Chapter three: Piecing Things Back Together
The pups all strode back in to see Ryder.
"Um, Ryder?" Rubble started, shakily.
"Is Chase ok?" Marshall finished.
"He's fine pups." Ryder assured them. "He just needs a little alone time right now. The accident yesterday really scared him. I think he just needs a little time to himself, to relax. You know?"
"Ok Ryder." The pups nodded.
"Come here." He told them, gesturing with his arms out. The pups wasted no time, they all put their paws up onto his lap they shared a group hug. "Now." He said breaking the long embrace. "Why don't you pups go play. I'll call you on your Pup-tags if I need anything."
"Okay." The pups nodded and barked, then scampered out the door again. Marshall stopped, just inside the door, leaning back off his left paw to glance back at him.
"You sure you don't want company?" He asked curiously, searching the boy's face.
"I'll be alright Marshall," Ryder grinned. "But you can stay if you want to." Marshall thought for a second.
"Ok." Then he trotted out of the room, and Ryder relaxed back. He sighed calmly in the silence that was left behind.
The door of Chase's pup house remained closed, the pups huddled together in the middle of the yard and glanced from one to another. Rocky nervously cleared his throat.
"So... do you think Chase is doing ok?" The pups all remained quiet, as if searching for what to say.
Chase rolled onto his back, his thoughts still wandering through the events of the last, almost, twenty-four hours. He didn't want to think about it, but couldn't stop himself. Just when he would get himself to think about something else... he'd somehow end up thinking about it again. Flashbacks of the night before came in shocks, he flinched at each one. The echoes of the pups' voices and Ryder's cries, and the crash of the rocks falling and his own horrified scream, made him clenched his eyes closed. He covered his ears in an attempt to block out the sound, but it only grew louder. Tears had begun to well up again, he could feel them stinging the back of his eyes. He bit his lip to try and willfully stop them from coming, but simply couldn't force them back for long. He, once again, covered his face to avoid drawing attention to himself. He had already heard the pups playing outside in the yard. He didn't want them 'checking on him' anytime soon. Sniffling and brushing away the tears, he felt a heaviness settle upon his eyelids; and somehow didn't feel like opening them. Slowly, his mind faded away as sleep crept into the, now silent, room.
"Chase? Are you ok in there?" Skye asked, after they had knocked for the second time.
"Is the door locked?" Marshall wondered, peering over Rocky and Rubble. Zuma took the handle and pulled up, it moved, opening a crack. Zuma glanced at the pups, before pulling it up about half way. Inside they found Chase; sound asleep and pressed firmly against the back wall of his house. Each pups found this unusual, but chose not to say so. Zuma shut the door again, and they all walked quietly away from the house.
"What's wrong Marshall?" Ryder asked, seeing the troubled glance on the Dalmatian's face. Marshall stopped where he was, continuing to stare at the ground in front of him and sighed.
"I... I'm worried about Chase." He admitted. "We found him sleeping in his house just a second ago."
"He probably didn't sleep very good last night. He was really worried." Ryder reassured him.
"Yeah,... right." The red fire pup nodded, sighing again; desperately wanting to believe him.
"Just give him a little time." Ryder encourage further, shifting his position a little. "He'll come around... eventually."
"You feeling any pain?" Marshall asked, changing the subject.
"Maybe a little, yeah." Ryder admitted.
"Ok, I've got something to help with that." The Dalmatian, then, bounded off to find the item in which he spoke of.
Chase shot up, awake in a snap. His breaths came harshly to his body, and his eyes wide. His face and paws were soaked from crying, he hoped no one had heard him. He wished he could stop feeling like this, but then he thought about it, and couldn't help but feel it anyway.
"I can't keep doing this!!" He said to himself. He knew it would only be a matter of time, before the team becomes worried enough to ask if he's alright; to which he knew he wasn't. But he still hadn't a clue what to do about it, except for he didn't want to talk about it; especially with the other pups. And definitely not with Ryder, he didn't want to worry him. But, then again, he didn't really want to lead the team without Ryder either. I guess I'll just have to fake to all til Ryder gets better. He silently concluded. But maybe I should start that tomorrow. He realized, remembering how much he'd cried today. His eyes itched from the irritation of his tears from earlier. He drew in a deep breath and wiped his face again, to clear up the remaining tears. Pressing his eyes into his paws, he removed them and blinked a few times. He attempted a smile... but failed due to the hurt still piercing his insides. He was about to open his door to go find the pups, but he just lay there staring at the door.
"He's been in there all day." Marshall said, still sitting there staring at Chase's door from a distance.
"Relax Marshall." Rocky reassured him, setting another red bone on top of the colorful bone Jenga tower. "Ryder's probably right, Chase did seem more worried about him than the rest of us." Zuma sat across from the grey mixed breed and began his turn; Rubble peeked around the tall tower of bones at Marshall.
"Yeah dude!" The Chocolate Lab concurred. "Chase'll come around, you'll see!"
"But don't you think he'd have done it by now?" The Dalmatian protested.
"Maybe he's still sleeping." Skye guessed, continuing to bounce on the trampoline. Marshall gave a half-hearted smiled, which faded two seconds later. When an car engine made him search for its origin. It didn't take long, as a familiar orange car drove up the long Lookout driveway.
"Mayor Goodway?" Skye said, slowing her hopping to a standstill.
"What if something's wrong!!" Rubble cried, shooting a worried glance around at them.
"Wrong?" Marshall perked up at this and took off across yard toward the Lookout. The pups looked at each other, then scrambled after him.
"Mayor Goodway, Mayor Goodway!! Is everything ok?!" Marshall barked, as he approached her car.
"Where's Ryder I need to see him right away!!" The Mayor responded urgently.
"He's in the Lookout." Skye said, the pups finally joining them. "Come on!"
"Ryder!!" The boy's eyes opened immediately, upon hearing his name. He rolled his head over to the left to see Mayor Goodway's stunned expression. The pups standing in her shadow.
"Oh, hi, Mayor Good-"
"Oh, Ryder, thank heavens you're alright!!" The Mayor cut him off dre
ing closer. "When I heard about you're accident from Mr. Porter, I just had to come over to check on you."
"Uh... thanks Mayor," Ryder grinned thankfully. "But everything's fine. The pups have been taking great care of me. Right pups?" A lot of 'yes ma'am's' and barks replied.
"Oh, but, what about Adventure Bay?!" The mayor wailed sadly. "How can you and the PAW Patrol protect our town with out you?"
"Don't worry Mayor Goodway." Ryder comforted her confidently. "Chase will lead the rescues while I'm gone."
"Oh, well thank goodness." The mayor brushed her hand across her forehead. "Thank you Cha- Where is Chase?" The mayor gazed around. Every pup was present, except the one in question. Marshall dropped his gaze, then opened his mouth to speak.
"Here." Chase's voice cut him off and they whipped around. Mayor Goodway smiled at the sight of him, but the other pups stood there as though they'd just seen a real ghost. The German Shepard just stood there, bashfully dropping his gaze he kicked the imaginary dust and strode slowly forward. Sitting down before her, he gazed up at her with an unconvincing smile; at least unconvincing to Marshall.
"Uh, don't worry Mayor Goodway." Chase began slowly in a low voice. "The Pups and I'll handle things while Ryder recovers." The Mayor beamed wider, clasping her hands together in front of her chest in gratitude.
"That's fantastic Chase!!" Mayor Goodway said finally, bending over to scratch him behind the ears. Chase willingly accepted this gesture, closing his eyes and leaning his head into her hand. "Well," She sighed standing at her full height again. "Now that that's settled, I have other things I must attend to. Thanks again Ryder! Pups!" She called over her shoulder. as she strode to her car.
"You're welcome, mayor." Ryder called back, waving. The pups remained in a circle a few feet away from Ryder, while Chase steadily paced to the open doorway; watching the Mayor drive away. Skye smiled and leaned toward Zuma.
"Maybe Chase is doing alright after all." She whispered to him. Marshall looked from them to Chase, the others turning their attention to Ryder. The sun was setting and the nearly cloudless sky was pigmented shades of pink, purple, and orange. Chase dropped his head and walked out of the room and out toward his house again. As Chase left, Marshall caught a glimpse of Chase's face; and wondered if Skye's statement was really true.
Chase's glance was downcast and remained so, as he made his way back to his house. His tail sagged, not wagging once since the day had begun; with the exception of a few minutes ago. As he reached his house, he wondered if he had looked convincing enough. Obviously Mayor Goodway seemed to think nothing was wrong; it was the other pups and Ryder that he was more concerned about. As he entered his pup house and curled up, snuggling down with Officer Bear, he wondered how long he could keep up this charade. But then realized he just had to, he knew the pups were worried about him. Especially after seeing that single tear from the day before, he wasn't about to let that happen again. He couldn't possibly let his team, or Ryder, down by letting them see his weakness. The thought of his friends seeing him cry the way he had the last twenty-four hours, was a thought he couldn't bare to see come true! Chase was practically Ryder's right-hand pup, and for the others to see him crumble to bits after one rescue gone wrong, was a sickening thought. He bit his lip uneasily, I can never let that happen again! He thought. What kind of a leader would I be if can't hold it together after one accident! Then the full realization of his new role hit him, like waking up from a dream and realizing the events of the dream were real. I'm the leader now. He concluded. Shivers rippled up and down his back at the thought of it, making the hair on his back stand on end. His paws quivered, how can I be the leader? But as he thought about it, his thoughts slowly morphed in and out about it, when his mind was finally put to rest; for the time being anyway.
Hey guys what's up?!?! Glad you guys are still enjoying my work!! I have so many plans for fanfics just like this one!! So I hope you guys stay tuned, cause more is yet to come. Both in the fanfic, and in more!! Thx!!!!!!