? You are all full of surprises aren't you?"

"We're a blast at birthday parties." Vector deadpanned.

Once Charmy returned, the misfit group of Government Agents, Amy, and the Chaotix waited awkwardly. Then a Rat walked inside wearing a suit and holding a briefcase. He looked around the lobby, his nose and whiskers twitching, and spotted Vector and the G.U.N. Agents. He walked up and with eight words turned the peaceful gathering into a verbal wildfire.

"Allright Vector, I can take the Emerald now."

Vector, Espio, and the Gun agents all leapt to their feet and began shouting at one another. After a few moments they evolved into taking turns shouting so as to be able to send and receive coherent messages.

"Maximus, will you swear that the Emerald is given to Tails?" Vector asked.

"Yes, as his lawyer I am legally and ethically required to ensure his possessions are not forfeited to the state apparatus without due process and just compensation, regardless of any shady tactics they seek to use to achieve their aims."

"How dare you!" The eagle shouted. "We protect and serve this nation and by extension the World. Who do you think you are? How can you possibly think it's a good idea to entrust a Chaos Emerald to a-a- a fox boy that has yet to even hit puberty?"

Vector cut in, "The same way that the flight log says that Tails was tipped off by G.U.N. and encouraged to hunt down the Chaos Emerald because you all couldn't get permission to go after it yourselves. You blindly hope they'll succeed and hope for the best. You guys know all about that though, don't you?"

The human in the suit who had been silent the whole time finally spoke with assertiveness and confidence of one whose main weapon was not of guns or blades but of words, "That is pure conjecture, the boy could have said the sky was purple in the flight log and that does not mean it is a fact beyond a reasonable doubt nor acceptable evidence in a court of law. The fact of the matter is the Chaos Emerald is evidence of local authorities as part of the ongoing investigation for the recent jet crash. It is legally required to be returned to the local authorities."

Charmy buzzed up to the G.U.N. lawyer, "But it wasn't found in the jet or at the crash site. So it's not listed as evidence in the investigation-"

"-That is because you are on camera in broad daylight grabbing it. The Eagle yelled, getting ever more irritated, "That is highly unethical on your part, to say nothing of disturbing the scene of the crash."

"Oh please," Said the Maximus, the Rat Lawyer, "That could be doctored footage. As far as the authorities are concerned there was no Chaos Emerald at the crash site-"

Amy stood up, a look of hellish fury on her face, "Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Shut! Up! Practically all you people have done since you have arrived is argue. My friends might die and you're here arguing in the hospital lobby about a damn Emerald? I'm- I'm so angry, now get out. Leave."

A Rabbit wearing a long light pink and purple dress and white gloves with gold cufflinks, and pink lipstick, was walking by and noticed Amy's distress. She approached the group making sure her volunteer sticker was visible. She spoke softly, gently, as well as with a smile, but her voice carried a motherly tone of disapproval, "This hospital is a place of healing for all who visit. I'll need to ask that you leave immediately if you are not here to visit a patient in our care. Your discussions can be finished elsewhere off the premises of the hospital. If you are not here to visit a patient and you refuse to leave I'll regrettably be required to call for security."

Vector looked at the rabbit and had an expression of shock and surprise. He then looked down at the floor in shame, "I'm very sorry Amy and Miss Vanilla. We'll leave at once."

"Thank you Vector. Ever the gentlegator." Vanilla The Rabbit said, with a slight smile toward Vector."

The Eagle glared at both Vector and Maximus then said, "That emerald is property of G.U.N. and we will regain it one way or another. You'd be wise to cooperate while you still have time." After the G.U.N. members left the hospital Vector and Maximus left to exchange the Emerald after once more apologizing to Amy.

Now it was just Amy and Vanilla the Rabbit in the corner of the hospital lobby together.

Vanilla took a seat next to Amy and hesitated to speak for a moment, then she spoke, "Everything is going to be okay Amy. I promise." With those words Amy's emotional floodgates that she had tried to keep closed had opened. Amy covered her face and wept for her friends. Friends she might not ever get to speak to again. Friends she loved and cared deeply for.

Vanilla gave her a hug and rubbed her back and whispered in Amy's ear, "There there. Amy, you poor thing. Sonic and Tails are very strong. I'm certain they'll pull through and come out of this just fine."

Amy spoke in response but between the snot running down her nose and the crying her words came out as unintelligent gibberish.

Vanilla attempted to give Amy something else to focus on to brighten her mood. Then she had an idea, "Amy, why don't you go visit my daughter Cream in the Chao Garden? Take a break and try to relax. You can come back first thing in the morning. I'll be volunteering tomorrow as well so I can let you know how Sonic and Tails are doing then. I'm sure all they need now is some rest and then they will be running around town again in no time. How does that sound?

"I-I want to stay with Sonic." Amy said as she choked back her tears struggling and failing not to cry.

"I'm so sorry dearie but they aren't allowing anyone in the I.C.U. just yet. You can try again tomorrow after some rest and I'm sure we'll have good news to share. Okay?"

Vanilla handed Amy a handkerchief.

Amy took the offered handkerchief and wiped tears and snot off her face, "Thank you vanilla, but will they allow me to go to the Chao Garden on a day I'm not scheduled to be there?"

Cream thought for a moment before answering, "Hmmm, Cream is going to try to see the Chao, even though she isn't scheduled to be there at all today. If they allow her inside I'm sure they'll allow you. I'm sure the Chao would love to have three friends to visit with them. Though, Cream and I both have no idea who is scheduled on this day of the week. Well, as I always say, the more the merrier."

Amy sniffled, no longer crying, "That sounds nice, but I need to collect myself before I head over."

"Take your time sweetie, take all the time you need. I'll prepare you some hot tea."

Amy, now finally left alone to her chair and her empty corner of the room, hugged her knees in the fetal position and silently, silently, wailed. If in fact she had been heard, no one in the lobby dared complain.