Chapter four: Self Doubt

After dinner, the pups decided to watch a little Apollo: Super Pup. Chase slumped down into the pillow miserably watching the television. Marshall glanced over to him, upon hearing a half-hearted sigh come from him.

"What's wrong Chase?" Marshall asked, drawing everyone's attention to the silent pup. Chase sighed deeply.

"I don't know." His ears dropped a bit. "I just can't stop thinking about my nightmare. And-.. the parachute."

"Oh Chase." Skye sighed, getting up to stride closer to him. "There's no need to worry about all of that"

"Yeah!" Rocky piped up.

"You didn't fall like your nightmare said, and all you got was a scratch out of it." Rubble pointed out.

"Yeah.. But I still feel so- silly to still be afraid anyway!" Chase flattened his ears to his neck and laid down again.

"It's ok Chase!" Rubble patted him on the shoulder.

"What happened that day was scary... even for me." Rocky encouraged.

"It's my fault anyway." Marshall reminded him. "If anyone should feel bad... it's me."

"Don't say that Marshall!" Chase protested, walking his front paws up to a sitting position. "It was an accident. They happen all the time."

"I know." Marshall shrugged. "But I can't help but feel bad anyway." Chase's ear twitched back again. "You do?" Marshall nodded tenderly, showing a little embarrassment. "Oh." The German Shepard sank down onto his pillow again, and whined quietly.

"But it's ok." Marshall went on, grabbing Chase's gaze again. "I know I made a mistake, but you're safe... and that's all that matters." He paused before continuing. "Don't worry, Chase!" He told his friend, seeing his uncertainty. "Everything's gonna be ok. We won't let anything bad happen to you!"

"You bet dude!" Zuma barked in agreement. Howls and yips followed from the other pups. Chase managed a slight smile, but it faded as soon as they turned back to the tv.

That night was as restless as the night before, though just the thought of the nightmare kept him awake. He squirmed and rolled; he'd laid down not long ago, but still felt he should almost asleep by now. A lingering thought became a train chugging down a long track of thought, and it suddenly crashed as an idea popped into his head. He eyes opened as soon as the idea exploded in his brain. Then, standing up, he peered one way and then another, and padded quietly toward the Lookout. Sneaking in and out of the Lookout, he returned with the colorful parachute in his teeth. He ran with it out into the yard.

"Ok parachute." He said, dropping it on the ground, gazing down at it. "We've got work to do. The wind wasn't a problem because there wasn't any, thankfully. But the darkness made it hard to fully see, he was relieved when the clouds cleared to expose the shining, silvery moon. It lit up the yard, enabling him to see better. He took the parachute, and eased it over his face; then crawled under it to the other side. Poking his head out the other side, he dove back again. When he came out the second time slipped out from under it, took one of the handles and rolled himself into it. He tried this a few times, before deciding to try something else. At one point he was laying on his back the parachute floating down over him, and he would launch it back up with all four paws; only for it to float down on top of him again. He would grab it and run with like it were a kite, the windless air letting it fall to the ground the moment he stopped running. Finally the took the solid logs in the yard, and positioned them in a particular way. Then he took the parachute, and hooked its handles onto the knots where branches once were; creating a make-shift trampoline. He gulped nervously, before carefully stepping into it. He pressed down on it with his paws and slowly started to bounce it. He finally plucked up the courage to actually jump. Upon doing so, he was bounced off of it and tumbled to the ground. Grunting a little from hitting the ground; he looked up toward the Lookout, to see that no pup stirred or moved. Stiffly getting up again, he turned and went back to his house. When he laid down again, he stared out at the parachute and sighed. He closed his eyes... and attempted to sleep.

When the sun finally came up; Chase felt the light stinging his eyes through his eyelids, and turned his head farther into his house. He was slowly rousing from his slumber, but refused to respond to it. The pup struggled to keep from waking up, but his mind drifted to thoughts of his dream and the day that followed. He clenched his eyes tighter, then sighed opening them again.

"Chase?" Marshall's voice made Chase jump up and bang his head on the roof of his house.

"Ow!" He held his head as he turned around to face the Dalmatian. "Oh, hi Marshall." His glancing down.

"Sorry," Marshall apologized, looking away, only to meet his gaze again. "Are you ok?" Chase rubbed his head before setting his paw down again.

"Yeah, I guess." The blue Police pup sighed.

"The nightmare kept you awake... didn't it." Marshall's voice lowered as he spoke. Chase stared in surprise at him, but the look the Dalmatian returned told him he knew better.

"Yes." The German Shepard sighed in defeat. "How could you tell?" He peeked up at Marshall.

"I heard you tossing and turning last night, when I got up for a drink of water." The red fire pup answered, Chase shrunk down in embarrassment. "But don't worry. I don't think anyone else heard." Chase straightened up a little at this.

"Maybe it's better they didn't." The blue Police pup thought out loud.

"Why? You know we're always here for you... right?" Marshall's blue eyes met Chase's brown ones.

"Well..yeah, but- this is different..."

"No it isn't." Marshall interrupted firmly. "This is exactly the kind of thing we're talking about." The Dalmatian pulled him close into an embrace. Chase gently patted his friend's leg, which was wrapped around his neck. His slight smile betraying him, in the way he really felt.

Barking and howling broke their tender moment, as the other pups ran by them toward the Lookout doors.

"Where are you guys going?" Marshall called, watching them coming towards him, then swiveled it around to watch them go.

"Ryder has something to tell us." Rubble answered without even stopping. Marshall and Chase looked at each other, before bounding after them.

Ryder stood their patiently waiting as the pups all scampered into the Lookout, Marshall and Chase running right into the pups ahead of them.

"Hey look!" Marshall squeaked as the pups all looked up at him. "Bowling for puppies!!" They all shared a long, hearty laugh at Marshall's joke, the began to untangle themselves.

"Good morning, pups!" Ryder chuckled, still recovering from the laughter. "Thanks for meeting me here."

"About that..." Chase spoke up, yawning. "What did you call us here for?"

"Capt'n Turbot and Francois have something really cool to show us on Rocky's island. So who's ready to go find out what it is?" A cascade agreeing barks rippled amongst them. "Ok, then grab you gear and trucks. Howls arose as the pups followed the instructions. As soon as they were ready, they all headed out together. Skye flew her helicopter, Rubble rode with Zuma on his hovercraft, Rocky drove his tugboat, and Chase rode with Ryder on his ATV.

"We're almost there!" Rocky called, recognizing the small island, on which he'd been trapped on by Humdinger and his kittens, a while back. As they approached they noticed a tall tower, much like the Lookout, had been placed on the small island. Capt'n Turbot and Francois were standing next to it waving at them.

Here it is, the next chapter! And thanks to Bluewolfbat for the inspiration! If, at all, anyone has ideas for me please don't hesitate to share them!! I think the next chapter will be the last, though. But don't worry! I have another idea given to me by another writer, and will be working on it as soon as I can! Hope you like this next chapter, as this story comes to a close. Thx!!!