I slowly open my eyes and blink a few times to get my dry eyes wet. My vision is blurry and I am having trouble focusing but I can tell that I am staring at a white ceiling, the smell of metallic machines in the air.

I try to get up but a sharp pain in my side, which feels like a metal pole has cut it open and is stuck inside, makes me fall back on the bed. The pain rings as I try to turn so I can see where I am. When I look around I learn that I am in the Blue Typhoon's infirmity. Why am I here? Where is Melody and Rouge?

I turn back to laying face up and lose myself in thought, trying to remember what happened before I blacked out. Then I'm thrown into a whirlwind of memorys, from when I first met Melody to recently.

Our first meeting.

Saving me from being used again by Eggman.

Telling me her story.

Telling me her insecurities.

That sweet and soft first kiss.

Overcoming the feeling of jealousy.

The attack on home.

Her.... Sacrifice.

I'm knocked out of thought when I hear the door open and Sonic, Chris, Amy, Rouge and a blond haired girl come into the room. My heart sinks when I don't see Melody walk in with them and the condition that Rouge is in. She is bandaged around her legs and has her left arm in a sling.

"Hey your awake. How ya feeling?" Rouge asks me.

"My side hurts. And my head. But where's Melody? How long have I been out for?" I tell them, starting to get anxious.

Everyone looks at each other, well, that answers one of my questions. They have no clue where she is.

"We don't know, we were hoping that you could tell us what you know happened." Chris tells me.

I explain what happened due the bombing and how, in the end, Melody gave up her own life for the safety of all of us. When I finish I hear someone pound on the wall outside and someone walking away. My heart is beating hard and I'm shaking violently. I somehow managed to sit up while I was telling the story to make it a lot easier for me to see everyones faces, but now I'm really dizzy. I lay back down and drift off to sleep, not wanting to know what they think. I just want to sleep.

                ********************

Its been three days since we got here, everyday someone brings me food. I never eat the food they bring. I don't deserve to eat. I failed to keep her safe. I am a terrible friend, a terrible guard. A terrible... a terrible romance partner.

I hear someone walk in so I close my eyes and bury myself deeper into the blankets. As normal, the person goes over to the side table, but instead of setting down one plate and picking up the other, the person sets the plate down and walks over to me. The bed sinks by my legs as the person sits down. I suck in a gasp of air as I hear the low but sad voice of Knuckles.

"Look, Shadow, I know we're not the best of friends but I can see that you are beating yourself up over Melody. You shouldn't have to. She's my little sister, so she should be MY responsibility. And even though for all these years I've been so ignorant of her existence I want to make it up to her for causing her so much pain and sorrow. No, I NEED to make it up to her. So once we get her back I will do whatever she wants me to do, so long as she is happy and safe. And we are definitely going to get her back, but if she sees you like this she will get upset and I'm certain that you don't want her to worry about you."

I peek my eyes out so all you see are crimson eyes looking out the blankets and black ears out the top of the covers. After a minute I decide that I have to tell him the truth, it can't wait any longer. I slowly get up and look him in the eyes, his sad yet determined eyes make it even more nervous to tell him.

"I, um, I.... I love her!"

I see Knuckles flinch, but then nod in acceptance, as if he knew.

"I know, with the way your acting we've kind of guessed. To be honest, everyone seems ok with it except for Blaze. But I think she's just nervous because she wants to be sure that Melody's safe. I'm sure you understand that."

I slowly sit up on the edge of the bed and look back at him.

"Are... are you sure your ok with it?"

"I said that I'd do anything to make her happy, remember? If shes happy being with you, I'm fine with that. I can at least relax a little knowing that your strong enough that you can protect her if something happens."

"But I failed this time. How can you trust me to protect her when I lost her. "

"Because it was HER choice this time, therefore, it's not your fault."

I look down at my feet, dangling off the side of the bed. I hear him get up and pick up the plate from the side table, then sit back down beside me.

"If your going to get you strength back you need to eat."

He hands me the plate and for the first time in three days I take the plate, put it in my lap and start to eat. Once I finish I look over to the door and see Maria standing there. She smiles happily at me, then disappears again. I smile back at where she was, then get up and head out the door with Knuckles trailing behind me.

"Hey everyone come to the bridge I've got fantastic news!" Tails's voice blairs on the radio. Everyone rushes in to hear the news.

"What is it Tails?" Knuckles asks.

"I found Melody! She's on a nearby planet so we can go and rescue her NOW!"

"Well then what are we standing around here for? Let's get moving. I'm getting worried about her." I tell them. They all nod in agreement as Tails sets in the coordinates and the ship fly's off to our destination.

Authors note:
Me: Sorry for the long time coming guys! I was getting bombarded with projects for school, but their starting to slow down so I had sometime to write this. At about 10:30 at night.... that's what time it is now anyways. So Shadow what are you doing on the ship now that your out of the 'depression' stage.
Shadow: Anything I can. My behavior was unacceptable and Melody would be disappointed so I'm trying to make up for it. Which reminds me, I have some boxes I need to help Amy move, so I'm going to leave. -runs away-
Me: ....Is Shadow being nice because it's been awhile since he tryed to kill me last. Ok then... bye!