Chapter ten: Healing Comes

The fire's long glowing tentacles reflected off Chase's terror-stricken brown eyes. Skye dumped another bucket of water, which didn't make much of a difference. Rubble set the door down off to the side and shoveled dirt onto it; so it wouldn't catch fire too.

"I'm going in!!" Marshall called, putting on his mask, and spraying water into the flames to enter the burning building. Chase stood nearby waiting for the Dalmatian to return, as the flames continued to crackled and pop. Chase heard a whirring noise in the distance and turned to see what it was. Far off, coming from Adventure Bay, was the Air Patroller, with a large object hanging from it.

"Yes!" Chase cheered to himself, then looked back into the flames hoping to see Marshall and their friends emerge.

Marshall peered through the smoke and flames, spraying every which way. Until he finally caught sight of the figures of his friends huddled together in a corner of the barn. Chasing the fiery fingers away with his water cannons, he reached Farmer Al and his animals.

"Everyone! Follow me! I'll lead you to safety!!" Marshall called, over the noise of the fire raging around them. Farmer Al and the animals cautiously followed, and were relieved when they finally emerged from the flames; and into the cool of the coming night. Chase stood there next to the door relieved that they made it out.

"Zuma, Rocky, Marshall, lead them to the enclosure," Chase instructed. "Rubble block them in." The Air Patroller was almost there. Marshall headed off after the other pups, then stopped and turned around toward Chase when he heard another cracking noise.

"*gasp* Chase look out!!" Marshall screamed jump toward him. Chase looked up just in time to see a brown object coming down, and then darkness...

Chase could hear his own heart beat steadily thumping in his chest, as he slowly began to wake. The patter of rain and the rumble of thunder outside somehow reached his ears. His vision blurred back to normal as he returned to consciousness; the big worried eyes of the other pups meeting him. Chase attempted to raise his head, but the thumping intensified and he dropped his head onto the pillow again.

"Easy Chase." Marshall warned gently. The German Shepard groaned then looked up again, but just with his eyes; to wait for the thumping to subside. He then realized that his eyes burned and his head was wrapped up. Marshall straightened the ice pack on his forehead and stepped back again.

"Ugh, What happened?" Chase groaned hoarsely. "*gasp* the fire! Ow!" Chase's head was slammed again with heavy thumping when he thrust his head up, upon the realization he'd just made. He set his head down again and Ryder re-place the ice pack over his head.

"It's ok, Chase." The boy said, patting the pup's back. "Everything's fine."

"You took a hot board to the head." Marshall told him.

"And then the Air Patroller showed up and dumped a lot of water onto the barn, and put out the fire." Skye added.

"The animals and Farmer Al are all fine. We've found a place for the animals to stay until we can fix the barn." Rocky said, "there was a lot of damage."

"We flew you back to the Lookout in the Air Patroller." Rubble put in. "Your truck too."

"Oh, ok." Chase said, his eyes dropping to the floor. "I guess I messed this rescue up too, huh."

"Awre you kidding?! You wewre awesome!!!" Zuma squeaked excitedly, wagging his tail violently.

"Yeah! The day was saved because of you Chase!" Marshall agreed. The pups barked and howled their agreement.

"The pups are right! You did great, Chase!!" Ryder told him fondly. Chase gave him a quizzical stare.

"I saw the whole thing." Ryder told him reading his mind.

"What? How did you-?" Chase perked up at this, but was reminded to take it easy by the thumping in his head returning.

"I watched it all through your pup-tag... and the periscope." Ryder explained. Chase looked down thoughtfully at his pup-tag. "Congratulations Chase! You were a great leader!!" Ryder told him, gently rubbing the German Shepard's head. "You're such a good pup!" Chase smiled bigger than he'd ever smiled since Ryder's accident, and everyone knew that Chase was back to his old self again. Lightning flashed outside startling to pups, but then they all burst out laughing at the fact that they were scared by it. Chase stayed and rested by Ryder, who was still resting himself; due to his leg still being in the cast. Marshall had already pointed out that Ryder would be able to get it cut off soon and begin trying to walk again. Though he said that that wouldn't be for, at least, another week. But Chase didn't mind, he knew now that there was nothing to worry about. And was now just glad they were all here together.

The next morning Ryder awoke to a field of sleeping pups. He was still where he sat down last night next to Chase, who was still sound asleep. The German Shepard looked peaceful for once, like he was actually getting a good night's sleep. Ryder knew it was partially because he hadn't slept well since his accident, but he also knew it was because he didn't feel scared or guilty anymore. His thoughts and the sight of Chase brought a smile to the boy's face, as he proceeded to scan the rest of the pups. Skye yipped in her sleep, as Rocky shifted his position. Rubble snored away and rolled onto his back. Zuma silently snoozed with his head laid gently on his paws. And Marshall's head was rested against Chase's side. Ryder held back a tender chuckle, especially at the sight of Marshall and Chase. He knew how close those two pups were, and had remembered the first day the met. They were almost inseparable, and continued to be so to this day.

Chase was exhausted when he woke up, but knew that it was just because of what had happened the day before; as well as the three days before that, when he ran away from home for that time.

After breakfast Marshall approached Chase and sat down down next to him nestling himself close to his friend.

"So Chase, why did you run away? And where do you go?" He asked slowly, half wondering if he should ask. Chase sighed, he knew he needed to tell them what happened, and he was no longer afraid to talk about it.

"I ran for exactly what I told you. I was too scared to talk about it." Chase explained nervously. "I stayed in a cave in the mountains, I hid there because I knew that if I was deep enough; you guys couldn't track me."

"So that's why your pup-tag signal disappeared!" Ryder realized.

"But then, why did you stop taking care of yourself?" Skye asked, "because you looked terrible when you got back."

"I guess I was so caught up in my own fears, and of you guys finding me wanting me to talk about it, that I couldn't think of anything else." Chase shrugged.

"But then, what made you come back?" Rocky asked, cocking his head curiously.

"I don't know." Chase shook his head and shrugged again. "I guess, I missed you guys too much to stay away. And I was so tired at the time, that I couldn't really think straight."

"Seemed like you couldn't really see straight either." Marshall commented, recalling how Chase had been staggering around that morning.

"I guess after awhile I was so tired and weak that I practically became a zombie." Chase reasoned.

"Well we're glad you're back, Chase." Skye smiled, wagging her tail gently.

"Me too!" Chase agreed, grinning back. "I feel a lot better now!" The thumping in his head had improved, and he could now, very slowly, lift his head; but he didn't dare stand up yet. He almost wondered if his paws would support him, as tired as he felt.

"And Chase." Marshall spoke up once more. "You weren't the only one having nightmares." Chase cocked his head and raised an eyebrow, but then he searching Marshall's face further; and realized what he meant.

"You too?!" Chase gasped. Marshall simply nodded sheepishly. "Oh Marshall, I'm so sorry!!" Chase cried throwing his paws around his friend, sniffling a couple of times.

"Don't cry, Chase!" Marshall said, patting his friend and returning his hug, also trying to hold back a few tears. "You've already cried enough for the past few weeks!" Then they finally split and Chase sat back on his own haunches.

"I know," he sniffled, beginning to rub his eyes again. "It's just the ashes that got in my eyes yesterday." Rocky and Skye rolled their eyes to look at each other, everyone knowing that that wasn't the real reason. But yet Chase still wore a smile on his face, despite the tears he was brushing away.

"I think we've all had enough crying for a while." Ryder smiled.

"Totally!" Zuma agreed coolly.

A few weeks later, the pups were excited to see Ryder's cast come off and a black boot replace it. Ryder was finally able to start trying to walk on it now! Chase had fully recovered days ago, and had returned to us normal self. He still felt a little nervous on missions without Ryder, but reminded himself that Ryder would soon be back leading them again. So he kept going, with that satisfying thought in mind. Soon Ryder was walking again, but he, still, had to take it easy on it; as not to cause any further damage and re-injure it. Chase became more and more excited as the days went by. Ryder was getting better everyday, and soon Marshall was able to clear Ryder for duty. The day Marshall cleared him, Ryder gathered his pups together.

"I just want to say that I'm so proud of you pups, for taking such good care of me while I was hurt. I know handling our missions without me was hard, but I'm glad you found a way to do it. And Chase, I am especially proud of you for finally admitting you had a problem and how you stepped up and tried your best to handle things. You're all such good pups!!" He told them, bringing them into a big group hug. The pups barked and ran as they went to play, and Ryder laughed at his silly PAW Patrol pups.

~Ruff Times~

So that's it, the final chapter!! Soooo glad you enjoyed it!! And just to clarify, the mention of zombies was just to give and description of Chase's looks and behavior. I do not actuallly believe in monsters. Also I'd like to give you the heads up that more PP stories are being planned. I am currently trying to finish up a few things before I start them. And shout out to Amilia13 for the story concept, hope you liked it!! And again thank you guys sooooo much for the awesome support and taking the time to read through my work!! Thx!!!!!! 3 3 :D