The exhausted Shepherd arrived back at the lookout, surprised to find Ryder waiting for him. He was wearing a stern look on his face, his hands rested on his hips, his foot tapping impatiently as he glared at Chase. The unsure Shepherd gulped as he approached his owner with droopy ears. He sat down in front of him and looked up at Ryder, wearing an awkward smile.

"Where have you been?" Ryder asked, his eyebrows narrowing.

"What are you doing here? I thought you were at Katie's..." Chase retorted with a voice just above a whisper.

"Chase, answer my question." Ryder demanded sternly. Chase sighed deeply and stared down for a second, before his eyes landed back on Ryder's furious ones.

"I talked to Chico and apologized for the way I behaved." he admitted. To his surprise Ryder's expression immediately softened and he smiled down at his dog.

"That's my good boy. I thought you were planning something to avoid the donation from happening." Ryder said through an uneasy chuckle, causing Chase to frown.

"Why would I do that? I know it's to safe Skye's life."

"Well, you haven't been yourself lately, Chase. That's the reason I took your badge. I know it hurts you and I am very sorry you have to go through this all, but it's no reason to lose your mind and attack innocent dogs. Chico has been nothing but nice to you, he was the one worried about you and wanting you to eat, he was ready to keep his paws off Skye and treated you with respect, but you didn't do the same, that's why he decided there's no point in trying to befriend you. Just try to walk a few steps in his shoes and you'll understand. I know you're a clever boy and I know you have a heart of gold, but this demeanor of yours can't be tolerated anymore." Ryder explained, careful not to piss the egdy Shepherd off.

"Yeah." was all Chase managed to say, which surprised Ryder. He kneeled down beside his dog and started petting his head softly, flashing him a comforting smile. "I know that I can rely on you, you're my best friend, Chase. I love all my dogs and you're no exception. You mean the world to me, my big boy. I would never take anything you love from you to annoy or upset you, it's no fun to see you so sad. I had to take the badge and the uniform and I'll keep it until you've come back to your senses, it's for your own safety. Please understand that I had to do that, but I promise that I'll help you work on your behavior. We'll get through this together. And then you'll get your badge back. No, even better - you'll get a new one." Ryder said. Chase perked his ears up as he looked at his owner with hopeful eyes and a wagging tail. "Really?"

"Really." Ryder confirmed with a warm smile. Before he could even blink, Chase tackled him to the ground and started licking his face, causing Ryder to laugh heartily.

The sun started setting over Adventure Bay, taking away the sunlight and replacing it with the dimmed light of the moon and the stars. Zuma and Rocky were playing tug war, while Marshall and Rubble were watching TV. A certain German Shepherd was resting in his dog house, lazily playing with Skye's pink blanket. It made no fun, though. He felt powerless. Then an idea popped into his mind and he got up onto his legs, wearing a smirk. He sauntered past Zuma and Rocky, getting curious glances from them. Zuma let go of the rope and caused Rocky, yet again, to land flat on his butt. He glared at Zuma.

"Where to?" Zuma asked with a tail wag.

"Visiting a friend." Chase said with a playful wink, acting mysterious.

"Oh, do we know him?" Zuma asked goofily, causing Rocky to roll his eyes at the dense Retriever.

"He's visiting Skye." Rocky pointed out dryly. "Oh." Zuma said with an uncomfortable smile.

"Have fun." Rocky called out, and Chase nodded with a confident smile.

With that, he rushed off.

/ / /

In front of the animal hospital Chase used the back entrance, careful not to draw any attention towards himself. The visiting hours were over, but he suddenly had this uncontrollable urge to see Skye, so he sneaked through the corridors and hid behind various objects as soon as he spotted a nurse coming his way. Finally, he arrived in front of room 24. He let out a satisfied sigh before he opened the door and stepped inside, closing the door behind him without making a sound. He turned around again and his eyes landed on Skye. She hadn't moved one bit. Chase was aware of her state, yet he felt disappointed that not a thing had changed. Her eyes were still closed, her chest was heaving up and down, her arms and legs laid lifelessly next to her. He swallowed thickly as he took a few steps closer, concentrating on his breathing. He sat down next to her bed and rested his head on her chest. He sighed as he turned his head slightly to look at her motionless face. He enjoyed being close to her, yet it tore him apart. Everything was going so smoothly, all his wishes suddenly came true and then something like this gruesome accident happens. It crushed him and every time he saw her, it all came tumbling down on him again. His heart broke every time he entered room 24.

"Skye, can you hear me? If so, please give me a sign. Anything." he whispered faintly, but nothing happened. He frowned in sadness and closed his eyes for a moment. "I am here to tell you that you're gonna get help soon. I am so sorry that my kidney doesn't fit, but maybe Chico's does. He signed up for a donation. I am sure you know that I'm not too amused about that, but if it brings you back..."

His eyes fluttered open again. They were moist, but there were no tears. He attentively examined her face, looking for any signs of awareness, any signs of life, but nothing. Literally nothing. "I don't know where you are, I just hope that you're still wearing me underneath your fur, like you promised. Please don't forget me and fly away. You see, there's nothing holding me in Adventure Bay. I wasn't aware of that until you left me. Ryder took my badge, I am no longer serving the police. I am just sitting around and waiting for you to wake up. Every minute without you is wasted time... I considered giving up, but the other pups comfort and support me. Though, their comfort is nothing compared to yours. I don't even know what it is about you, but you mean so damn much to me... I just wish you knew." he whispered weakly, closing his eyes again, allowing a single tear to roll down his cheek. It landed on Skye's chest. As her body flinched shortly, Chase's open snapped open and he retracted his head from her body to stare at her. He was aghast.

"Skye?" he whispered hopefully, standing on her bed with his front paws. His tail started wagging as he stared at her with a smile. Though, his smile faded and his tail stopped moving as nothing further happened. Maybe it were just her muscles. He drooped his ears as he removed his paws off her bed and sat back down. He let his head hang and sighed. He flinched as the door suddenly swung open and revealed Skye's doctor.

"Oh no." he gasped as his eyes darted around the room to find anything to hide, but there was nothing. His eyes landed on the doctor's and he gave her an embarrassed grin. She tilted her head and crossed her arms, arching an eyebrow.

"What are you doing here? Don't you know it's past visiting time?" she asked rhetorically.

"I needed to see her." Chase breathed, drooping his ears.

"Well, you can always see her during the day, but at night our patients need rest. Even coma patients need sleep, Chase." she lectured him.

"When I said something meaningful her body flinched, does that mean something?" Chase asked with a subtle smile, ignoring the doctor's censure.

The doctor tilted her head further as he stared at the Shepherd with a blank expression. Telling the truth was her duty as a doctor, but why break Chase's heart on purpose? The bodies of coma patients sometimes still move or flinch, because their muscles and nerves still work. Though, she didn't feel like bereaving Chase's hopes.

"Probably. I told you that she's aware of her surroundings, at least most of the time. It's no promise, but a possibility." the doctor said with a warm smile. "Now I need you to leave, though."

"Oh, that's amazing!" Chase chirped with a wide smile.

"Have you heard of the results?" the doctor asked with an uneasy smile. Chase tilted his head as he stared at the doctor with a dumbfounded look.

"What do you mean? You already have the results?"

"Uh.. well, yes." the doctor said before she cleared her throat. "However, please leave now and come back tomorrow."

"Tell me the results!" Chase demanded.

"No. I can't. I am not allowed to." the doctor shrugged.

"What do you mean? This is about Skye, so I have a right to know." Chase protested in an egdy tone.

"Why? Are you married to her?" the doctor asked sarcastically, cocking an eyebrow. Chase blinked hard, before he stared down at his paws with an uneasy chuckle. "I guess not." he whispered.

"I can't just go around and spread informations about patients. Besides, Chico insisted that he wanted to tell you guys the results himself."

"But he hasn't." Chase grunted.

"Well, then go talk to him." the doctor suggested. Chase sighed deeply before he gave in with a nod.

"Yeah, fine. Have a good night." Chase said before he walked past her and exited the animal hospital.

He ran back to the lookout, questions dominating his mind. Why hadn't Chico called? Didn't his kidney fit? That would actually be a huge backlash. Skye needed to wake up! He arrived at the lookout and forcefully stopped in his tracks as he saw all the pups were gathered around Chico, Ryder and Katie were also there. He approached them slowly.

Noticing Chase, Chico started barking. All the pups turned their heads to look at Chase. They had been waiting for him. He sat down beside Zuma and impatiently stared at Chico, who flashed the Shepherd a soft smile. Chase arched an eyebrow.

"Look who finally showed up." Katie snapped as she crossed her arms. Chase turned his head to look at her, offering her a subtle smile.

"Katie, please." Ryder said in a calm tone.

"I thought he cares so much about Skye, yet he doesn't show up on time when Chico wants to announce the results." she spat bitterly.

"No one called me." Chase protested, frowning in anger.

"That is because your tag is missing, Chase. I had to remove it along with your badge. I forgot to tell you, sorry." Ryder apologized while running a hand along his neck. Chase's angry frown changed into a confused one.

"Why?"

"'Cause the star on your tag gives away that you're working for the police, so I had to remove it." Ryder explained with an uneasy grin. Chase let out a frustated sigh before his eyes landed back on Katie's.

"That's what you get." she snorted.

"Enough. You act like I attacked you. Even Chico was able to talk to me in a mature manner, why are you behaving so childish?" Chase retorted in an edgy tone.

"Childish? The only one acting like a child is you! You deserve that Ryder took your badge and if he listens to me he never returns it to you!"

"Katie, stop now." Ryder interfered.

"Whatever." Chase shrugged with a haughty chuckle. "Your opinion never meant a lot to me anyway."

"If you think that I'm gonna tolerate that you attack my dog, you're wrong. And I will not forgive you as easily as Chico did. Seeing you bite his neck like a predator was bloodcurdling to watch!"

"He's still alive, isn't he?" Chase snorted.

"Katie, I think you're exaggerating." Chico said cautiously.

"How can you all take this so easy? Much worse things could've happened!" she argued.

"But it didn't. Chico's fine. Give Chase some space, will you? It's enough." Ryder said, now wearing an angry expression. "And just to inform you, Chase will get his badge back as soon as he proves that he deserves it. And since he's an awesome police- and guard dog, he'll succeed in no time."

"I can't believe you! You saw it with your own eyes how he attacked my poor baby and you're considering to let that monster roam freely again?" Katie said, crossing her arms tighter over her chest.

"He ain't no monster, he's a desperate dog. His reaction was somehow understandable, so just let it go. If I can forgive him, so can you." Chico said, his nose wrinkled in anger. Chase tilted his head as he looked at Chico shortly, but soon turned his attention back to Katie.

"You know what, Katie? Leave." Ryder said, glaring at her. Katie was taken aback and covered her mouth with one hand as she emptily stared at Ryder. "You don't mean that." she whispered, feeling aghast.

"I mean it. And don't come back until you've calmed down and are ready to give Chase a second chance. I really like you, but no one talks about my pups like that." Ryder said sternly, his eyebrows narrowing.

"Fine. Chico, come on." she said as she turned around.

"I'm going nowhere." Chico said with a confused frown. Katie turned her head to look at her dog, wearing a dark scowl. "I wasn't asking you to come, it was a command."

"Well, then I guess I'm disobedient. I'm staying here to share my results with the Paw Patrol. I'll come home afterwards." Chico said confidently, causing Chase to flash him a short smile.

"You all need Jesus." Katie spat bitterly before she stomped off. After she was gone all pups had a short laugh.

"That was brave of you, Chico!" Zuma exclaimed with a sweet smile.

"Thanks... and sorry for that, Chase. You don't deserve that." he said, looking at the Shepherd. He gave Chico a reassuring nod and smiled. A genuine smile. Not a forced one. This caused Chico to return the smile.

"I got my results today." Chico said with a shaky voice.

"I know, why didn't you want the doctor to share the results with anyone?" Chase asked curiously.

"How do you know?"

"I visited Skye, that's why I was gone so long. I bumped into her doctor and she wouldn't tell me the results because you apparently insisted on telling me yourself." Chase explained with a shrug. Chico let out an awkward chuckle and nodded.

"Heh, yeah. That's true." Chico confirmed.

"Why?" Chase asked, arching an eyebrow.

"Because you deserve that I tell you eye to eye." Chico sighed.

Chase tilted his head with a confused frown, but nodded anyway. "So?"

"Well, when I signed up for the donation I didn't expect this result, to be brutally honest. I was surprised as the doctor shared the results with me. Weird feeling, I'm telling you." Chico said with a snicker.

"So, it doesn't fit?" Chase asked while drooping his ears.

"Would that really upset you?" Chico asked while tilting his head. It was like the existance of the other pups and Ryder was erased.

"I guess so." Chase shrugged, letting his head hang. Chico smiled widely at the Shepherd, those words meant a lot to him.

"Well, Chase, you have no reason to be upset. My kidney fits. I'm going through surgery in two days."

Hah! Did it before New Year! Here you go. xoxo

Katie is such a bitch, lol. And what's happening between Chico and Chase? Peace, or is it a trap?

Welp, Chico's kidney fits, Skye has finally found a donor! What will this do to Chase? Is the surgery going to go smoothly? Is Skye going to wake up? So many questions and the following chapters will answer them all. (:

This story is nowhere near over, by the way, lol. Still have a lot planned, so stay tuned. xoxo

I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH!