Sonic Series Fan Fiction ❯ Lost and Found ❯ Promise ( Chapter 3 )

Little longer chap for all you patient reviewers out there! Thanks again TheRealScootTh (May I call you Scoot?) and of course you too Mel!

 

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The entire landscape of Springleaf Valley seemed to break into ecstatic joy as it glowed from the sweet caress of the morning sun. From the base of the majestic mountains to the flower fields forever springing with life, and of course the lake in between them, showing off the dazzling glitter the sunrise granted it.

 

One man, however, did not share this joy.

 

Shadow had a restless night. Countless tossing and turning plagued him as images of Maria, Haley, and Rouge flashed across his mind. Apparently last night hadn't erased all doubt from him. He had to make love to Haley twice more in the night to finally get to sleep.

 

So you can imagine he wasn't too thrilled when dawn ended his few, precious hours of sleep. He grumbled as light exploded in from the open window and he cursed himself because he hadn't shut it. Turning over, he reached out to his wife close to him, when, with a start, he realized something.

 

She wasn't there.

 

His eyes snapped open and he sat straight up. He almost started a frantic search of the room, when his eyes caught Haley standing in the doorway with a smile adorning her face.

 

“Good morning sleepyhead,” she mewed in a singsong voice. “I was going to wake you up, but you just seemed so peaceful.” She paused as she strode over and sat next to him on the bed. “And I'm sure you needed the rest,” she whispered as her lips brushed against his.

 

He smiled, not entirely sure if she was referring to the mission he just got back from or not. He gently leaned in to kiss her back, but she was in one of her playful moods and pulled away. So instead, he ran his hands through her dreads thoughtfully.

 

Shadow thought back to the reflections he'd had earlier. Haley was there for him when he had truly needed her most. She had saved him from a life of never knowing someone he cared for, and cared for him, so much.

 

But, can anything good last?

 

He thought back to the dream he'd had. He was helping Maria escape, a flow of events that used to regularly haunt his nightmares. When it had gotten to the point where he had been trapped in that capsule, he saw that Haley had been standing there in the place of Maria. He instantly awoke with a yell at that point.

 

Haley was worried now. Shadow had held that deadly serious expression on his face too many times before for her not to know that something was wrong. His eyes were narrowed and his lips had straightened into a line.

 

Inwardly, she sighed. He always did this. He felt that every problem that ever happened to him or those close to him was somehow his fault. Just when she was about to interrogate him, the phone rang.

 

Upon hearing the shrill tone, Haley got up so Shadow could do the same. She stood not too far away from him as he picked up the receiver.

 

“Hello?”

 

“Ah, Shadow, good morning!” said a gruff voice on the other end. “Great job in Westopolis last night. You and Rouge were really the talk of the town here!”

 

“Thank you Mr. President but somehow I doubt that's the real reason you called,” Shadow said indifferently. He motioned with his head for Haley to come over and held out an arm. Once she was settled next to his chest, he laced it around her and she moved her head higher do she could hear the phone.

 

“Ah, no, I'm afraid not,” the president said and Shadow heard the shuffling of papers in the background. He'd worked for the president long enough to know that he was about to get an earful of one of his long-winded speeches. He also knew this meant that he wouldn't have to talk for a while, so he placed his lips on Haley's head and kissed gently while the president started.

 

“As I'm sure you were filled in on the last assignment, a new terrorist facility has opened up somewhere fairly close to Station Square. Well, we've found it!” he sounded like a giddy little kid who's figured out a big secret. Despite the president's obvious excitement, something in the pit of Shadow's stomach told him he did not like where this was going.

 

“However,” the president continued dramatically, “breaking in will be difficult, let alone destroying it. The base is out somewhere through the desert, and we need you there. A GUN transport jet will be arriving at the sector X base at precisely………..nine-o-clock a.m. tomorrow.”

 

He knew it. When he was enlisted in the GUN they promised him two things: the choice to decline a mission, and a three-day minimum layover after every mission. Now they were breaking it. He was about to interject but the president cut him off.

 

“Now before you start freaking out, I am fully aware that this would cut into your layover time. And it is due to this fact and the sole importance of this mission that we're going to offer you………a reward of sorts.”

 

“How long will it be?” Shadow fought to keep his voice calm. Haley gently ran one hand down his arm in an attempt to calm him down.

 

“Um…….well, it's rather difficult to say…….” The president trailed off. He had hoped that he wouldn't have to be the one to tell him.

 

“Give me a minimal.”

 

The president sighed. Now there was no way around it. “……………A week. Maybe two.

 

Shadow felt his heart skip a beat. A week? That time where he had been gone for four days was bad enough, but a week?

 

“Now…relax for a moment, Shadow, I'm not finished. As I said before, we don't plan to cut you short. If you choose to accept this mission, and it goes well, which I'm sure it will, the pay will be doubled and you'll have a year without any mission calls.”

 

Now Shadow spiraled further into shock. An entire, stress-and-assignment free year. It seemed like heaven, almost too good to be true.

 

Too good to be true………

 

He knew Rouge would be there. If they split to divide and conquer the area, the possibility of being paired up with her would be inevitable. God only knows what could happen if they spent a week alone together…..

 

“I don't know…….”

 

“Shadow, the plane leaves tomorrow. I need an answer like……now.”

 

Haley, who had remained quiet throughout this whole conversation, now gave an annoyed groan and yanked the phone out of her husband's hand. “He accepts. Mr. President, could you give us like one moment please?” She hung the phone up before either man had a chance to say anything.

 

She placed the phone back on its hook and turned to her husband. After a while, she shook her head. “Shadow……….”

 

“What is it?” he asked, even thought he had a vague idea of what was wrong. He was amazed at how easily women could read him.

 

She felt his hand on her shoulders now and she sighed again. “How long is it going to take us to be honest with each other?”

 

He didn't know what to say, with an awkward question like that. So, Haley spoke again. “What's wrong, Shadow? I've never seen you so uptight.”

 

His eyes drifted out of focus. What was wrong with him? Part of it was Rouge, and……………….

 

That dream

 

He blinked and looked her in the eyes again. Her eyes were glistening and begging, which created an internal war within him. He knew she wanted to help, and he respected that. But he also didn't want to cause her any needless worry or, he thought suddenly with a feeling of dread, needless harm. However, he knew it would not be wise to try and blow things off now.

 

He turned away from her, and she saw a look of shame on his face, which bewildered her. She knew he hated to show weakness (what man doesn't?), but he had no reason to be ashamed of it. Slowly, she placed both hands on his shoulder blades and her head right at the base of his neck. Her hands then slid down his arms and finally intertwined his hands with hers. His head turned slightly so he could see the top of her head and to deepen the mood.

 

They stayed like that for a while in that odd embrace, neither one of them saying a word. Shadow could feel her lips gently sucking just below his neck and withheld a shiver. After a moment, he could hear her gentle, inaudible words “Don't shut me out, baby. Let me help you…….”

 

He sighed, still hesitant. Thoughts and controversy were swirling around in his head, making it impossible to think.

 

Seeing how he obviously wasn't going to answer her with the way things were going right now, Haley decided to try and probe his mind. “Is it about the mission?”

 

“………Kind of…………” More so the fact that Rouge will be there.

 

She sighed in frustration at his answer. “Baby……I love you with all my heart. You know that, at least I hope you do, after all we've been through.” She forcefully turned him around and gripped his shoulders. “I wanna help you. But I can't if you don't tell me what's wrong, or if you have it stuck in your mind that I can't know.”

 

“Maybe………..it's better for you if you don't know………”

 

“Shadow,” she grinned with one of those cute, innocent, don't-try-to-fool-me looks and voice that he adored. “We've been married for over a year. Do you really think that can apply?”

 

He couldn't help but grin at her sincere concern for him. Times like this hit him with waves of nostalgia; brought him back to the happiness, love, and trust that had bloomed so graciously between them in their first years together and was still growing today.

 

Happiness, love, and trust……….

 

Trust……......

 

Shadow sighed in defeat, the glistening of her diamond eyes finally persuading him. “I……I had a dream……….

 

She cupped his cheek. “Bad?”

 

“Like the ones I used to have about Maria,” he paused, swallowing, closing his eyes, and turning his head slightly towards her hand, “after she died.”

 

Surprised by this display of emotion, Haley nonetheless urged him on. “And?”

 

His eyes snapped open and met hers, his voice breaking as he spoke. “And it….was about you.” He turned and walked away from her, stopping after a few steps, and trying to force down the burning liquid that was threatening to escape from his eyes.

 

She felt her own eyes close to spilling over. “Tell me.” Her voice was weak.

 

His hands clenched into fists and his eyes sharply narrowed. “I think………history……..is going to repeat……itself.”

 

Her eyes widened. “Maria?” she asked, stepping foreword. “The incident on the ARK, that's what's bothering you?”

 

He shook his head. “I don't know.”

 

They stood in silence for a while. Haley couldn't decide if she should try to be reassuring or to simply tell him to forget it. Finally, she decided on a compromise. “It was only a dream….” She gently reached out to him but he whirled before she had the chance.

 

“I won't let this one become real.” His voice was quavering even ore now. He reached out and pulled her close, embracing her. He felt the faintest whisper of a trickled tear on his cheek. “I can't lose you…..”

 

“Shadow….” She whispered. She wound her arms around him and noticed he was shaking. She wouldn't be surprised if she was too. “Shadow, I'm not gonna die like Maria did. I promise y-

 

He lifted her head so her eyes met his and kissed her roughly. Unlike others he gave her, this one was meant to silence her. After a few short seconds, he pulled away and looked her in the eyes, his own sparking with some kind of electricity.

 

“No, I promise you.”

 

*****

 

Owwie, eyes hurt. Please leave a review; otherwise I don't know how I'm doin! I might be editing the other chaps on and off, if I can find time where my Dad ain't hounding me. Thankies everyone!