Introduction: A Note to the Reader: This fan-fiction story takes place, at certain respective points, before, during, after, and in between the three 'Balto' movies. Although events originally from the 'Balto' movies are mentioned, their mention is to set the stage for this story, which is the "Missing Pieces" to the story: my completion to the puzzle of the many unanswered questions of 'Balto'.

'Balto' and all related characters are the property of Universal Studios. I do not claim any rights whatsoever to the following characters: Balto, Jenna, Steele, Boris, Nikki, Kaltag, Star, Muk, Luk, Sylvie, Dixie, Doc, Morse, and Rosie are © Universal Studios/Amblin Entertainment 1995. Aleu, Dingo, Saba, Nava, Niju, Nuk, Yak, Sumac, and Aniu are © Universal Studios 2000. Kodi, Dusty, Kirby, Ralph, Dipsy, Mel, Stella, Duke, and Mr. Simpson are © Universal Studios 2005

Nome, Alaska: January 1925

Balto ran home from the boiler room, tearing down the streets of Nome until he reached the abandoned boat on the outskirts of town that he sometimes called 'home'. He lay under his worn, old blanket and looked around. Boris wasn't there.

"Good," he thought. "That's the last thing I need right now: a pep talk from 'Uncle Boris'." Balto sighed as he watched the northern lights dance in the sky. "This has been THE worst night of my life!" he said to himself. He had been having the best conversation with Jenna he'd ever had until that pompous, egotistic narcissist of a malamute, Steele, had to ruin it. Now Balto had been blamed for a crime he didn't commit, Jenna was worried about Rosie, and the butcher would probably kill him the next time he was anywhere near his shop. He rolled onto his side and pulled his blanket tightly around him. He went to sleep; hoping tomorrow would be a better day.

NOME. STOP. PACK ICE CLOSING IN. CANNOT SHIP ANTITOXIN BY SEA. WE'LL TRY BY AIR . . .

Anchorage, Alaska 1925

Nicole, a border collie/husky mix, lay outside her doghouse on her owner's farm. She was taking a much-needed break from her life as both a sheepdog and a sled dog. After a few minutes, the neighbor's Border collie, Jack, showed up. Jack was Nicole's boyfriend, and they spent all their free time together.

"Nicci," Jack started, "are you awake?"

"Oh, hi Jack. Sorry, I've had a rough day. What's up?" Nicole replied.

"Nicci, I have something important to say," Jack began. "Do you think you could come into the woods with me?"

"Sure," Nicole replied. They walked off towards the trees together. They went into the forest every day, but something about tonight was special. When they reached a clearing, Jack began to talk.

"Nicci, we've been seeing each other for a long time, and I think this is for real. Nicole, I love you. For real, forever, for always." He nuzzled her neck affectionately.

"I love you too, Jack. For real, forever, for always." She licked his cheek and they kissed as the Northern Lights danced playfully above them in the star-filled sky.

Nome, Alaska

Balto tossed and turned in his sleep. A memory from his past haunted his dreams. He was with his mother, a beautiful pure-white wolf, his three sisters Jade, Sage and Luna, and his brothers Flint and Ikuma. Flint had pinned Jade, and Balto was fighting with Luna over a bone. Ikuma and Sage were chasing each other in and out of the den, and everything seemed to be going along smoothly. Suddenly, Balto's mother heard a gunshot, and began to herd the pups back into the den, but it was too late. The hunter moved out of the trees, pulled out his rifle, and shot at the white wolf.

"Nooooooo!" Balto screamed in his sleep. She fell, and the pups fled. All but Ikuma managed to escape. Balto watched from the trees as his sisters and brother fled, while the poachers picked up his mother and Ikuma's bodies. Balto's tears spilled down his cheeks onto the snow. The hunter's dog saw Balto, grabbed him by the scruff of his neck, and carried him to the nearest town, Nome. His owner chased him until the dog reached an old, abandoned boat, where he left Balto and turned to rejoin his master. Balto thought to himself in his sleep . . . that must have been my father. The dream faded, and Balto's sleep returned to normal.

NOME. STORM AT AIRPORT. PLANES GROUNDED UNTIL STORM CLEARS. MANY REGRETS . . .

Anchorage, Alaska

Nicole and Jack lay down beside each other. Tonight they would sleep in the forest; alone, together . . . the way they wished they could be forever. When they thought nothing could be more perfect, they heard a rustling in the bushes.

"What was that?" Nicole asked as she stood up, frightened.

"Relax, Nicci, it's probably just the wind," Jack reassured her. She lay back down beside him. They heard the rustling noise again.

"Maybe we should go home, Jack." Nicole suggested.

"No, it's probably just the . . .," Jack was cut off when a mother grizzly stepped out of the bushes. She stood up on her hind legs and let out an angered roar. The two dogs stood up slowly from where they lay and began to back away from the bear.

"Aiiie!" Nicole screamed as she backed into the bear's den and slid down halfway into it. "Jack! We're in between her and her cubs!" with that, the grizzly charged, and with one great swipe of her paw, she flung Jack to the left against a tree. Nicole screamed "Jack!" She leapt onto the grizzly's back and sunk her teeth into the grizzly's shoulder. The bear threw her to the ground, and she rolled into a tree, where a snowdrift fell on top of her. The grizzly turned back to Jack, and went to finish him off. She began slashing at him with her razor-sharp claws. Nicole couldn't take it any longer. She flung herself through the air, screaming "Noooo!" as she landed on the grizzly's back. This time she sunk her teeth into the bear's ear, snarling and shaking the ear back and forth. The bear tossed her to the ground with a moan, and lumbered off. Nicole rushed to Jack's side. He was torn up badly, and bleeding heavily.

"Jack!" she yelled. "Wake up! Please wake up!" she nuzzled the bloodstained white fur on his neck.

"Nicci . . ." he whispered. She began to sob.

"Oh, Jack, I'm so sorry! How could I let this happen? I tried to stop her, but I couldn't. I'm so sorry."

"Nicci . . .," Jack lifted his head and licked her cheek, ". . . no matter what happens to me, take care of yourself. I love you Nicci, and I'm sorry it had to end this way." His spirit was fading. Nicole lay down beside him, and stayed with him as he took his final breaths. Her tears fell heavily on the bloodstained snow.

"I love you, too, Jack," she sobbed as she nuzzled his neck; he was almost gone.

"Nicole," Jack breathed, "goodbye." Nicole's tears streamed down her cheeks and soaked her fur. She licked his face, but he wouldn't wake up. He was gone . . . she had failed him. The husky in her took over, and she let out a long, mournful howl.

She could never go home after this; nothing would ever be the same. The humans might even think she killed him. She had to leave this place, start a new life. She ran out of the forest, tears streaming down her face, and headed into town. She spotted a train car that's door had been left open. She went inside. This would keep her out of the cold for the night. For the first time, she noticed that her front right leg was bleeding. She licked her wounds, and washed Jack's blood off her fur. She buried her face in her tail and sobbed as she went to sleep.

. . . FROM JUNEAU, OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR: WE ARE SHIPPING ANTITOXIN BY RAIL. STOP. TRAIN LINE ENDS AT TOWN OF NENANA. STOP. SELECT THE FASTEST DOGS FOR SLED TEAM TO CARRY ANTITOXIN FROM NENANA TO NOME. STOP. GOD WILLING, TRAIN WILL MAKE IT THROUGH. ANCHORAGE. STOP.