AN: And back at it.

Change of Heart

Chapter 4

Attacked

Everest… the only thing that she could hear was her own heart beating and the ring of her ears. Everything was out of focus and she couldn't speak. All she would see was the silhouette of Chase running over to her. She was in shock and couldn't hear what he was saying and only heard his muffled voice. She would collapse and Chase would get to work on checking her for injuries.

Rocky would have run over to the now limp body of the English Bulldog and would instantly start checking his pulse. There would be none and the Mix-breed would notice tree shots to the bulldog's back center mass and one straight in the head. Rocky would know instantly it was a lost cause for he saw pieces of brain in the bushes and a nasty exit wound where the round came out. He would notice more gunshot wounds from at the front. In total the rebellious bulldog was shot six times.

By this time both Chase and Rocky would have pressed their panic buttons and sirens could be heard not far off. Chase was checking over Everest looking for any gunshot wounds. To his horror, he found two wounds. One on Everest's left foreleg and another that grazed her throat. He would get to work by packing her wounds with gauze and would try and stop the bleeding. The bone in her leg was most likely shattered from the bullet and bone fragments everywhere.

Even with all that just happened within a few seconds Chase called on his radio he thought he would never use it like this, "Unit 02 to all units responding, the scene is code 4. Medical can roll in as soon as they get here."

"10-4 chief all units move in. Unit 02 you have scene command," said the dispatcher.

"Negative, Unit 35 you have scene command as soon as you arrive."

"10-4." responded unit 35, "I want all police units to set up a perimeter around City Hall. Unit 02 can you give details?"

"10-4. One gunman has been neutralized, one civilian was shot. Still trying to identify any other injuries on the scene," Chase answered over the radio as he finished packing Everest's wounds.

"10-4."

As the police and fire arrived on the scene. Marshall was the first EMT on the scene getting there as soon as he heard the call go out. He would drive his new ambulance onto the sidewalk and get as close as he could. He would jump out of his ambulance and rush over to his friends and would immediately check on them. When he saw Everest, his heart crumbled.

At this time Everest passed out from shock and pain. Chase would be right next to her making sure she was still breathing and replacing the gauze when it became too saturated in blood. Marshall would go into his medic mode and start to ask the questions that needed to be asked.

"Where was she shot?" the dalmatian questioned.

"She took one bullet to her left foreleg and one grassed her throat," Chase said as he got out of the way for Marshall to do his job.

As he got to work the dally would ask, "Was anyone else shot?"

Rocky came over and answered, "Rubble has been shot a total of six times. Three in the back, two right in the chest, and one in the back of the head. He is deceased."

"Did you try CPR?" Marshall said without a hinder in his voice. He was too focused to care.

"Can't really do CPR if he has no face and half his brain missing," Rocky responded.

"Understood, are you two hurt in any way?" Marshall would have stabilized Everest for now and get her ready for transport to the hospital. He would be looking over his friends.

"Not that I know of. Too much adrenaline in my system right now to tell," Chase answered.

"Same with me," Rocky confirmed.

"I'll look you over anyway," Marshall would then proceed to do a full medical exam on Chase and Rocky with the help of other EMTs when they arrived.

The perimeter would be set up by the police and Everest would be put in the back of an ambulance. She would reawaken on the way to the hospital and Chase would be right next to her to keep her calm. Rocky would stay behind and tell the police what happened.

XXX

"So what exactly happened Rocky?" A police investigator would ask Rocky as they sat on a bench near City Hall while the CSI (Crime Scene Investigators) would analyze the scene, bullet casings, the bulldog's body, and even every drop of blood and anything that seemed to be evidence. CCTV footage would be gathered from the building and everything that would happen after a major crime.

"Well, Chase, Everest, and I were walking downtown and talked with Mr. Porter. We then came here to talk with Mayor Goodway and Katie. We didn't realize so many people were here today but we didn't mind," Rocky explained. The investigator would proceed to write down everything. "Chase said that he saw something and told me to stay with Everest as he went to check it out. Moments later I hear him shout, 'drop the gun.' At that point, my training kicked in and I looked to where Chase was and then to where he had drawn his pistol. I saw Rubble in the rose bushes with a gun pointing right at me and Everest. After about three times of telling him the drop, the weapon Rubble shouted, 'there will be no peace' and then pulled the trigger from what I could tell possibly three times. Two of them hit Everest and I believe the third one was a discharge after he fell limp. Officer Chase and I, after the first shot, fired back and hit him a total of six times. My first shot missed him but Chase was deadly accurate and precise."

When Rocky finished his story. The investigator would finish writing down everything the Mix-breed reported.

"Alright, so you gave him warnings. He didn't listen to them and shot first," the investigator repeated to confirm.

"Yes," Rocky confirmed, "It should be seen in the CCTV footage and our dog tag cams. I believe I have already given you the information on how to access that."

"You did and it is on file," The investigator would then finish up and close his notebook. He would then let out a sigh. Rocky did as well.

"I can't believe Rubble would go so far as trying to kill a teammate," the last bit of adrenalin left Rocky, and the realization of what just happened hit hard, "I… I… I just killed a teammate and friend. The coldness in his eyes, the hatred I saw. He was already gone."

"I'll be in contact with you and Chase later. I'm so sorry you had to do what you had to," the investigator was sincere and got up and left.

Rocky would then just sit there trying to contemplate what just happened. Trying to understand why Rubble would do such a thing. The horrible fact is that he is dead now and was trying to actively kill either him or Everest. Plus, where did Rubble ever get a gun?

"What the fuck just happened?"

At the Hospital

Chase was looked over by the doctors for he did catch some shrapnel for he was extremely close when Rocky hit Rubbles gun making it splinter in pieces and hitting Chase.

Now, he would be in the waiting room while Everest was in surgery to fix her bone and stitch her throat. Internally, Chase was cursing inside. "Fuck fuck fuck fuck. How could I let something like this happen? How did all this shit happen within a single day? Fourth of July no less. Everest has already been through too much shit today. She didn't need to end up in the hospital." Two minutes later, Ryder, Skye, and Zuma would arrive at the hospital.

Before they could bother the receptionist, Chase would call them over into the waiting room, "Hey, over here."

The trio would make their way over to Chase and sit next to him. They would notice the small number of bandages on his chest and forelegs.

"What happened Chase?" Ryder asked.

Chase wouldn't be happy. His scar says it all. Unlike a normal-ish person, Chase would be angry and not sad for what happened that day. This anger would translate into sarcasm, "Oh well… where do I start. Hmph…" Chase would look at them with a glare. It scared them all with his scar.

Chase would relax a bit and sigh, *Sigh* "Rubble had the great idea of trying to kill Everest himself. He somehow got a pistol and after three times of me trying to tell him to put the gun down, he proceeded to then fire twice or three times I can't remember. I responded by firing back and hitting him in the back and head. He's dead."

"What!?" Ryder was confused.

"Rubble tried to kill Everest. Instead, I killed him but not soon enough and that is why we are here in the first place," Chase said matter of factly. He was done, he was tired, angry, and crushed by the fact that his girlfriend was in the surgery room. Chase didn't care what Ryder had to say. Rubble had it coming to him and now he had paid for his stupidity with his life.

"What do you mean you shot him?" Skye asked.

"I KILLED HIM! OK! Rubble is dead and he is not coming back. Just was notified his body made it to the Corner," Chase looked them in the eyes. Sadness, pain, anger, hatred, all condensed into the German Shepherd. He was starting to crack, his walls coming down, his barriers crumbling. He did what he had to do, but that doesn't mean he is a cold-blooded killer. He knows what happens when a police officer kills an 'innocent' soul, all hell breaks loose.

Ryder, Zuma, and Skye didn't say a word. They knew it would only make it worse having him talk about it at the moment. All three would sit next to him and comfort him. They also have seen things like what is about to spill.

"Why does this have to happen, on the 4th of July no less?" Chase would whimper quietly.

Ryder would respond by just rubbing Chase's back slowly up and down to help him relax. The four of them would then just stay there for a while and just comfort Chase and help prepare for what Hell is about to be unleashed.

2 hours and 15 minutes later.

At this time the rest of the PAW Patrol and some other friends would have arrived in support. Chase would still be on the same chair he was on when Ryder, Zuma, and Skye arrived but this time surrounded by Marshall, Rocky, Zuma, Skye, Tracker, and Ryder. Mr. Porter would have arrived, with his grandson Alex, Katie would be there as well as Captain Turbot. Three officers would also be there for Chase's own protection because not only was the police department a sort of brotherhood but he also was their chief.

All including the receptionists and other patients would be in respectful silence for Chase and the rest of the PAW Patrol. Soon enough this silence would break when Everest's surgeon would come from the doors. Chase would be the first one to look up and see him. His eyes would become hopeful for good news. The doctor would come over to the fairly large group and would get their attention, "Um… excuse me. Are you Ryder and Chase?"

Chase would only nod while Ryder would say, "Yes?"

The doctor would nod and then say, "I'm Dr. Bennett Markwood. I am Everest Snow's surgeon. I would like to inform you that she is out of surgery and has woken up slightly. She wrote she wanted to have you near. Our policy is that only two people can see a patient after surgery. I can lead you to where she is for the moment while she recovers."

Chase didn't hesitate and got out of his seat. He had no words and was eager to see his love. Ryder would have noticed the word 'wrote' in Dr. Markwood's sentence but pushed it aside for the moment and then he and Dr. Markwood would catch up to the German Shepherd. The doctor would lead them to room 450 where Everest would be lying in a bed with her left foreleg in a cast. She would be laying down on the bed like a normal dog with bandages on her neck and her injured leg lay nice and straight out in front of her.

Dr. Markwood would open the door and let Chase in after the Shepherd pawed at the door like a begging puppy. Everest would weakly look over and see Chase running over to her. She would wag her tail slightly and her face said it all. She was drugged up with painkillers to ease the pain in her leg and throat. She would have several whines of joy escape her muzzle like a happy puppy. Chase would hop up on her bed and lay next to her and say, "I'm here Ev. I'm here with you."

All Everest could do was moan in happiness. Chase would snuggle her making sure he doesn't hurt her more. The Husky would accept the affection with licks to his muzzle.

Ryder and Dr. Markwood would be at the doorway watching the two love-struck canines. Dr. Markwood would try to hide his forming tears by looking away and grabbing the clipboard of the end of Everest's bed that had all the reports. He would go back to Ryder and give him the news.

"Ryder, I have good news and bad news," Dr. Markwood would say while trying to maintain his composer.

Ryder would shake his head in sadness, "Start with the bad news."

Dr. Markwood would nod and start to read off the clipboard, "Due to Everest being shot in the throat she was lucky enough for it only to graze her and not puncture any arteries. However, the bullet did damage her vocal cords. I'm afraid that the possibility of her never speaking again is extremely high and most likely."

"She'll never speak again?" Ryder's eyes would start the water.

"It will take a miracle for her voice to heal let alone all the way back. I'm not ruling out the possibility, but it is highly unlikely," Dr. Markwood would clarify.

"What's the good news?" Ryder said wanting to get to the good part.

"The good news is that we removed all the bullet and bone fragments from her leg and have repositioned it. Given time and lots of rest, her leg will be healed normally. She will need to spend the night here with us so we can monitor her and make sure she has no other problems," Dr. Markwood would explain.

"Is there a possibility for Chase to stay with her?" Ryder asked.

Dr. Markwood would nod, "I can arrange that. For the fireworks, they will be able to see from here out the window. We are on a hill here and on the fourth floor. From here they will be able to see everything."

Ryder would nod and look back at the two canines. Everest would be using Chase as a pillow and would be resting her head on his side.

The leader of the PAW Patrol would walk over and pet Everest on the head gently and then proceed to sit next to the bed on a chair and would stick with the two love birds.

AN: Shorter than usual but I want to get this story done.