What's up, everyone? I'm back from being sick (almost :-P ) and raring to write! It sucked that I had to get sick right when the story was taking off, but alas, I couldn't bear to let my ideas just sit around. With this chapter, be forewarned that there may be some thoughts or images that are disturbing, and there will be a lot of emotion. Oh, and just a sidenote, to all of those guests and reviewers reviewing multiple times, asking for EverestxChase, I don't plan on it. Anyways, I'm pretty happy with this chapter, and so I hope you enjoy!

"Well, when we got Chase's chest open, we quickly discovered that a chip of bone from his rib cage punctured one of his lungs, and it had collapsed. We had no choice but to leave him opened up while priority was redirected to inflating his lung and sealing the puncture. All attempts to reinflate it thus far have been unsuccessful, so we have him on life support to keep oxygen flowing to his brain while we continue treatment. Unfortunately, it's not very safe to leave a patient open for a long period of time while they aren't being operated on, as it increases the likelihood for an infection to develop. So we have all of our best surgeons, including myself, working around the clock to ensure that he has a successful operation."

Chase's surgeon made sure that everyone present understood what he told them, and told them that he would report back when progress was made. He hurriedly made his way back to the Operations Room, leaving Ryder and the pups to themselves.

But it wasn't quiet for long. As soon as Chase's surgeon closed the door, a low growl suddenly broke the silence among the group. Everyone's eyes turned to meet the sound, and they were met with an unlikely sight.

"He had it coming to him," a vengeful Rocky spoke quietly, but boldly. This was enough to attract Ryder and Skye's attention, but Rocky went on. "That's right, Chase. You're a monster. With no regard for anyone's safety, you mercilessly attacked Marshall. You even shoved Skye hard enough to knock her down. You're so selfish to even THINK of hurting your two closest teammates. One was your best friend, and the other was your mate. And you ripped them apart like they meant nothing to you at all..."

Ryder took this moment to interject in utter disbelief at what he was hearing.

"Rocky? What has gotten into you? That's no way to talk about your teammate."

Rocky gave an amused laugh, and then retaliated.

*pfft* "He's hardly a teammate anymore. Ryder, I was there when Chase tackled Marshall to the ground. I saw how violent he was to Marshall, ripping his ear off, crushing his leg, and making no effort to stop. Heh, if I wouldn't have jumped in and knocked him off of Marshall, I have no doubt that he would've went for the finishing blow. He wanted Marshall dead. I saw the bloodlust in his eyes. He was only crippling Marshall's leg to keep him from running away, before he finished him off. He was going to go for Marshall's throat. I-" Rocky paused, sniffling as a tear trickled down past his nose. "I saw it all, Ryder. I saw him grin as Marshall's eyes rolled back in his head. I saw him eye Marshall's throat with a look of pure satisfaction. He was trying to eliminate his competition, *sniff* and he would've done it if I didn't jump in and protect Marshall. Imagine what would've happened if I got there only a few seconds later. We...we would've lost our fire pup...*sniff* If it wasn't for Marshall...I-I wouldn't be here." Rocky teared up as he began to remember that fateful day.

Flashback

It was a warm and beautiful day at the pup park, and all of the pups in Adventure Bay were down there enjoying their day. All...except for one pup.

"Hey, Rocky, what'cha got there?"

The gray pup looked up to see the face that had striken fear into his heart for months now. Swallowing his fear, he tried to keep calm.

"It's something I invented from a spoon and some old boards. It launches things, whatever you want!" Rocky took pride in his launcher, and he paused to let the pup take a good look at it. After a good few seconds, he looked at the brown Pitbull known as King, awaiting his reaction with a cringe. And as expected, it wasn't good.

"Heh, you said you made this out of some garbage, right?" King sneered. "Well, it's not bad for a bunch of trash. Say, how big of an object do you think it could launch?"

"Well, it couldn't be much bigger than a cat or a small p-" but he never got the chance to finish. King grabbed Rocky around his neck and forced him into the bucket of the launcher. With an evil smile, he turned it to face the community pool.

"King! Wait! I don't like water! I don't know how to sw-" The launcher was triggered, and Rocky was sent flying through the air. As he began falling, he said his prayers.

"Thank you for giving me my brain, and my heart, and making me who I am. Even if people don't appreciate me, I know that in the end, it doesn't matter. Thank you for giving me life, and giving me those who care about me, even if it wasn't very many." His prayers continued as he hit the water.

"Well, I don't have long now, but thank you for giving me a chance. I'm just sorry that I couldn't do anything with it." And with that, Rocky closed his eyes, ready to accept his watery grave.

But life apparently had a different plan for Rocky.

Before he knew what was happening, he was yanked out of the water by a paw. The unknown pup sprawled him out on the warm grass, letting him cough and splutter. After coming to, Rocky opened his eyes to see the Devil himself.

"Heh heh, you think I would let you die in there? And end my fun forever? Aww, I couldn't let you off that easily!" The pitbull smiled disgustingly as he dragged Rocky along the ground by his collar. As he was being dragged to god knows where, Rocky only had one thought.

"Why am I still alive? I was so close to being free, and I had to be pulled away from what I wanted. Hopefully, this time he finishes the job."

But this time, someone noticed.

All of the commotion caught the attention of a little Dalmatian, who was off playing by himself.

"What is that pup doing to him?" he asked himself, dropping his tug toy. He stood up to get a better look at the situation. And what he saw was horrible.

"Hey, Rocky, how would like to become the honorary mascot of the park? We could even get you your own flag!" King took Rocky up the slide, and up the metal steps to the top of the playset. From there, he grabbed Rocky's collar with his teeth, and hoisted the mixed breed up onto the flagpole.

Rocky immediately grabbed for his throat, being choked by his weight pulling him down.

"Hmm, this flag's looking a little wet. Maybe I ought'a let it dry out a bit. Don't worry, I'll be back to check on you in a while!" And with that, King left Rocky hanging from the pole.

Rocky was struggling to get himself free. There was almost no way he could escape. But frankly, Rocky didn't care all that much. Rocky almost smiled as he looked on at the rest of the pups playing. It was at this moment that every pup in the park was happy.

As Rocky's collar dug into his throat, he made no effort to free himself. He welcomed the feeling of sleepiness when it came to him. He would've laughed if he could've. He was excited for all of the pain, and the torture, and the living to finally end. He happily closed his eyes as he felt himself start to pass out.

But of course, life wouldn't let Rocky off that easily.

He was again jerked from his current position, and hurriedly tugged out to the sand. The Dalmatian who rescued him began to check Rocky over, looking for any sign of serious injury. First, he checked to see if he was breathing.

"Okay, he's alive!" The spotted pup rejoiced as he removed his head from the gray pup's chest. But trouble was on the horizon.

King had returned with some of his pals to show them what he had done to poor Rocky. And naturally, he talked himself up to make it sound like he was fantastic. But when he and his friends got to the playset, Rocky was no longer stuck on the pole. King's gang turned to him, looking for an explanation. Stuttering for a second, he quickly scanned the area. And then, he laid eyes on the answer. Standing over the top of the gray pup was none other than the Dalmatian, growling and baring his fangs.

"You did this to him." he challenged King.

The pitbull laughed as he saw the pathetic excuse of a pup try to intimidate him.

"Oh, boy. Ya got me! Ooh, I'm really scared! Hey guys, how 'bout some help with this one!" He turned to look to his friends, and they nodded with a grin. Everyone's eyes returned to the Dalmatian, who was prepared to defend Rocky with his life. The bigger pups quickly circled around him, and began to take jabs at him. The spotted pup was quick, though, quicker than the big, muscular pups. He had no problem dodging their blows, but their assault had barely started. He knew that unless something happened quickly, the bigger pups would easily overpower him. With a quick breath of mental preperation, he readied himself to die for his new friend.

Without any warning, the Dalmatian lunged at King. Despite his size disadvantage, his will to protect was unmatched. He caught the pitbull off guard, and they were sent tumbing away from Rocky. King's gang didn't know how to react; no one had ever been able to take King down. They merely stood and watched as the two pups battled. The smaller pup knew his advantage was speed, so he needed to tire King out. They circled around each other like boxers in the ring. King, being the stronger and more aggressive pup, slowly made his way over to meet his assailant. But he was easily avoided as the spotted pup danced circles around him. In frustration, King made a blind dash for him, hoping to shock him still so he could finish him in one blow. He threw every ounce of energy into the charge, and it almost worked. But he was sidestepped as easily as a bull, and was sent flying past his target. King got going too fast for his own feet, and sent himself rolling to the ground, completely exhausted. The Dalmatian took a moment to look over where his friend was, and to his surprise, he was awake, and watching the entire fight.

Rocky coughed up copious amounts of blood as he was stirred from his unconsciousness by a large commotion. There, staring at the pitbull who made him wish that he was dead, who was now laying on the ground, was a Dalmatian pup of about his own size. But his thoughts were interrupted when the Dalmatian suddenly bolted towards King, and struck him in the head with the force of his whole body. A sickening crack echoed throughout the park, and then, King was still.

After impact, the spotted pup paused, looking at the result of his actions. Realizing what he had done, he turned to look at King's gang, and began approaching them with a look of determination. They didn't have to think twice to run for the hills. After seeing them sprint away as fast as they could, the Dalmatian ended his facade of acting tough. He bent down over the top of the gray pup, and began to cry.

"I-I just wanted to protect you...I-I killed him instead...I didn't mean to, I just..." Rocky put a paw to his muzzle, and hugged him as hard as he could. "Th-thank you. He's...finally gone. I-He bullied me every day, and I-I wasn't strong enough to fight back. Thank you, uh..."

"Marshall, my name is Marshall." The Dalmatian smiled. "What's your name?"

"R-Rocky. That's what my parents...used to call me." He paused as a tear dripped down onto Marshall's shoulder. But Marshall didn't let him talk any more. He quietly wiped Rocky's eyes, and looked at him.

"Rocky, I've never really had anyone to be with either. My parents...sent me away. They called me a "problem child", and told me that the way I behaved wasn't normal. I've always been a clumsy pup, but they thought I was-br-broken. So, they took me out in the city, and dropped me in the middle of a busy street. They were hoping that I would die there, and after I managed to scamper off to the side before being hit, sometimes, I look back, and I wish I would've..." Marshall trailed off before tearing up himself. He grabbed Rocky again, and held him in an embrace.

"That is, until I found you..." Marshall rocked him back and forth as he began to sing.

"I dreamed I was missing, you were so scared. But no one would listen, 'cause no one else cared.

After my dreaming, I woke with this fear. What am I leaving, when I'm done here?

So if you're asking me I want you to know...

When my time comes, forget the wrong that I've done. Help me leave behind some, reasons to be missed.

Don't resent me, and when you're feeling empty, keep me in your memory, and leave out all the rest, leave out all the rest."

Marshall paused to see Rocky crying on his shoulder. He held his head close to him as he continued expressing how much Rocky meant to him.

"Don't be afraid. I've taken my beating, I've shed but I'm me.

I'm strong on the surface, not all the way thorugh. I've never been perfect, but neither have you..." Marshall finished with a tear of his own as he nuzzled his head on Rocky's head.

"Rocky, we are of the same life. We are one in the same. We...are family. I love you like a brother, and I want you to be a part of my life." Marshall released the embrace and put his paws on Rocky's shoulders.

"Can you do that for me?"

Rocky looked up to meet his brother's gaze, and gently licked away Marshall's tears.

"Yes, brother, we will no longer live alone in pain, but together in love." The two brothers just sat there, in each other's arms, watching the sky as their new lives began.

Hopefully some of you guys recognized the song that Marshall sang to Rocky :-P For those who were wondering, it was "Leave Out All the Rest" by Linkin Park. As I was writing that scene after Marshall killed King, the song started playing in my head, and I immediately saw how it fit in. This chapter's goal was to show why Rocky cares so much about Marshall, and how their relationship is infinitely strong. Hopefully I achieved that, so drop a review with what you're thinking! Next chapter should be out by Monday, so hopefully I can stick to my own schedule this time :-P Thanks for reading!