FINALLY, Rebecky-mo has come back to Fanfiction.net!!!!! *laughs* Sorry, I happen to be a wrestling nut as well as a Sonic lover (and a Sailor Moonie, a DBZ (aka Piccolo) fan, lover of Samurai Jack, and Kuwabara of Yu Yu Hakusho... get the hint yet?) ^_^;;;

I'd like to thank all the people who gave me thier ideas/suggestions on what to do with the story and how to finish this chapter. This chapter of "You Never Know", is Dedicated to:

Cross (Mega Archangel), Orin, Catarina , Samantha and her friend Scott, 'Black Belt Sam', RockChick, and Shalita Hedgehog. If I'm missing anyone, email me and lemme know.

Nothing belongs to me, but I'd be happy to take 'em off SonicTeams hands ^_^;;
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You Never Know What You've Got.....Chapter 7 By Rebecky-mo the ECCHInda

"Shadow-san?"

Emerald eyes blinked in confusion, freakishly bright compared to the dark cold of what felt and looked like space. The owner of such eyes stood out like a sore thumb against the black vastness of the universe with his cobalt quills and bright red shoes....the one he stood in front of was a completely different story however.

Ebony black quills blended into the back ground, a small shock of white fur on his chest looking much like a cluster of the same stars that surrounded the two of them. The only things that kept him from being near-invisible were the piercing red eyes that watched Sonic with fascination, as well as the miniscule hints of red that flowed down the other hedgehog's spiny quills. "Is that really you?"

"Of course it is you idiot. Who else would I be?" Shadow snorted. He may look different, but obviously his mind hasn't grown much....

"But you're...." The heroic blue hedgehog paled slightly.... "Am I dead??" He asked, a twinge of fear in his voice.

"No." Once Sonic released the breath he'd been holding, his mood changed again, back to confusion and slight anger.

He glared "Then how the hell am I talking to you?"

Shadow glared right back at him, but an amused smirk was plastered on his face. "For some God-forsaken reason I don't get, they wanted me to come down here and beat some common sense into you." He motioned over to a bright over his left shoulder, three very large stars. "And don't even bother asking who 'they' are, imposter. I think you already get it."

The Ancient Walkers? I thought they were just a myth.... Sonic thought to himself. The Walkers were considered a manifestation of God in some of thier planets many religions. He'd never been into any of that though, he'd seen to many good people suffering and dying in his adventures to believe someone watched and protected them. Good people....HEY! "Does that mean you know what's going on down there with Amy Rose?! Do THEY know?!?" Now the confusion was gone, only the anger remaining. His hands were bunched into fists, trembling with fury, the stance he was in showed just how ticked he was. He was prepared to fight, especially if he got the answers he didn't want to hear.

The dark hedgehog merely crossed his arms and closed his eyes. "Yes." That one word was all it took. Sonic ran full speed at Shadow, arms outreached. He sprang foreward and wrapped his arms around Shadow's waist, trying to tackle him to the 'ground', and smack him around until he died again......'tried' being the key word. Instead of dragging the other hedgehog to the ground, Sonic ran straight through him, and completely lost his equalibrium. He went spinning in the air for a few more seconds, before finally righting himself again a bit dizzy. Shadow just turned around to face him again. "You can't attack a body that dosen't exist, imposter. I'm dead, remember?"

"Then why can I see you?! Where are we?!!" Sonikku winced, holding his head to rid himself the headache that seemed to suddenly come up.

"You're only seeing my former body because it's easier for you to handle than merely speaking to an invisible soul. As for your second question, we are in a place no one has but you. We are standing in your dreams....."

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MEANWHILE.........

Where are they? They promised to be here two hours ago! Tails was hovering above the main entrance to Staion Square Medical Centre, and his patience running on thin ice. Again, he checked his watch and frowned. 11:05. Rouge and Knux said they'd all meet here at 9:00 and go in for a report on Amy Rose. Unfourtunately, they wouldn't allow Tails in without either of the others, due to his age. "They couldn't have gotten lost," the fox muttered to himself. "Maybe they found Sonic...no, they'd contact me and lemme know. Hope they didn't get caught by Robot--" Before Tails could continue his train of thought, he spotted two streaks coming towards him from the east, one a bright red, the other silky white. Within seconds, Knuckles the echinda and Rouge the bat were standing below him, looking up. "Where the heck were you two?!" He cried.

Rouge just grinned, straightening her black jacket. "Sorry big guy. Knux and I had a.....late night, and didn't hear the alarm this morning." Rouge turned towards the echinda, gave a sweet smile and winked at him. "Right Red??" Tails didn't miss the dark blush creeping around Knux's cheeks, and heard him mutter something incoherant under his hat. The fox didn't bother asking anything more, something told him he REALLY didn't wanna know....

"Uh, right. Let's get inside, I'm really worried...." He turned and headed into the hospital, quickly followed by a still-blushing guardian and a giggling ex-treasure thief.

Once they exited the elevator onto their floor, they headed straight to the nurses corner. A short redhead, somewhere in her late 20's, dressed in green attire was taking down notes while on the telephone, stopping occasionally to ask the person on the other end one question or another, then continued writing. She noticed the trio of furries heading towards her, and she smiled and waved to them briefly, before signalling them to give her a moment. She'd been on hand for the past few days, and had seen these same 3 come in each shift to see thier ailing friend; but, she couldn't help but notice the fourth one of the quartet was missing today.....

After another minute, she finished her notes, hung up the phone, and greeted Knuckles, Rouge and Tails. "Hello again guys. Aren't you a bit late today?"

"Trust me, I noticed."

Knuckles, finally having getting over his embarrasment before, rolled his eyes at Miles' tone, and crossed his fingers in his large gloves for luck before speaking. "Any change in Amy Rose, Nurse Chea??" The woman's blue eyes brightened slightly, and a smile graced her soft face.

"Actually, yes, and a very big one at that. Ms. Rose's fever broke late last night, and it seems as though her vitals are finally returning to normal. She may even come back into consiousness sometime today."

"So does that mean she fought off the virus??" Rouge asked, hopeful.

"Yes, the worst of it is over now. She should be in good enough condition to return to her chemotherapy very soon." The relief and joy was easily evident on the smiling face's of the three, and Tail's even let out a quick shout of happiness before remembering the hospital's rule on being quiet. Then he quickly spoke again, this time making sure he was at his normal voice level.

"Can we go in to see her?" At the nurses nod, the kitsune, the bat, and the echinda made thier way to Amy's room, and quietly entered.

The guardian removed his hat and smiled as he looked at Amy. The color in her face had returned, and she was breathing in an even pace. The sound of the heart monitor, it's soft beeps and peaking green lines were a great comfort to him. He hoped that his mind would be more at ease now, and half-hoped that Amy would awaken soon. If only Sonic were here and knew all we know. He might feel a bit less lost and back in control if he did, the echinda thought to himself.

I'll try and contact him again later. I just pray the big blue dope hasn't done anything insane...or suicidal..

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"If the Ancient Walkers are so Damned powerful, then why aren't they doing anything to help Amy? Isn't it thier job, one of their Godly duties or something like that?" Sonic frowned. This is WAY out of my league. Amy's dying, I'm talking to a 'hog that actually DID die, and it's all happening in my 'Dream World'!

"Hn. From what I can guess, they can't use thier power to directly 'help' any mortals. They simply watch over them, and try to lead them in the right way to help themselves. Which is why I'm here with you, Sonic."

"Wha--what the HECK do I need help with!? I'm fine!" The cobalt hedgehog crossed his arms, his face almost cold, to try and prove this point...and Shadow just looked at him for a moment, then shook his head and sighed.

Obviously, he needs a reminder.... he grumbled mentally. "Really, now? So you don't remember this....?" As if on cue, a soft echo seemed to emanate from one of the endless barriers of Sonic's mind, growing louder as they came forward. The hero's ears perked up slightly, recognizing the voice as his own. It seemed desperate, fear laced through every letter as the words were finally becoming clear....

God, please...

PLEASE God, don't take her from me!!

Sonic shuddered, and closed his eyes. That's....those were my thoughts when Amy....she....

"When she almost died, yes. And yes, a can hear your thoughts here, Sonic." Shadow chuckled when he saw the hedgehog's eyes open again to stare in shock. "That was the first time you'd ever called to God Sonic, and what you didn't know, is that he heard you."

"He did?"

A quick nod of a black-and-red quilled head. "Why is it so difficult for you to admit to yourself you care for 'pinkie'?" He asked, to which Sonic blinked his bright green eyes, confused, and retorted.

"I know I care for her. Heck, she's one of my best friends! That's a pretty dumb question comin' from you, Shadow."

"So, you're saying you care for her the EXACT same way you do your other comrades? The kitsune, the guardian, the bat? You aren't fooling me, imposter, and you should stop fooling yourself."

For a few moments, there was complete silence, neither speaking. Sonic stood there, open-mouthed, before he regained his thoughts and turned away, his back to his fellow hedgehog. "I--dunno what you're talking about." He murmured.

"So, she has nothing at all to do with why you've never kept a girl for more than a few dates? And on said dates, you'd speak more on her than yourself?"

A slight twitch of annoyance appeared on Sonic's face, but it was still hidden with his back turned. First off, I HAD to talk about Amy. Most of the girls wanted to know about my adventures, and she was normally in on them, and second...I never found a girl who could keep up with me." He admitted. There, it was out. Maybe NOW Shadow would knock it off with the subject, and....

"'Keep up with you'? And what, my copy, does that mean exactly."

Dammit. Guy didn't know when to take a hint...kinda like me. "I DON'T KNOW!!! They just didn't get me, I guess. Didn't understand what I was all about, only saw one side of the picture...."

"In other words, they only saw the hero, and not the hedgehog behind it."

"....Yeah." Sonic turned around again, but his face was still looking downward, hidden by a mass of navy and cobalt blue quills.

"Thought nothing could shake you, and always thought you were your best."

"I guess."

Shadow smirked. He was quite close to getting blue boy to a point where he could no longer deny.... "No one's ever seen you at your worst, when you didn't know how to fight...."

"Pretty much." Sonic shrugged.

Got him "....No one execpt for Amy Rose." Shadow chuckled mentally as he watched Sonic's head shoot up like a bullet, quills bouncing at the force as his face was one of realization. Sonic remembered the day at the docks with Amy, when Shadow died, her words, the warmth and calm he felt within her embrace...

I understand you now too, Sonic Hedgehog. Though looking back now, it seemed as if she always had understood him. She'd never asked him to stop his battles in fear of his health, as most girls he'd dated would, she knew it was a piece of his life. She'd said nothing of his tears and anguish in his most difficult of times, but stood by him until until the good days returned. Her smile was infectious at times.....and just as she was near-death, he'd discovered the most important of all.

He couldn't live without her.

I don't WANT to live without her....

Shadow nodded and gave an honest smile. He been hoping the hedgehog would come to terms with this. He'd lost his opportunity with his Maria, and as much as his 'copy' annoyed him, he didn't want him to suffer with losing a love he didn't know was there, until it was too late. "Well, it seems I've done my job." Sonic looked over at him, and smirked.

"Yeah, guess ya did. Not bad in this whole love thing, for a guy who was stuck inna tube for fifty years." He floated over to Shadow, and held out his hand. "It was good to see ya again Shadow." For a few moments, Shadow's sight moved from Sonic's hand, up to his face, then back down at his hand again. Finally, he reached out and grasped the gloved hand with his own, a smug look on his face.

"Good to have met with you again as well, Sonic Hedgehog. Though, I pray it will be many years before we meet each other again."

"Heh, same here." Still grasping Shadows hand, he looked around, then back to his ebony counterpart, rather sheepishly. "Ehhhh, say...how am I supposed to get out of here?"

"Simple, you wake up."

Shadow looked over Sonic's shoulder, and Sonic's head turned to see what it was. "And how am I supposed to do THAT?" he asked.

"Like THIS!!!!" Sonic turned his head forward again....in time to connect with Shadow's swinging fist.

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A pair of deep green eyes shot open, then closed tightly, blinded by the late afternoon light. Sonic slowly pulled himself into a sitting position on the mattress, one hand over his face as he tried to wipe the sleep from his eyes.

"Man, that was one HELL of a dream." He muttered absently, rubbing a sore cheek. "Realistic too. My face is killing me..." Leave it to Shadow to get the last shot in. The hedgehog looked out the window, to spot a clear, sunny day, barely any clouds hiding the soft blue sky. Amy....

His thought was broken by the sound of his stomach rebelling against him, crying out for nourishment it had been denied. Sonic frowned for a minute, then decided to grab a quick bite,and turned on his cell as an afterthought. He was just finishing up a seriously large dinner, when said phone rung once, twice, threee times....He grasped the small object, and flicked a button, having a good idea who it was.

"Hello?"

"SONIC!!! Where the HELL are you? I've been trying to call you for almost two days now! Tails is freaked, and you didn't even tell us where you were goin'!!!!"

Knuckles. Just as he thought. Sonic couldn't help chuckling to himself.

"What is so frickin' funny?!"

"Heh, nothing, 'MOM'....." He smirked.

"Cute, hedgehog. Very cute." A slight pause on the other end, until a calmer, quieter version of the same voice came through. "Seriously blue, are you alright? Tails and Rouge said you were pretty weird after....what happened."

God, he was lucky. Despite thier bickering and fighting, Knux was like a brother to him, along with Tails, and Rouge was just as great. "Yeah man. I just needed to think through some stuff. I'm gonna be back in the city tonight."

"Hm, good. And about Amy... Her fevers broken. Sounds like she'll be back to normal soon....besides the cancer. She still needs chemo."

Knuckles could hear a deep sigh of relief from the other end. "That's great. Has she come to yet?"

"Yeah, but she's still out of it. Pretty groggy. She's been asking about you..." he admitted, putting his brown cowboy-esque hat back on.

"....Tell her I'm on my way. I'll be coming in tonight. See ya soon, Knuckles."

"Sure thing. Oh, by the way Sonic..." he paused, a smirk crawling onto the echinda's lips.

"Yeah?"

"You owe me about twenty bucks in quarters." He replied, and quickly hung up the payphone reciever. Smug bastard, saying I act like his mother.....I'll show him sometime he growled mentally. But he couldn't help smiling, and headed up towards the elevator. He had to tell the others to expect one more in a few hours.......

TO BE CONTINUED.................

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Well, how was that?? Good, Bad, or 'you spent 4 months to come up with THIS?!'?? I'd like to know, either way. Please Review, or even email me, at rebecky_mo25@hotmail.com

Oh yeah, I figured I should mention the author who inspired me to create this story. She's well known for creating stories of teens and young adults having to live with situations that change thier lives completely, a theme she thought up when her own son was Diagnosed with diabetes. Lurlene McDaniel is easily one of my favorite authors, because of the way she portrays the emotions of the teens, the friends, and families. My personal favorites are a set of four books featuring Dawn Rochelle, whom is diagnosed with cancer at 13. She's also done books regarding the blind, Cystic Fibrosis (sp?), tumours, and diabetes, to name a few.

McDaniels books are SUPPOSEDLY for young teens, but I'm almost 19, and still enjoy her style of writing, as well as the thought process. I'd suggest them to anyone..... that way you'll have something to tide you over if it takes me another 4 months to get chapter 8 out. -_-;;;

Until then, L-8-R!
Rebecky-mo