Chapter 26: Nightmares and Day Terrors

PTSD : It's not the person refusing to let go of the past, but the past refusing to let go of the person. –Unknown

Chase's POV

'Almost home.'

The words repeat again and again, like a personal affirmation. Every fiber of my being fighting to keep my fluttering eyes open.

'Today was too much... for me to handle...I need to tell Ryder... when I get home. '

I keep my paws gripped to the steering wheel. Absent-mindedly starring at the endless road ahead of me. I've never had a day like this, I've never felt this awful before. Drained of any energy, feigning for sleep's warm embrace to take me. Shivers run up and down my back as the cold wind wraps around me, and despite the rush of the cold air against my fur, my eyes strain to stay open, but they manage.

And yet, somehow my head is warm and cozy, the stress and chaos of the day bleeding away from my concious, leaving me in a relaxed state.

My spirit begins to rejuvenate as time passes and I get closer to my goal, longing for the moment when my head hits my pillow. I wonder if the pups are awake, if Skye is awake... I smile at the thought as the warm sensation spreads further throughout my fatigued body.

Skye.

Braver than any other pup I know, sweeter than candy, and those sparkling... enchanting eyes, eyes that I far too often get lost in. Your an angel, flying high in the clouds above the earth. Flying circles around my heart as I watch you, hopelessly falling further for you, the higher you soar.

Mabey tonight is the night, the night I swallow my fear and confess, sing for you the song my heart wrote you. Look deep into your eyes and tell you my heart's deepest desires, give you the key to my soul.. And wait, wait in agonizing silence for you to look up to me, and say..

"Wake up Chase."

Just as I snap my head up, the front end of my blue police cruiser smashes into an oak tree in it's path. Metal compressing and scraping together, sending bright sparks into the bleak night.

My jaw clenches together as my only means of bracing myself. The power of the impact lunges me forward, with my lower half still locked in place by my seatbelt.

loud, painful pops, emanate from my back just as everything freezes in time, momentarily, before the metal clip on my life line snaps. The momentum launching me up over the dashboard, sending my limp body flying, several feet across the black sky.

Finally I land, colliding into the unforgiving, abrasive asphalt. My body scraping and rolling along the pavement like a ragdoll, twisting and contorting violently before coming to a dizzy stop.

The salty taste of warm blood dripping from my mouth brings my mind back to reality. But I dare not move, lying underneath the sky, paralyzed; electricity running through every inch of me, lighting my insides on fire.

I struggle to breathe, each breath intensifying the current surging through me. I try to yell but my voice comes out as a weak whimper. Dragging a shaky paw up to my neck, I fumble with my collar until I hear a beep, the light of my puptag coming to life, contrasting with the black void above me.

"R..ry..der?" I murmer, feeling everything inside of me shutting down,

my ears ringing loudly...my mind spinning rapidly...and my eyes darkening slowly.

I'm awake, eyes pealed open to the sudden surge of adrenaline rushing into my heart like a bullet. My chest collapsing in on itself with each breath as I struggle to fill my lungs with air. Alarm bells clanging in my mind, distorting any semblance of rational thoughts remaining in me. My eyes dart around, looking for any immediate threat within my vicinity. My surrondings are unfamiliar, definitely not the lookout.

' Where's Ryder? '

The question repeats in my head as it screams at me to get out of here, I need to find Ryder, he'll keep me safe.

I scramble to my paws awkwardly, knocking over a tray that was placed before me. I freeze in my tracks at the sudden feeling of rigidness in my movements. I look myself over, searching for anything out of the ordinary. Dull pain throbs up and down my spine. I tremble in place as my mind spirals further down into a panic.

'What is happening to me? '

My head snaps up as voices echo into my room , turning toward them I listen as they grow louder, but am stopped by the same restricting feeling in my back. My stomach churns, hyperfocusing on my racing heart and the loud taps of footsteps approaching. It's getting harder to breath as pressure spreads across my chest, every muscle in my body tensing up for the danger that is to come, if it hasn't already.

Something's definitely wrong here.

Suddenly I'm surrounded by humans in blue clothes, paniced expressions written on most of their faces. I count four of them, each one moving closer to my bed, encircling me, trapping me. Before I can think of a plan of escape, a black blur runs into the room; a pup. I watch astonished as he steps infront of my bed, facing the group of worried humans and keeping them at bay with a low bark. The pup is dressed strangely, his clothes matching the uniforms of the humans. Mabey he can help me.

" You need to calm down, it will be better for everyone." The pup says to me.

His gaze is piercing, staring at me with fierce intensity. I shift on my paws, backing away from them all to the far end of my bed. My lungs fighting to keep up with the pace my heart sets.

"Why should I trust you? What did you DO to me?"

My words hang in the air as the pup closes his eyes, as if deeply contemplaiting how to answer me. He takes a deep breath and looks up to me again with the same burning stare, a look I have seen Marshall use when dealing with patients of his own.

"My name is Cody, I am a nurse here at the hospital, your nurse, and I am here to help you, Chase." He says moving closer to me with care. "You were admitted here two days ago with severe trauma to your spine, we had to operate quickly."

I tilt my head to the side at his last remark. "Operate..wha..?" I try but my words fall short once they pass my lips.

Another deep breath leaves Cody's muzzle as he looks over his shoulder at the medical staff, satisfied that they haven't moved, he returns my pleading gaze.

"The doctors performed a proceedure called a lumbar interbody fusion. Titanium rods were placed on either side of your injured spinal cord, and secured with cobalt screws to keep your spine in a fixed position, the equipment will protect your back from any further damage, and alleviate pressure off of your nerves which will help with your pain immensely."

My breath cathes in my throat as his words hang ominously in the silence of the room.

" A WHAT? so...that's why I can't..can't move my back? Why? Ryder would never let you do that!"

"Chase, the instrument that we installed, it saved your hind legs, you wouldn't have been able to walk without it; we only fused your lumbar spine, your thoracic spine still has full range of motion." He paused making sure I was following. "Your owner did this for your own good. You have to understand that."

My body lurches forward as I fummble on my paws. Fighting to hear anything over my own racing thoughts. My stomach twists into knots the more my new reality sinks in.

The door to my room slams open, an older doctor storming in with his eyes not locked on me, but on Cody.

"Frost!" he yells stomping toward the pup." Stand aside, your out of your depth, I'll take over from here."

"Stay back Doctor, he's afraid."

The doctor grunts and pushes Cody aside with his foot, reaching for me. I instinctively recoil back, lowering my stance to him.

" Calm down mutt." he barks trying to get ahold of me. I growl, curling my lips up revealing my canines. He falters in his movements momentarily before reaching out and grabbing ahold of me by my shoulders, pinning me back against my bed. Leaving me struggling in his grip, biting at the air in pure desperation.

"Doctor, let go, your scarring him!"

"You are in no position to be giving me orders , nurse!"

My ears become glued to my head as I stare him down, growling louder than ever, feeling more wolf-like than pup.

Suddenly the pressure is lifted off of my body, I watch in shock as Cody grabs ahold of the doctor's white coat and yanks him away from me, sending him to the ground in an undignified manner.

"What the hell Frost?" He calls from the floor. "Stand down, now!"

Cody jumps on my bed, stepping infront of me, shielding me from my attacker. Growling fiercely, louder than I had just been.

"I won't let you harm my patient. Your going against everything we stand for." He barks staring daggers into the fallen Doctor's eyes.

With a loud breath, the disheveled man gets to his feet. Puasing to smooth out the wrinkles in his coat. He walks closer to us, his face red as a beet.

"Finish up your exam..and then get your tail into my office... the second your done."

He shoots me my own look of anger, turning away and brushing past the other nurses, snapping his finger and motioning for them to follow.

I let out a deep breath, letting my guard down and letting my fatigue set into my shaking body.

"Let's get you settled back in bed."

The gray pup helps me back into a comfortable position nestled under the covers. Working silently, he secures my I.V and other wires with care. His paws hit the laminent floor before he checks my heart monitor. He nods to himself and then turns to face me.

"Everything looks good here, is there anything you need before I go?"

I look down to him from the comfort of my bed, already feeling my eyelids begining to close.

"Ryder." I say before snuggling deeper into my bed's warm embrace.

"I'll call him once I'm done here." He says with a small smile.

I gvie him my own smile, watching as he begins to leave. "Thank you..for saving my tail back there."

Looking over his shoulder, he gives me a nod. "That's what I'm here for."

A.N: Hey guys its great to be back with another chapter out! It's a bitter sweet moment becuase we are approaching the end of our story, but never fear, my mind is already plotting the sequel so be sure to subscribe to get the latest updates for both the end of this book and it's successor. Thank you guys for sticking with me and supporting me throughout this process, I love you guys for that. Let me know what you guys think or if you have any predictions on how the book will end. I'm all ears! Until next time.

- W.P