Time Heals All Things

By late evening the night was drawing in and Shadow still had not returned to his home. Sonic had been lying on the couch for the best part of the day since his younger-looking black counterpart had left him stranded up a tree with spasming back pain. The middle-aged hedgehog had been forced to spin dash down from the tree, grimacing through his smarting lower-back. By the time Sonic had managed to hobble into Shadow's home he had literally just managed to collapse onto one of the two soft leather couches. He was lucky that he hadn't managed to trip his back but soon found it stiffening and seizing up the longer he was laid down. The adult blue hedgehog realised that he was going to need Shadow to come home soon if he was ever going to be able to get up again.

There was just one problem. He had no way of contacting Shadow at all so instead he had picked up the black hedgehog's cordless landline and dialled the home number of Knuckles and Rouge as they were the only two he could think of who would know how to get in touch with Shadow.

"I'm sure he's fine Blue, don't worry about him. Shadow can be an arrogant stubborn ass but he has the goods to back it up. He can take care of himself, he'll come back eventually, he always does.." Rouge's sultry voice was oozing soothingly down the other end of the phone. There was sympathy in her tone but she seemed unconcerned about Shadow's current whereabouts.

"Yeh, I know that... I just wanted to get in contact with him, that's all.." Sonic gritted his teeth and spoke as casually as he could while trying to hide his fiery back pain, not wanting to admit that he had succumbed to it. He was far from willing to admit that he was getting old. It seemed his pride was making sure he was doomed to spend all night on this couch.

"Ooh. About what?" Rouge cooed, a slight rise in her tone showed that he had ignited her interest now.

"Nevermind that Rouge, do you have his cell number and I can just call him myself.." The blue hedgehog responded before covering the mouthpiece and grunting uncomfortably trying to squirm into a more comfortable position. Unfortunately his stiff back was not cooperating with him and the blue hedgehog was forced to remain square on his back with a dissatisfied sigh.

"Hmmmm, sorry hon. Shadow doesn't own a cell.." The white bat replied sympathetically.

"What?! Who doesn't own a cell phone these days.." Sonic exclaimed loudly in shock, frowning annoyed. Trust Shadow to be the one awkward being in the entire cosmos that had to be impossible to get hold of... That was so like him too.

"Um, that would be Shadow." Rouge tittered before adding sweetly, "He does have a wrist communicator though but there is no guarantee he will answer it."

"Great. Just great.." Sonic huffed sarcastically with a slight groan.

"Oh. I'm sorry hon, is it important?" Rouge added in a tone that suggested that she might be suspecting something now and this made the blue hedgehog's green eyes widen. He panicked now, still not wishing to admit that there was a serious problem and he needed help.

"N-no, no.. It's ok. I can just wait for him, I guess.." Sonic grunted quickly, sweating a little not wanting her to think that he was that desperate to get in touch with the black and red hedgehog.

"Are you sure?" The female bat sounded concerned now. She must have realised by now that he was in some kind of pain but he remained stubborn, not wishing to be seen as weak to her or Knuckles would start goading him about getting old. He wasn't old, he was still in his prime and this was just a setback to him..

"Uh.... Yup. It's cool.. I'll get him later... Thanks anyway." The blue hedgehog replied hastily saying his goodbyes and hanging up with a deep exhale.