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Tom stared at the ragged toy with far more intensity than it likely deserved. It was just a teddy bear for pities sake.
Between the hole in the head, the stomach losing most of the stuffing from another smaller hole, and the ratty, faded ribbon around its neck, it had certainly seen better days. Usually, the Lanes—second generation owners of Green Hills premiere second hand goods store, Past Perfect Picks—were a bit more selective about what items they put out on the shelves. The bear certainly stood out compared to the baby yellow rabbit holding a carrot and the Dalmatian next to it, both of which appeared practically new.
So why was his attention stuck on the teddy bear?
Well, despite its tattered appearance the teddy held a certain charm. Its round caramel colored face, large bead eyes, and small stitched smile perfectly captured the cuteness and comfort such a stuffed animal was meant to provide. There was no doubt that a child had loved that bear very much once upon a time. The question was, could it be again by another child, a rather traumatized one with origins not of Earth?
Tom suppressed a sigh. Was he really considering this shabby old bear for Shadow?
The newest addition to the Wachowski household of the past three weeks, Shadow was quiet and testy on the best of days. He was adjusting to life with the Wachowskis fairly well, considering his past as a lab experiment. He was most comfortable around Sonic. Though he also got annoyed with him just as easily. Tom had watched, however, as Shadow acted out his namesake and trailed after Sonic more often than not, when he didn’t slip away to brood alone. There was uncertainty in his interactions with Tails and Knuckles and he didn’t talk to them too much. That was nothing compared to the fear and defensiveness he displayed around Tom and Maddie however.
He could vividly recall the afternoon that Sonic came racing onto the porch in a panic, a battered, limp black and re-striped hedgehog in his arms, babbling way too fast for Tom to understand. He had not needed to. Tom had scooped the injured black hedgehog out of Sonic’s hold and carried him into the house despite his own injury, calling for Maddie. All he saw was a hurt kid that needed help and that mattered far more than his mostly healed injury.
Shadow’s eyes were clenched tight as he had whined, muzzle crinkling in pain and pushing into the man’s chest. Tom had hushed the little hedgehog, whispering quiet reassurance and gently stroking Shadow by his ears. One of the only places that didn’t appear hurt. Shadow had leaned into the touch, whining more as a pleading edge grew with the cry. It had broken Tom’s heart. Maddie was gathering her emergency kit and Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails hovered anxiously as Tom eased Shadow onto the table. He stepped back as Maddie had taken over, examining her patient with a critical eye.
Maddie’s examination had revealed horrors. Large patches of fur and quills were burned away, leaving scabbed and seared skin. There was a deep laceration cutting across Shadow’s face, from his left eye socket down to his chin, though by some miracle it appeared his eyes had been spared. Maddie had quickly determined that Shadow had several crack ribs, a fractured wrist, and both legs were broken. Tom had worked alongside Maddie as she swabbed, bandaged, and splinted. At some point, Tom had carefully removed the kid’s shoes. Tails had taken them, declaring he’d get them cleaned up for the hedgehog.
In the meantime, Maddie had a grim expression. She’d wanted to get Shadow to the vet clinic right away to take x-rays before she wrapped his injuries further. Before they could do anything else, Shadow had begun to stir.
His eyes had abruptly snapped opening, golden electricity racing through his quills as he snarled and growled, quills raised high in defense as he scrambled back from the Wachowskis. The kid had actually almost tumbled off the table if not for Sonic catching him. Seeing Sonic had calmed Shadow, his power fading away as Sonic explained where Shadow was and what was going on. The black hedgehog had narrowed his eyes at the humans and scowled before claiming he had accelerated healing and that he was already better than he was. That horrifying tidbit had Tom and Maddie looking at each other in mute dismay. It had made sense really, since Shadow had to have fallen from space to earth. But Shadow had been missing since the Eclipse Canon was destroyed in late June. That was well over a month ago! How was he even alive?! Those questions had to wait. Shadow had needed to have the rest of his wounds treated.
Maddie had tried to convince him to let her finish and take him to the clinic to no avail. Their guest had hissed at the mention of the clinic and grew more defensive. Finally, Tom suggested Sonic and Tails finish the bandaging with direction from Maddie. Maddie had not been happy as she was vet, not the boys, but Shadow had grudgingly agreed. While they assisted Shadow, Tom went into the kitchen and made some broth. If what Shadow had said was true, he’d been healing from life threatening wounds for weeks and not been able to do much since. That meant he probably had not eaten much either.
The broth was finished at the same time as the bandaging. Tails was helping Maddie pick up her kit while Sonic talked quietly to Shadow, seeming to be reassuring him that he was safe while Knuckles stood like a sentinel nearby. The injured hedgehog’s attention had snapped from Sonic to Tom’s the minute he stepped into the dining room, quills bristling again. Keeping calm, Tom had set the broth on the tabled within easy reach for Shadow.
The hedgehog didn’t even glace at it. His gaze was locked on Tom. Amber eyes stared at him, fear and guilt swirling in their depths. Wanting to show the little one he held no grudge, Tom picked up the spoon and ate some of the broth himself. Then he put the spoon back in the bowl in front of the hedgehog. Shadow still didn’t even look at it, focus fixed on Tom. Tom met his gaze head on, letting himself be seen with his honest concern. He’d told the kid he needed to eat something and the broth would be easy on his stomach. He made it as clear as possible that he meant Shadow no harm. He only wanted to help. The hedgehog had looked away, ears flattening, and reluctantly picked up the spoon. Shadow had finished the broth in record time.
Since then, Shadow had been healing and adjusting as part of the household. The part about having accelerated healing was no joke. Within ten days, Shadow was completely healed of his injuries. The physical ones anyway. The psychological trauma remained. Sonic had dropped the bomb that he was pretty sure Shadow's friend Maria had been killed by G.U.N on the second night of Shadow's stay. A lot of things had made sense then, including why Shadow had attacked who he thought was Commander Walters; his rage and desire for revenge. It further explained the wariness the little hedgehog showed around the humans in general . Despite that, he’d stayed. Tom and Maddie had wondered if he would when he’d not really responded to them telling him he was welcome to stay with them as long as he wanted.
Tom made a point to sit down across from the wary black hedgehog one afternoon to talk to him about what happened that day in London a few days into his stay. Shadow had curled in on himself, clearly trying to hide in the couch cushions, but couldn’t thanks to the bandages still on his arms and legs. Tom decided he’d get straight to it and had told Shadow he forgave him. Shocked amber eyes had lifted up so fast it startled Tom.
“What?”
“I forgive you,” Tom had repeated. “For hurting me.”
Shadow had just stared at him with wide eyes full of confusion and disbelief, mute and still as stone. Thankfully Sonic and Knuckles had come in, bickering and breaking the awkward silence that had fallen. Sonic dragged first Tom then Shadow into the conversation of course. And that was the end of it. Shadow never responded to Tom. Instead, Shadow remained wary and watchful, even as the days slipped into weeks and Tom did his best to respect Shadow’s boundaries and show that he cared. To no success.
Not so with Maddie. Over a week ago Shadow reluctantly agreed to let Maddie brush his quills. A ritual for all the kids that started after Knuckles quills were used by those drug dealers he and Wade had pursued south. Robotnik had done the same thing and he was a genius. That some low-life drug dealer had figured it out too had been extremely concerning. No one wanted another incident like that. So regular brushing was required and all quills had to be gathered and the energy dispersed with a device Tail’s built that left the quills drained and useless.
Naturally, Sonic had stayed nearby during the brushing, chatting up a storm like usual and distracting Shadow. And slowly the little black hedgehog had relaxed. Even letting out a small purr towards the end. Maddie had been overjoyed when she recounted it to Tom that night in hushed whispers as they got ready for bed.
Tom would not say he was jealous per se. Rather, he felt left out. It hurt to see the kid so skittish around him still. Though Maddie’s touch was only tolerated at first, Shadow was clearly getting more comfortable with it as the brushing ritual continued. But it left Tom wondering what else he could do. His presence only seemed to invoke silence and wariness no matter what he said or did.
What else could he do to show the little hedgehog he cared, that he forgave him, and that he wasn’t just saying so? Well, besides time. Ultimately, that was what Shadow needed after all. And Tom would give him that. He just needed to do something to really show the kid he was safe and Tom meant what he said.
The tattered bear stared at him, seeming to ask: why not give her to Shadow? Maybe, just maybe, this old bear could provide Shadow with some tangible reassurance.
Tom scrubbed a hand through his hair, feeling ridiculous. Why was he thinking about this again? Oh right. Because he had made or fixed up stuffed animals for all the boys.
Sonic’s stuffed animal was an owl, carefully propped on his nightstand these days though he’d slept with it the first year he’d lived with them. The blue hedgehog had found it at the dump and brought it home to proudly show Tom and Maddie. Maddie had taken one look at the bedraggled toy and turned to Tom. “Clean it and fix it or it’s going right back in the trash.” Tom had laughed and motioned for Sonic to follow him back to the laundry room where the toy got a thorough scrubbing. After it dried, Tom had re-stuffed and sewed it using scraps of different patterned cloth. He could still see the utter delight on Sonic’s face when he presented the young hedgehog with it several days later at bedtime. Sonic had happily hugged the owl, a sad gleam entering his eyes for a moment before he’d jumped up to hug Tom. Her name was Tinyclaw, Sonic had declared. Nowadays, Sonic didn’t cuddle with the stuffy as often, but she was there when he needed her.
Tails had fallen in love with a sea otter pattern that Tom and him had found at a garage sale one morning. The fox kit still cuddled with the crocheted toy—dubbed Mrs. Mossfern—every night. After talking with Tails, Maddie had told Tom she thought the toy was named after Tails’ previous caregiver who had likely passed away. Getting Tails to talk about his life on their alien children’s home planet Mobius was worse than pulling teeth. He’d revealed bits and pieces over the past two years to the Wachowskis, enough for them to know Tails had been horribly bullied and ostracized for his genius intellect and his twin tails. Probably a good thing Tom would never meet any of those particular Mobians.
Knuckles’s stuffed animal was as bold and unexpected as the echidna as himself: an elephant. After watching a documentary on the African elephant soon after moving in and learning they were the strongest land animal on Earth, the echidna had become obsessed. A week of searching and Tom to found a large stuffed elephant that suited his eldest son in the bargain bin at the gas station. The tail and one ear had been partially torn off. George had simply waved him off, telling him to take it with knowing smile on his face. So Tom had fixed it up and left it on his eldest son’s bed. Tom had seen Knuckles cuddle with the elephant only once, but that was more than enough for him. Otherwise, Tusk the elephant stayed on the nightstand by Knuckles’ bed to ‘maintain the watch’.
It was only fitting that he found a stuffed animal for Shadow too.
Unfortunately, Shadow did not care for ‘childish’ things as he’d loudly berated Sonic on a couple occasions. Even though Shadow definitely was still a kid, just like the others. So really, any stuffed animal was bound to be disliked. Maybe the yellow bunny was a better choice, that way it would be easy to give away if Shadow hated it. So maybe he should grab one of those instead...
His eyes drifted back to the raggedy teddy bear.
With a shake of his head, Tom plucked teddy up and put it in his basket before hurrying on to check the thrift store’s kitchen ware for those extra bowls they needed.
It took a week to thoroughly wash, dry and re-stuff the bear. Maddie suggested adding some lavender potpourri for a gentle, calming scent. She’d noticed Shadow seemed to like the smell when she used it on the laundry. Then Tom patched the hole in its head with a large blue star—an idea inspired by Shadow’s love of stargazing—made from a blue piece left in the scrap bin. A second smaller star patched the stomach hole. Finally, he sewed all the seams closed and touched up the stitching on the mouth.
Maddie took one look at the teddy and declared it positively adorable and that Shadow would love it.
Tom was not so sure. Maddie might be a bit too optimistic about the black hedgehog’s reaction. Still, the following morning while the family was eating breakfast, Tom slipped upstairs to the attic and left the bear on Shadow’s new rocket ship bed. Giving it indirectly seemed like the best idea, just like the bed had been earlier that week.
For a moment he hesitated on the steps. Was the bear really a good idea? He shook his head. Whether or not Shadow liked it, the bear was his. The black hedgehog could do with it what he wanted.
Tom hurried back downstairs to say goodbye to Maddie and the kids before leaving for work.
Unfortunately, the day was busy with multiple calls and not the good kind. By day’s end Tom couldn’t wait get home to his family and relax. It was already later than normal when he drove up to the house.
That was the hardest part about being sheriff in Green Hills. For the most part, the job was taking care of the community: directing traffic, jump starting cars, helping with farm animals and moderating disputes about silly things. Kind of boring really. Then there were the tough incidents: severe traffic accidents that required hospitalization; drug related behavior; abuse; robberies. And today had far too many of the latter. It certainly made him wonder what he’d been thinking wanting to be a cop in San Fransico. Well, he knew the reasons. And he couldn’t be more grateful to a certain blue devil from turning up in his garage and turning Tom’s world on its head with him.
Tom barely got in the door and greeted Maddie with a kiss and asked the boys about their day when his phone rang. Tom sighed. As sheriff he was never really off duty. His phone, consequently, was never put on silent. Right now, he really wished he could do just that. Maybe ask Knuckles to smash it. That was pretty tempting actually.
Sonic glanced up from the video game they were playing, green eyes full of concern as if he sensed Tom’s exhaustion. Tom smiled, pushing the feeling aside, and ruffled the blue fur between Sonic’s ears before stepping away. He knew how Sonic didn’t like when the sheriff got calls in the evening. But it couldn’t be helped. Sonic and Maddie had a routine for these nights though according to his wife. One that included Knuckles and Tails if they wanted to. Probably Shadow too, if he’d like to join them. They’d be fine. And maybe Tom would get lucky and this would be something he could resolve without having to leave the house.
Hitting the answer button, Tom brought his phone to his ear. He was greeted by dispatch with an emergency call. One that would definitely require more than just Wade or Graham. Blast it. So much for not leaving the house.
Tom caught Maddie’s eye and tilted his head as he grabbed his gun belt. She nodded, distracting the boys by asking them to help set the table for dinner as Tom hurried back out the door.
It was past one in the morning when he finally got home, exhausted in more ways than one. Calls like this always left him feeling sick. What people were capable of doing to one another was utterly horrifying. Especially when drugs and alcohol were involved.
Being sure to keep as quiet as possible, Tom quietly slipped in the front door. Ozzie, he knew, would be curled up on his bed in the master bedroom or upstairs with the boys depending on how the evening went. He’d not bother coming down if he knew it was Tom. With that in mind, the sheriff put away his gear, and headed into the kitchen. The space glowed softly from the nightlight they kept plugged in for occasions such as this. A quick check in the fridge and he spotted the bagged sandwich.
“Thank you, Maddie,” Tom muttered, taking it in hand and eagerly opening it. As he chewed a bite, he headed towards the cupboard for a glass. Filling it with water, the sheriff made his way back to the kitchen island, absently taking another bite of his sandwich.
As he took a drink, Tom allowed his mind to wander to nicer things. September would be over in a few days. Which meant October and the autumn festival. Last year the boys had a lot of fun playing the various booth games and trying the foods (Tom had to calm a few vendors who were not familiar with his super-powered, enthusiastic children and their propensity for overdoing it). Knowing Sonic, he’d be eager to show Shadow everything. Would Shadow like it? Maybe not the people. It might be too much for the hedgehog. They’d have to think of something so Shadow got the chance to experience it, but not be overwhelmed.
“Tom?”
The sheriff startled and looked up from his late supper.
“Shadow?" The last kid Tom would have expected stood at the foot of the stairs, peering into the kitchen. Amber eyes studied him, searching. Uncertain. "What are you doing up kiddo?”
Cautiously, Shadow stepped around the corner a little so the nightlight illuminated him better. “You weren’t home.”
Tom blinked and took a minute to run that response through his head. What did him not being home have to do with Shadow not being asleep? In fact, what was Shadow doing down here at all, talking to Tom?
“Yeah, I had to take care of a work call.”
“But…that was hours ago.”
The pause in Shadow’s words caught Tom’s attention. He studied the little hedgehog closer. It was hard to see in the dim light, but Shadow’s brow was furrowed, his hands holding surprisingly tight around…was that the teddy bear he’d left on the kid’s bed? Well. He didn’t expect that. A wave of relief washed over him, releasing tension he didn’t realize he still held on. Good to see the kid didn’t hate it.
Still, something was bothering Shadow enough to have him come downstairs to speak to him in the middle of the night. To speak to Tom when the kid never talked to him! Was it because he didn’t understand what Tom’s job entailed? Tom had never described it in depth and he didn’t think Maddie or the others boys had either.
“It comes with the job,” Tom explained. “As the sheriff, I take care of the town. Here in Green Hills, that’s mostly just helping people helping sort out disputes or helping them get their car started. Stuff like that. But sometimes there are incidents that aren’t so easy to resolve like tonight.”
“And you had to ride out late,” Shadow said slowly. “Was there a shootout?”
Tom’s eyebrows arched. It had been a while since he heard those descriptions. Apparently, Shadow had seen a few westerns when he wasn’t looking. Maybe he saw them fifty years ago? Certainly possible, considering the seventies still had several western shows running.
“No shoot outs,” Tom reassured the hedgehog. “My job isn’t to fight people, Shadow, even if the movies make it seem that way. Reality is, most of my job is talking. Reminding people to follow the law for the safety of everyone. Stopping fights before they happen or deescalating them. That’s what happened tonight. We had to deescalate a rough situation.”
Okay, sue him that was a gross understatement when dealing with people high on drugs and alcohol. He was not getting into the particulars though.
“Do they always keep you so late?”
Tom shook his head. “Certain calls can, but not usually. Tonight, the situation just took longer to process than normal. Half of it I spent filling out paperwork.”
That was another thing the movies failed to show. How much paperwork was involved in everything the police did, especially arrests. And tonight had a mountain of it.
Shadow hummed, his mouth set in a thoughtful line. He still seemed a bit wary, understandably. Tom could only imagine the parallels the hedgehog could find between what G.U.N. and the soldiers there had said and done and Tom’s job. The man swallowed a grimace as he took another bite of his sandwich. That wasn’t something he liked thinking about. How badly Shadow had been treated by G.U.N. It made Tom’s blood boil with fury at the callous foolishness of the scientists and soldiers who failed to recognize Shadow was a child. The only exception being another child who’d befriended and loved him like a sibling and she’d been cruelly taken away by those people. He pushed the anger away. It would do him no good. And Shadow was safe, living with their family and starting to heal. That’s what mattered.
When Shadow remained quiet, Tom expected that to be the end of it. But, oddly enough, Shadow didn’t go back upstairs. The hedgehog shifted on his socked feet, adjusting his grip around the bear in his arms and stifled a yawn as he watched Tom eat his sandwich. It was disconcerting to say the least.
Why was Shadow really awake? Nightmares maybe? Why was he watching Tom with such intensity?
Doubtful he’d get any answers even if he asked. This was the longest conversation Tom had with Shadow since he moved in. Best not to push his luck. The progress, however unforeseen, was certainly welcome. If he wasn’t so tired, he’d be trying not pump his fist in the air. Because yes! He was too tired though.
Finishing the last bite of his sandwich, Tom tossed away the trash.
“Right, let’s get you back to bed, bud,” Tom said, heading toward the black hedgehog and the stairs. “You need sleep and so do I.”
Without thinking, Tom held out his hand just like he would for Sonic or Tails. Realizing his error, Tom started to lower his hand back to his side. Only for a small paw to catch hold of his fingers. There was a hint of uncertainty in the touch, a hesitancy born from unfamiliarity and no doubt a little fear. Instinctively, Tom’s hand curled protectively, reassuring and strong.
That’s when he realized Shadow willingly took his hand. The little wary hedgehog who done nothing but watch and shy away from him for weeks, had willingly initiated this touch. Yesterday, Tom had just been hoping that Shadow would feel a little less afraid of him. He’d not dare hope Shadow would talk to him; much reach out and touch him. That Shadow did, made a burst of love and pride suddenly flood his heart for the child. How far he'd come!
Hiding his reaction the best he could, Tom turned Shadow towards the stairs. The little hedgehog pointedly did not look at him, but his small paw held tight to Tom’s hand, the other to his new bear, as they climbed the steps.
Quietly, Tom led Shadow up to the attic, making sure to match his gait to the hedgehog’s so they were side by side until they climbed the attic steps. Then Shadow went ahead of him. Shadow crawled into his bed and still holding the bear close to his chest as he let Tom tuck him in under the blanket. The little hedgehog’s expression was pensive, as if he were thinking hard about something but didn’t know what to say. He gave the kid a minute, but when nothing was forthcoming, Tom decided it could wait until morning.
“Good night, Shadow,” Tom whispered, dropping a kiss on the hedgehog’s red and black temple like he did for his other boys before he realized what he was doing. Opps. Well, Shadow didn’t seem to mind anyway judging by the lack of response. Hopefully. He’d just remember to not do that next time. No need to make a big deal about it.
Then, after a quick glance to check the other kids were still sleeping soundly, Tom silently made his way back downstairs. He was more than ready to climb into bed beside Maddie and sleep. In the morning, he could really process the fact that giving Shadow the teddy bear truly had seemed to reach the kid.
Preoccupied with thoughts of his warm bed, Tom didn’t notice the wide red eyes that tracked him the whole time and didn’t close even when he shut the attic steps.