Chapter eleven: Sorrowful, Regretful

"It makes sense, Dad." Billy said, after explaining his findings. "Who else could it be?"

"We don't have enough evidence to prove it." Frank returned firmly. "We can't go accusing them simply because we think or wish it to be so."

"But Dad, isn't there even a slight possibility of it being true?" Maggie put in hesitantly. Frank scratched his chin thoughtfully.

"Perhaps." He shrugged. "But our evidence still must be more concrete, true or not. You're a police officer, Billy. You should know this by now."

"I know." Billy sighed, dropping his gaze.. and shoulders. "You're right." He finished placing his hands to the table in front of him. Maggie quickly stepped in to place a hand on her brother's shoulder tenderly. "It's just that, that boy is counting on us. I don't wanna let Ryder down... or Chase... I've already failed him once."

"What are you talking about, son?" Frank wondered, leaning forward slightly in his chair.

"I was late in getting back to Chase for more training that day." The younger man admitted sheepishly. "That's probably why Chase wandered off to find me."

"William Prescott, don't you ever blame yourself for this!" Frank told him sternly. "You know how curious Chase was back then. Ever since he was born he was getting into trouble, that we needed to help him out of. And how independent he could be at times. He thought he could handle finding you by himself, he's young. And he's grown up since then. But don't think, even for a moment, that you being, even a little late, makes this whole accident your fault."

"Chase probably would have gone off on his own in any case." Maggie told her brother. "You know what dad always told him. If he hadn't wandered off and accidentally gotten sent to Adventure Bay; he may have still ended up there another way."

"Yeah, but if my guess is right. He could be in big trouble." Billy reiterated. "Which means we have to get to him fast!"

"I agree, but your father is right, Billy." Officer Garcia spoke up. "We can't get legal access to the place without solid proof that it is necessary."

"Then I suggest we start looking." Billy decided gravely.

XXXX

"We can't just sit here!" Skyler decided. "We have to get out of here!!"

"As much as I agree with you.." Rayla sighed. "There is no way out."

"Ryder says 'there's always way out'." Chase recalled determinedly. "We'll think of something. One thing's for sure, though... we have to get out of here."

XXXX

The door slowly creaked open as it was softly pushed aside. The PAW Patrol leader plopped down on the bed, sprawling out across it, and sighed. His mind a busy metropolis, thinking about all sorts of thoughts. The busy station of his brain was mostly centered around a certain German Shepard police pup; who was still missing in action. Days had gone by, and still no word of anything pertaining to Chase or his whereabouts or rescue had been disclosed to him since Billy's last report about a possible lead. Ryder sighed again, and thought back to a moment he recalled fondly. One he desperately wished to relive...

"Ryder!!!" Chase exclaimed, jumping into the boy's arms happily. The pup licked his face vigorously, his tongue tickling against his cheek making him laugh.

"I'm glad to see you too, Chase." Ryder chuckled, scratching the pup under the chin. Katie giggled.

"We had a great time while you were gone. Did you have fun on your break?" She asked sweetly.

"Yeah, it was actually quite relaxing. But I still missed Chase a lot." The boy responded, looking down at his pup and scratching him behind the ear. Chase obliged with a cute snuggle under the boy's chin, flattening his ears for extra clearance. Ryder chuckled again and tightened his grip slightly in a hug. "Ready to go home?" He asked the pup.

"You bet!" Chase barked, racing for Ryder's vehicle. Ryder willingly released him to go, and stood up again.

"Thanks again for watching him, Katie." The boy smiled, gratefully.

"No problem." The girl returned, graciously putting a hand up and closed her eyes in a fulfilling grin. "I know caring for Chase, hasn't been easy; at his age."

"Yeah." Ryder confirmed looking over at the pup climbing into the frontal basket. "I love Chase more than anything I could ever have imagined. But I do sometimes need a break."

"And I'll be here to help if I can." Katie smiled, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sure Chase is running you ragged. Even if there is only one of him."

"Yeah." Ryder half-laughed, the sighed calmly while shrugging his shoulders. "Well, we should probably get going. Probably should get this little guy home, to get him ready for dinner and then bedtime."

"Sure thing. Have a safe trip home." Katie told Ryder. "Goodbye, Chase!" She called waving at him.

"Bye Katie!" Chase called back, as Ryder made his way over to join him. He'd placed his paws up over the basket's edge after putting his helmet on. Ryder climbed on after him and revved the engine to life again. Katie stood there waving as they headed off toward the Lookout...

Ryder half smirked, as he recalled this memory, as the one time they forgot one.. little.. detail...

CRASH!! Ryder jumped at the sudden noise, which was followed by another. A bouncy ball yelped and a squeaky toy screamed, as they were tossed across the room.

"Chase? What's going on?" Ryder asked, coming around the elevator to find the German Shepard.

"Where is it? Where is it?" The pup mumbled to himself, while throwing more toys out of the toy box and digging in more. Ryder dodged a football, bouncing uncontrollably from the box.

"Chase? What are you looking for?" Ryder asked, peering into the box. "It's almost time to go to bed."

"I can't got to bed now!!" The pup whined, poking his head up frantically, then diving back down again. "Where did he go?!"

"Who?" Ryder asked, a little more emphasis on the question.

"Officer Bear!" Chase replied, sadly looking up again. "I can't find him anywhere!!!" Chase resumed his panicked searching, tossing out a small blanket that fell over Ryder's face. He pulled it off and ducked to avoid some wooden blocks. He should have stayed down, because as soon as he stood up straight again; another stuffed animal hit him right in the face.

"Uff! Chase!" The pup looked up at Ryder, the boy's voice remaining calm and tender. "Calm down. I'll help you look for it." He said, carefully lifting Chase out of the box. "Why don't you go lay down and rest for a while. I'll see if I can find it. Ok?"

"But- But-..." The pup finally sat down where he was and sighed, lowering his head. "Ok." He said finally.

XXXX

Chase sighed and shifted uneasily, then shifted again;.. and again. Ryder looked up to watch him for a moment from across he room, before turning back to his task. He peered into the box, and then behind it; when his phone rang.

"Hi Katie, what's up?" He said, almost surprised see her name on the title.

"Hi Ryder,.. is Chase still awake again?" She asked.

"He is..." Ryder replied, glancing up at the pup. "How did you know?"

"Well I think I just found a certain bear in a police vest and hat," came the answer.

"Officer Bear!" The boy exclaimed. Chase's sad whine pulled Ryder's eyes up to him, as the pup kept his eyes closed sadly shifting positions again; almost as if the German Shepard had heard him.

"I'll bring it up to you as fast as I can." Katie decided.

"No wait, I'll come get it." Ryder interjected.

"You can't leave Chase there by himself. And you should let him rest, so he can sleep once we get Officer Bear back to him." Katie reminded him. "Just keep him company, I'll be there soon."

"You don't have to do this, I can-"

"I want to." Katie said. "It's the easiest way to do this. And besides, you wanna keep him calm so he can sleep tonight."

"Okay." Ryder sighed, giving in. "I'll stay put I guess."

"I'll be there as soon as I can." Katie told him tenderly; and they hung up.

"Ok Chase." Ryder said, as he strode over to the pup; to which the pup looked up at him, from where he lay under the covers on his pup-bed. "I found Officer Bear."

"Really?!" Chase replied, lightened up at this.

"Yes,... it's at Katie's." Ryder sighed.

"What?!" Chase cried, standing up abruptly.

"But don't worry." Ryder told him, placing his hands on the pups back to urge him to lay down again. "Katie's going to bring it to you."

"*sigh* ok." Chase surrendered in defeat.

"She'll be here soon." Ryder said, sliding down next to him. He sat by the pup and rubbed his back until the doors to the Lookout opened.

"Phew! I'm here." Katie announced, as she entered.

"Hey Katie." Ryder smiled, standing up and pacing towards her.

"Hi guys." She smiled back. "And did some pup leave his bear with me?" She hinted, holding it up and looking at Chase.

"Officer Bear!" Chase gasped, perking up again. Katie giggled as she knelt down to place it in his paws. The small German Shepard wrapped his paws around it tightly and hugged it close to his chest. "Thanks, Katie!!" Chase cried happily, his tail wagging violently under the blanket.

"No problem, Chase." The girl beamed, rising once more. Chase dropped his chin against the pillow and yawned, Officer Bear remained pressed up against his cheek. He accidentally hit the button on his nose and the music began to play. The pup's eyelids sagged, until he couldn't hold them open any longer; and he was soon sound asleep...

Ryder panned his head to the left, there on the dresser stood the bear in question; keeping watch over the silent room. Ryder pulled himself up off the bed and strode over the dresser. Officer Bear slumped to one side against the wall, with Chase's collar circled around him; and next to that.. stood a photo him and Chase. The younger version of himself remained frozen mid-chuckle as the German Shepard licked his face; Ryder remembered this fondly as the day he decided to keep Chase as his own pup. One of the happiest days of his life, it was. And how he yearned for a day like that to return, to replace the horrible emptiness that had claimed a small hole in his heart.

"Where are you, Chase?" The boy mumbled to himself, still staring the pup's belongings.

Aww, poor Ryder!! Can't wait to get the next chapter finished! And as always.. can't wait to hear your thoughts. Enjoy!! Thx!!!