Hey! I'm back. Thanks to Just-Tails for reviewing the last chapter and let's get cracking!

See chapter one for disclaimer.

Sonic's cast had been cool for about a day. After that he started to see the downside of only using one arm for stuff and by the end of the week he was beyond frustrated.

"xxxxx sake." He was muttering now, as he attempted to pour himself an orange juice. "Oh for!" He snapped as he over aimed the juice and spilled it all over the table rather than into the glass. "Right, I give up" Sonic rested his head on his good hand.

"I could help you out." Tails said, brightly, leaning over and carefully pouring his new brother his juice. "Make you a personalised robot or something-"

"You are not making Sonic a robot." Tom cut in.

Sonic turned the puppy-dog eyes on him. "Oh, c'mon-!"

"I said no. There's enough chaos round here without adding a robot into the mix."

"It could help with chores." Tails offered, eyes sparkling. "It could even assist you on patrol."

Tom smiled. "Nice try, kiddo, but I got my own helper for patrol." He nodded at the door. Tails and Sonic turned to see Knuckles standing in it.

"Fatherly figure, I would like to go now. I enjoy our regular bad-guy hunts." The echidna announced, arms folded, face completely straight.

Sonic burst out laughing while Tom rolled his eyes and got up. "Ok, let's hit the road, Jack."

"My name is Knuckles."

"It's an expression-" Tom explained, shutting the door to block out Sonic's increasing laughter.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

It was always fun spending time with Knuckles. Not. Put amongst the never-ending chatter of Sonic and Tails's energetic conversations and Knuckle's quietness and straightforwardness was actually quite refreshing. In a car with no other distractions, however, and it turned to frustration. Which Tom was trying his best not to show, of course.

"Can we not just go out and look for these criminals which we wait for?" Knuckles asked, after about five minutes of silence.

"No." Tom said, bluntly.

"Why not?"

"Because they're driving fast cars that we do not want to be in front off."

"I can stop the cars." Knuckles said, completely seriously. "I have a lot of strength and am capable of absorbing much impact."

Tom looked at him questioningly. "Won't that hurt?"

"I am willing to make that sacrifice."

Tom was just wondering if that was a yes or a no when a car drove past them. Immediately Knuckles sat up. "Let's catch it!" He declared.

"Ah, ah." Tom put his arm out across the Echidna's chest. Knuckles looked down at his arm, then back at Tom.

"Is this meant to stop me?" He asked. "I can break your arm with one finger."

Tom rolled his eyes and indicated his broken arm. "Let's not go through that again, hey buddy?"

"Why do you keep calling me 'Buddy'?"

"It just means...like, friend. Mate. Call it a term of endearment."

"What is 'endearment'?"

Tom resisted the urge to groan and clenched and unclenched his fist. "Just...I consider you..." He struggled for the right word. What was Knuckles? Friend hardly covered it. Son would be way to much to soon. He'd only known the kid less than two months. Eventually he settled on. "...Someone I care about." Then mentally wanted to kick himself because how lame did that sound-

"I would count you as someone I care about to."

Tom blinked and his chest swelled with pride. Clearly he must be doing something right. "Really?"

"Yes. You have given me sanctuary and nourishment. I am grateful."

Tom nodded. Ok, that was fair enough. He reached into his bag and pulled out some grapes. [They had a steady supply now.] "Want some?"

Knuckle's eyes lit up.