New Beginnings

Chapter 33 - The Third Time

"Charmy! Vector!"

Breath catching in his chest and limbs aching Espio all but tumbled into the living room of their building, his frantic eyes meeting the confused gazes of his co-workers as they whirled around at his voice... before both shot up into the air with a cry as the chameleon loosened his hold on the precious bundle he held tucked against him, blood covering soft grey fur and quiet breaths a stark contrast to the chameleon's own. "Silver," was all Vector gasped as he rushed over, Charmy squeaking in fear behind him. "He came back."

"He's hurt, he's- Help him, do something!"

Panickedly staring up at the other Espio yelped as Silver got taken out of his grasp, the hedgehog getting put on the couch by gentle movements he struggled to see as such. Help, he had to help, he- injuries. Bandages. Whirling around he wrung open the door and rushed up the stairs, not even listening to Vector calling out after him as he tore open the cabinet in the bathroom he knew contained the medicines not dangerous for Charmy. "Es, calm down," Vector tried to soothe him with a clear tenseness in his voice as he raced downstairs again, gasping for breath with stars dancing in his vision. "Silver needs you to calm down."

"He needs help," the chameleon snapped back as he tore open a package of disinfecting wipes and fumbled to unfold it. "Why- we need- he-!" His words were making no sense to himself either, but as he pressed down the cloth onto Silver's body all he could look at was the deep cuts and bruises covering the other and the pained grimace adorning the hedgehog's face even when unconscious. What had happened-?!

"Espio!" A firm hand grabbed him by the back of his neck and all but yanked him away from Silver as he flinched. "Let me take over," Vector gruffly told him as his wild eyes met narrowed yellow. "You're trembling too much."

"I-!" the chameleon growled back as he got placed onto the couch next to Silver's head, teeth gritting so much his muzzle hurt as he snarled. He wasn't trembling, he had to help... but indeed, his hands wouldn't stop moving as his gaze drifted down to them, and his body felt too cold and his mind was reeling and he could only stare back at Vector helplessly. "Help him..."

"I will, and you are gonna make sure he's stayin' calm. Charmy, can you roll out the bandages for me so I can cut them?"

Timidly the bee agreed, but Espio could only look at Silver, the fabric on his shaking fingers getting caught in bristling quills as the other whimpered in pain each time Vector pressed down on his body or had to move him around. The hedgehog's muzzle was too pale, and his breaths too light... but other than his squeaks of pain, each making the chameleon wince himself, no further reaction followed as his injuries got covered in more and more white wrappings and the pile of reddish wipes steadily grew on the ground. "This is all we can do, I'm afraid," Vector spoke up after a while, the hedgehog's body swathed in multiple layers of gauze as a blanket got draped over it and the chameleon's view got disrupted. "We... He... Um."

"What should we do, Vector...?" Charmy mumbled as he stared at Silver with wide eyes, a pang going through Espio's heart as he tore his eyes away from the hedgehog to at least try and talk to the others. Silver needed him, but they needed him too, especially the bee looking more fearful than he had in a long time. "Is Silver gonna-?"

"Shh, kiddo. Not now," Charmy was quickly shushed by the head detective, but Espio flinched all the same as Vector sighed deeply and scratched his head. "Uh, we gotta... make sure he's warm and doesn't lose anymore blood, I guess? Stop those wounds from getting infected? I dunno, those medical programs on TV never prepare you for the true emergencies, darn it."

Their youngest member giggled at that, and even Espio couldn't force away the twitching of his lips as he held Silver. "I'm staying here," he croaked out, letting Vector push him onto the couch pillows against the lithe grey body with the blanket getting tugged over him also. "I need to help Silver."