Sonic Series Fan Fiction ❯ The Babbysitter Affair ❯ Already Known ( Chapter 20 )

The Babysitter Affair

Chapter 20

 

--

 

Countless murmurs and insignificant chatter surrounded Shadow's being as he sat impatiently in the hospital waiting room.

He had only been in this accursed place for barely a half an hour and already he had grown intolerant of the atmosphere.

 

Earlier when he arrived with Rouge in his arms, he was told to wait in that same room along with the other patients.

And from a simple observation, it could easily be noticed that not all of those waiting to be seen were in the best of composure.

One woman shook violently while hugging herself tightly as if such an action would control her body's spontaneous behavior, while a young child lay in his mother's lap barely breathing or moving.

It was painfully apparent to Shadow that most of the staff in this place didn't care much for the ones that needed their help.

And since he wasn't sure what was wrong with Rouge, he forced his way through, demanding that she have a room and a doctor see her right away.

Once she was taken care of, he did the same for the other patients that looked as if they would kill over at any given time.

 

Some of the humans thanked him, while others exchanged bias murmurs of his temporary alliance with Black Doom and shunned his existence.

 

If this had been any other situation, Shadow would have dealt with them in a direct manner or just disdainfully walked away.

But Rouge was hurting.

He didn't have time to give a care about anyone else.

 

But now, his restlessness had gotten the better of him.

Desperate to keep his mind calmed, he reached for his phone and rolled it open.

 

--

 

The afternoon air was thick, but breezy.

It was the perfect day to go for a walk or a picnic.

 

Sonic and Amy pleasantly conversed amongst themselves while they headed back to Sonic's place.

“So, Sonic...” the petite hedgehog spoke up leisurely to her significant other, “Have you finally decided what your answer will be?”

Sonic faltered in his next step as he coughed. During their walk, she had asked him at least 3 times already the same question.

 

The same question he, each time, avoided.

 

Clearing his throat, he looked over at Amy.

She remained focused on the road ahead of them, appearing wistful.

As if she could feel his gaze, she turned to face him. Bold emerald seemed to glimmer intensely with anticipation and another emotion Sonic was too busy blushing to decipher.

He wasn't necessarily blushing because of her, but more so towards his inability to answer her question and the embarrassment it caused.

 

What was so wrong with him that he could barely answer this girl?

 

“Well???” she continued, thoughtfully.

The playful tone in her voice made Sonic break into a sweat. He had better come up with something fast!

“W-well...Amy I uh...”

Knowing where this conversation was probably heading, Amy paused in her steps and turned to face him.

Her stern glare alone was enough to pin him in place.

Yet, he tried to play it coolly.

“What is it, Amy?”

She slightly shook her head as she observed him. “Don't you dare try playing dumb with me, Sonic.”

“Who? Me?”

“... ...” she sighed. She had all the love in the world for this hedgehog, but she did not have the patience to be beating around the bush with him now.

“Sonic...” she began, softening her tone a bit, “Please, I just wanted to know your answer. Did you want to move in with me in my new place or did you want me to stay living with you?”

He shrugged and adverted his eyes from her in embarrassment. “I don't know, Amy. I wanted you to get your own place, sure, but I don't want to just leave my house behind, you know? I've grown pretty attached to that house! Holes, bugs and all!”

Amy knew he was trying to lighten the mood, but her expression didn't waver. She wasn't in the most jubilant of spirits at the moment.

 

“Well, you had better make up your mind soon because I just got that apartment. I'm not getting rid of it now.” she pressed. Then her eyes drifted outwards towards the distant horizon beyond them. “...Even though I've let Shadow stay there for a while. He's almost been there more than I have!” she frowned cutely.

Sonic took note of this, unaware of the small smile that started to spread across his lips.

“Relax Amy. I'm sure Shadow won't take over your apartment while you're away. But, we're both doing what we can for him, aren't we?”

She crossed her arms haughtily and stuck her nose into the air. “And he had better appreciate it! That licentious little sneak! I should have left him to rot out here without any food OR water! I mean, it's bad enough that he drinks milk RIGHT out of the cartons! But to go behind Knuckles' back and sleep with his wife?!

“Uggh. That bat is just like the expired milk I left in the fridge on purpose; knowing Shadow just couldn't resist to have some! Maybe one day he'll spit her out like he probably did that spoiled milk!” she huffed and started to stomp away.

 

Astonished, all Sonic did was stare at her in awe.

 

He knew that Amy liked Rouge as much as a slug loved salt, but if he didn't know any better, he could have thought he heard a twinge of jealousy in her voice.

 

Amy? Jealous of Rouge?

 

Nah. Why would she be jealous of a sexy voluptuous woman like Rouge? Sonic knew for a fact that Amy wasn't interested in going out with Shadow, so that didn't make any sense to him.

 

Perhaps he was just hearing things.

 

“Hey, wait up Amy!” Sonic called and started to zip over to her when his phone rang.

Recognizing the melody, Amy snorted playfully at the familiar jingle, reminding herself just how much Sonic was full of himself.

While the tune “Escape from the City” carried, Sonic had to blink twice from the number he saw calling him.

Without a second thought, he flipped his phone open and urgently answered. “Shadow? Is that you?!”

 

-

 

“Of course it's me, who else would it be from this number?!” the dark hedgehog snapped into the receiver, eliciting a yelp from Sonic.

He whistled. “I was just surprised to hear from you! Getting a phone call from you is expected as much as Knuckles not getting duped so easily. It just doesn't happen!”

Hearing the echidna's name ignited an acidic flicker within Shadow and a low growl settled in his throat.

“Sonic!” Amy's scolding voice was heard, “Don't be stupid! You know Shadow can't stand hearing Knuckles' name!”

“Oh, that's right! Whoops! Sorry Shadow!”

“Look...” Shadow began, his tone humbling a bit in light of his current situation, “I don't have time for this, Sonic.”

The odd change didn't go unnoticed and Sonic picked up on this right away.

Instead of teasing, Sonic became suddenly serious.

“What happened, Shadow?” he asked softly.

“It's Rouge... Something...something is wrong with her.”

A small gasp was heard on Sonic's end. “Wh-what's wrong?” Sonic questioned vaguely.

Shadow guessed Sonic didn't want to let Amy know that Rouge was involved. At least, that was the only reason Shadow could think of that could justify the other hedgehog's feebleness right now.

So instead of retorting with a nasty remark, Shadow answered truthfully.

“I don't know. The doctors have seen her for nearly half an hour now. How much longer do these things take?” he asked, the aggravation clear in his voice.

“Too long... but keep me posted, alright?”

“Yeah...” he agreed lowly. It was obvious he was in a rare passive mood and had no intentions of arguing with the hedgehog now.

“Shadow, if you need anything, just call me or Amy as soon as possible, you got that?”

Shadow didn't respond.

“Shadow?”

Taking a deep breath, the obsidian hedgehog forced himself to relax. “I'll call you back later. Bye.”

“Huh? Wait waiit!” Sonic called, but his nasally outbursts were abruptly cut off with the sound of a click.

 

Sighing, Shadow lowered the phone in his hand and gazed emotionlessly at its brightly lit numbers.

A faint curve played about his lips, then quickly vanished.

He'd never want to admit it aloud, but he appreciated his friends' concern for him.

He was grateful he even had anyone to carry the title of 'friend' towards him.

 

Quietly, he put his phone away and stood to his feet.

Perhaps a good pace out in the hallway would help ease his worries.

 

As he started to move, the sudden squeak of one of the doors within the waiting room shot into his ears.

Warily, he turned and his eyes doubled in size from the sight of Rouge standing before him.

Her eyes appeared distant and glazed while her hands tautly grasped a tissue that seemed like it would be torn to pieces at any moment.

 

Instinctively, he made his way up to her and draped a protective arm around her shoulders.

“Are you alright? What happened in there, Rouge?” His mouth formed words before he even realized what he was saying.

 

But he wasn't able to say much more as a quivering hand reached up and pressed hesitantly against his chest.

 

A look of pain flickered in Rouge's eyes as they lazily met with his.

The doctor had told her quite a few things that were 'wrong' with her; one she already knew of, while the other wasn't as expected.

 

She was inflicted with the flu.

Yes, she knew this.

But the other matter, she had taken precautions to avoid.

And yet...

 

“I...” she trailed off, as the hot sting of tears pricked at the backs of her eyes. Yet she remained strong and didn't dare make those tears prominent.

After allowing a cough to pass, Rouge slightly moved out of Shadow's embrace and looked him square in the eyes.

 

“I'm pregnant, Shadow.”

 

-

 

Yeaaaah, it was pretty obvious to see coming.

Sorry about the gap in updating. Had a block for this story, which was also obvious to notice. lol

At least it should be coming to an end soon. The story, I mean @_@

 

 

-Mel