in downtown Los Angeles...

Mackenzie sat by a pay phone. Broken. Homeless. The one thing that held him together Was a photo of him,Chloe and max. He sat there. Looking at it. After everything he had done. After the efforts he made to escape. The government threw him on the streets. He didn't know what he was gonna do. He didn't know how to accept. He would just sit there. the owner of the shop next to him would talk to him and offer him food and shelter. He always kindly declined because he didn't want people to waste food and space on a man like him. Even when it rained... a lot of the time he would just walk around doing small jobs to afford a cheap meal. He was broken and forgotten. Poor and homeless. Disposed of by the country he swore to protect...

Jack...

Jack wandered the streets of la county drunk. People just watched and walked away. He would collapse and cry in the middle of the street and people would just throw him back on the sidewalk. He would yell at random people. And beat crackheads who bothered him. He was only 28. A drunk broken and homeless russel. He had a feeling his family would shun him. Him and Mackenzie drifted around la county for a long time before returning to la recently. They then went their separate ways. He never knew what became of rusty,Harper,blizzard and a lot of his other comrades. All he knew was that he was a drunk pathetic loser. Until one day...

Mackenzie...

Mackenzie was exposed of by a country he swore to protect. After his rescue he was thrown on the streets of some random la county town forced to wander. He drifted around the county for about 13 years until very recently when he decided to return to Los Angeles to hopefully one day return to his family. It was an average night the occasional wannabe thug tried to call him out. Or someone tried to sell him drugs. Until one night.

Mackenzie walked down a dimly lit street on south central. Out of nowhere he began to see a man who was running around. Punching fences and screaming unintelligible nonsense.

He then locked his eyes on Mackenzie.

And then began to sprint towards him.

Mackenzie was a gentle dog. He refused to fight anyone especially after war. But he knew it was fight or get his eyes gouged out.

"STAY BACK!" Mackenzie yelled getting into a fighting stance

The drugged out dog let out a rage filled shriek and tackled Mackenzie

He then pinned down Mackenzie. Clawing at his face. He was strong. But little did this man know what was in store for him. Mackenzie threw him off by uppercutting him with all his strength. The man crawled on all fours and growled like a rabid animal. When he charged Mackenzie cut it short by kicking him in the jaw. Sending him flying back. Mackenzie felt the raging soldier within him awaken.

"IF YOU COME ANY CLOSER I'LL KILL YOU." Mackenzie screamed his inner warrior awakening

The man made one more charge. Mackenzie pushed him back. And when he was on the floor Mackenzie stomped on his face. Knocking him out cold. He then heard police sirens approaching And a squad car rolled up. It was non other than bingo and bandit. They came out tasers drawn.

"STEP AWAY FROM HIM!" Bandit exclaimed

Mackenzie put his hands up. And stepped away.

"FACE AWAY FROM US!" Bingo ordered

Bingo then came in and cuffed Mackenzie

Mackenzie was covered in blood and sweat.

Bingo sat him on the side walk as an ambulance escorted the man to the hospital and helped treat some of Mackenzie's wounds.

"sir what happened?" Bandit asked

Mackenzie saw bandit and bingo. Their name tags reading heeler. He knew it was them.

"he attacked me sir. I defended myself. He tried to claw my face. So I stomped his pathetic face."

Mackenzie said his inner army ranger fully awakened.

Bandit looked at him he knew it was Mackenzie. The accent And his fur pattern and a lot more traits that were identical to Mackenzie

"What's your name mate?" Bandit asked

"Mackenzie..." the collie said in an emotionless voice

"wait... Mackenzie?" Bingo asked

" bingo? mr heeler?" Mackenzie asked returning to his normal state of mind

"oh my god..." bingo said in shock

"We all thought you were dead why have you been out here. For all these years?" Bandit asked

"I've been drifting. The army just threw me away. No contacts or benefits. In any case I'm pathetic... Chloe and max wouldn't wanna see me anyway." Said Mackenzie sorrowfully

"nonsense. Listen. Max is 14 now. Chloe needs you. Max needs you. Look we can help you." Chloe said kindly putting her paw on his shoulder

"Your not under arrest Mackenzie. It was self defense. Let us help you. Max and Chloe have been missing you for these past few years. This is a very important time in Max's life where he needs a good role model and father figure. Let us help you" said bandit

Mackenzie had the chance to make things right. The soldier within him burned out. He could see his true love again. His precious pup.

"You will? After me being gone for all these years?" Mackenzie asked in shock from their kindness. Then again he had known them since he was a child.

"We promise. Just come with us." Bandit said as he helped Mackenzie up

Bingo and bandit declared the situation code 4 and took Mackenzie to the hospital where he got his wounds stitched and treated. And then to the station where he slept and cleaned up.

Once he got himself together he gathered up his pocket money and went to a motel. The with the help of bandit,loza and bingo he was able to get a job at the sheriff's dept. due to him having good record and being stable enough. Seeing his family again kept him going after academy he was able to afford a small apartment. And a car. Where he settled for a while. Until the big day.

At chloe's house...

Max laid down in his room messing with some of his transformers figures until he heard a knock at the door. He looked from the upstairs balcony to see his mom answer it.

He saw a black and white border collie standing at attention. After a long pause from both of them. they hugged. Both crying. It couldn't be. It just couldn't be.

Max walked downstairs.

He made eye contact with Mackenzie.

"max?" Mackenzie asked as his eyes lit up immediately recognizing his pup

"dad?" Max asked recognizing his father from pictures and memories of when he was a baby.

Tears began to fill his eyes. Was he finally back?!

The 2 ran to each other and hugged.

"I'm so sorry son. I love you so much. I promise I won't ever leave you again." Mackenzie said as max sobbed into his chest

"it's ok dad. I love you." Said max forgiving his father

The 2 sobbed as they hugged tight.

"how did you find us? Where have you been for all these years?!" Chloe asked in shock and confusion

They sat down and began to talk.

"Me and Jack were captured by militants. Beaten. And tortured for their amusement until we were rescued. But then they just gave us medals and threw us on the streets Of some random town in the outskirts of the county miles away. For years me and Jack drifted not having the courage to come home. Until a few months ago. When me and Jack decided to return to Los Angeles and eventually went our separate ways

The community re welcomed Mackenzie after his absence for about 12 years. After a cookout and celebration Mackenzie and rusty sat on Rusty's porch.

"hey man. I'm so glad your back. How has it been all these years?" Rusty asked

"I'm glad to be back to brother. But yeah. It was hard. It was painful. Emotionally and even physically. But I had to stay strong mentally if I ever wanted to see my son and wife again..." Mackenzie explained

"I feel ya man. It was a hard road to get to where I am now. anyway why did they just throw you on the streets? With no benefits or pay,etc"

Mackenzie: the only excuse the va gave me and Jack was low resources and staff. Yet I don't see why they didn't just have my family get me. I will never understand and I think the govt needs reform. It's been a hard and unforgiving life. But hey! Things are so much better. I have people to talk to. I have my precious son and wife. That's all I've ever needed.

"yeah. I feel the same way. The va barley gave me any benefits. To be honest I Don't even know why I extended my contract for so long. I only recently retired. Served about 10 years. But to be honest I don't know what I'd do without my kids and Indy." Said rusty

"I feel you brother." Said Mackenzie

"it's gettin late mate. I'll talk to ya tomorrow." Said rusty as he got up

"ok buddy. See ya in the morning." Mackenzie said as he also got up

The 2 hugged as they went inside their homes

A few days later...

Jack laid on the cold hard slide walk curled up on his side. Shaking because of his adhd. He just laid there. Doing nothing saying nothing. People just walked passed him. Saying nothing. After a while he got up and began walking around. He walked into a liquor store and used whatever money he had left to buy a thing of vodka. Once he left the store he just chugged. The whole bottle. He stumbled around. Mumbling before vomiting and passing out on the curb. He woke up to bright red and blue lights. And 2 police officers standing over him. With concerned expressions. One had red fur and the other one had black fur.

"hey monsieur. Are you with us?" Jean asked with concern

Jack's head hurt super bad but he knew he had to comply.

"w..what seems to be the problem." Jack asked as he held his held hungover

"we got reports that you were wandering around drunk puking and stuff. Is everything ok?" Jean asked

"yeah. I guess I had to much to drink sir. My apologies" Jack said respectfully

"it's all good mate. Can I get your name?" Rusty asked

"j..jack russel." Said Jack

It had to be a coincidence. But no. He sounded the same. Same accent. Same breed. And then he noticed it. The scar on his chest. From a bullet. And

Jack looked up at rusty and saw his name tag.

Jack quickly backed away

"woah!" Jean exclaimed putting his hand on his taser holster

"easy Jean!" Rusty exclaimed

"I'm sorry. He just startled me." Said jean easing off

"It's ok." Said rusty calmly trying to calm Jack

Jack began to shake his head. Chills running down his spine.

"jack!" Rusty exclaimed

"nononono..." Jack muttered in a trance

Rusty knelt down

"listen to me I know it's you brother! You took that bullet for us! It's me man! It's rusty!" Rusty said

Jack looked up. And began to cry.

Rusty pulled out tissue from his pocket and wiped jack's tears. A tear also falling from his eye.

"rusty... I'm so s..sorry." Jack said as he cried

"it's ok brother. Just breathe mate. Your ok. Everything is gonna be ok." Rusty said as he comforted Jack

"oh my god... r..rusty. I. I." Jack was cut off

"sh sh. It's ok brother. I'm here." Rusty said as he hugged Jack

"My m..mom m..my s..ister my d..ad." Jack muttered

"they're ok jack! They all miss you. They have been looking for you for years!" Rusty exclaimed

"I failed them. I failed our unit." Jack said shamefully

"you almost died saving our butts! Listen man. We still live in Mayberry. It's close. That's where all of us live. We built it up. A lot of us had kids. And we are still growing. We want you to be a part of it. Even Mackenzie is back. Listen. We're gonna get you off of that alcohol. We are gonna get you cleaned up. We are gonna make things right." Rusty said with an encouraging smile

Jack smiled a bit. Rusty also smiled. Jean and rusty then helped him up. And escorted him somewhere safe.

Over the next few weeks jack reunited with his parents. They took him in. Understanding the reason why he was gone and lost. He got a job working at wintons shop and began to make money to support himself. And eventually move into one of the new houses on Mayberry.

Things were getting back to normal. Rusty and all the others who were vets on Mayberry and around Los Angeles decided to start a program to reach out to homeless or struggling vets.

Things were finally going back to the way they were.

Tbc