The Bonds of Blood

Chapter Thirty-Three: A Hedgehog's Awakening

The sound of a soft pained grunt made the green eyes of Sonic open from the light sleep he had fallen into and he sat up in the dark. His blue head turned to the stirring body of his black and red quilled husband as he started to come around. He was glad that he had fought the doctors wishes for him to leave and stay in Shadow's on-site accommodation room and be notified of any changes. Of course, Sonic refused. He would not leave his husband's side until he came to and nobody would convince him otherwise so purely because he didn't want to argue with the blue hedgehog Dr Dylan Quentin relented and simply let Sonic stay, despite it being against the rules for him to share a bed with the patient.

"Shad... Babe, your awake.." The blue hedgehog uttered with a small emotional break in his voice, feeling tears of joy well up in his eyes. ""H-how are you feeling?" He uttered feeling Shadow raise his hands to touch the bruising around his cheek and black eye before wincing.

"Like I've been hit by a truck." His voice croaked and there was a wheeze in his breath. Because of the dark Sonic couldn't really see his face properly but he knew Shadow was in a lot of pain right now.

"I'm not surprised. According to Dr Quentin you have a number of broken ribs. Do you want me to press the button that will summon him here for you and maybe he can give you something for the pain." Sonic said gently looking sympathetic.

"Great, ribs take the longest to heal.." Shadow exhaled with a grimace which immediately made Sonic look for the button on the side of the bed then turned to the hospital headboard.

"Shut your eyes a sec, I need to turn the lamp on so I can find the button." The blue hedgehog said then turned the light on and turning his green eyes back to his husband who opened his eyes a little and squinted back. The button was lying between them so Sonic scooped it up pressing it.

"Hey, the swelling in your facial bruises has gone down, that's good." Sonic added with a smile before turning the door opened to reveal Dr Quentin who flashed a sympathetic smile as he entered.

"Ah! So he finally came to, that's good. How's the pain threshold?" The black-skinned doctor asked as he pulled a sterile needle packet out of his pocket and unwrapped it. He then pulled a bottle of pain killer, unscrewed it and measured the correct dose for Shadow's weight and height.

"Pretty high.." Shadow mumbled back wincing as he struggled to sit up but flopped back into his soft pillows upon failing.

"Hmm, I'm not surprised. Something in that base gave you quite a beating. Broke ten of your ribs, your going to have to be here for the first few days of your recovery. You and I know from experience that your ribs can take nearly two weeks to heal on their own." Dr Quentin said kindly before gesturing Shadow to turn his head away from him. The dark youthful looking hedgehog complied allowing the doctor to stick the needle in his neck and push the plunger, injecting the pain relief into his neck. "That should ease you pain in the next fifteen minutes. Can one of my nurses get you anything to eat or drink?"

"Maybe just some orange juice and if you have any of that jell-o I like kicking about that would be great." Shadow murmured making Sonic blink in some confusion at the request as he had never heard his husband ask for any kind of gelatine desert before. However his request only made Dr Quentin laugh.

"You always ask for that. Alright, I'll see what I can do. I won't be back on shift until morning rounds but you should be comfortable until then. Night boys.." He added getting up and waving them off.

"Since when do you order jell-o?" Sonic kinked a brow at his husband.

"Usually I only ask for it when I'm stuck in here with shattered bones. I used to eat jell-o a lot on Space Colony Ark, limited desert choices there. I suppose there is a certain security and fondness for it as it was something I ate in more innocent times." Shadow replied with a momentary smile that disappeared with a slight wince of pain as he tried to move.