DISCLAIMER: I do not own PAW Patrol, the characters, or any association of the series.
A/N: HELLO READERS! Omg I can't believe your reactions for this story guys! I love you all. Glad you're liking the beginning. This chapter was hell to write, because I had so many ideas. Thankfully, I've got it figured out. (otherwise this chapter wouldn't be up!)
Someone commented how they wished for the language to not have so much curse words. I would of responded by inbox but it's a guest review so I'll answer it here. I thought about it and yes, there are words like damn, stupid, flipping, and pissed, but that is as far I will go. I will not add any extreme curse words (like shit, fuck, etc) because I believe that would make the universe very OOC. Even though this is a children's show and I want to keep the feeling of it around the same, not everyone dog, cat, human, will have a 100% child friendly mouth. Especially since there is a gang here, some form of mild cursing will be needed. I won't change the curse words from the pervious chapter, but it won't get any more severe than that was. So to whoever wrote that review here's your answer ^^
Anyways enjoy part 2!
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There was some talking in the distant. Chase was pretty sure someone, no wait, some dog was talking to another dog. Their voices didn't sound familiar. In fact, as he lazily opened his eyes, and, while expecting the graffiti stained brick walls he was accustomed to, he was staring at this ridiculously clean white wall. Or bash. Meh. Whatever colour it was. Not like he's gonna think about the colour.
Wait, white? He shifted his body and oh damn it hurt. His vision became into focus he saw a fence, and for a brief moment he thought he was back in the alleyway, trying to climb it. But then the shock of dreadfulness rushed through his fur when he realized he did not climb over. He fainted.
With the police chasing him.
He stood up, ignoring any cry of pain from his body. Yup, he definitely wasn't outside, or at the warehouse, or anywhere he saw as familiar. Everything was clean, orderly, and that fence he thought he saw? It was a cage door.
Panic shivered through his body and backed away, stepping off a giant pillow, and soon his tail hit another wall, and he jerked.
He was surrounded.
Oh no no no. He couldn't fathom the truth. He was actually caught. It wasn't some horrible nightmare that was happening, and Swift would wake him up and tell him to stop squirming, as they always slept on the rooftop, no, he was far from what he knew. He was in the damn dog pound.
He immediately thought of escaping. To the pound's credit the cage door was very high so he couldn't jump in his condition, and walls enclosed him like a cage. Oh god. A cage. He was in a cage.
Some dog must had heard him waking up because there was one on the other side of the pen, looking a bit confused but then widened their eyes, yelping out for someone to help him.
"R-Relax pup," the dog said, and his uniform made it obvious he was a K-9 member, a nervous one for sure, his breed a Serbian Hound. "We're going to help you, alright? Take it easy." He was easing his paws down near the cage, trying to show no hostile intentions.
Chase growled darkly.
The police dog got the message instantly and tried to remain calm, but he was just too uneasy, and Chase was using that to every advantage. "D-Don't, oh biscuits, can you hurry up please because he looks kinda angry – ah!" he jumped as the pup suddenly lunged at him, missing his paw by a snag of a second. One less and it would have been easily bleeding red. But Chase didn't get far. He was yanked back by the chain around his neck, connected to the back of the wall-like cage. He didn't yelp though, his eyes still dark and growling lowly.
Then there was a minor chuckle. "Uh, Lucky, you're not suppose to stick your paw in the cage." Someone suggested jokily, and the sound of this voice meant there was someone else just arriving.
The dog known as Lucky rubbed his paws nervously. "I was trying to be nice! I didn't even want to do this job! Really. The one day Marty wanted the day off."
This new dog sauntered in, and he was a German Shepard. Tall, probably a young adult, dosed in blue, and while the other dog Lucky was panicking a bit, this one seemed completely relaxed and light-hearted. He wasn't frowning or trying to be serious. He was actually smiling a bit.
He turned to Chase's direction and the pup snarled viciously, ready to take the offensive.
"Woah, I wouldn't do that if I were you Junior. You've taken quite a beating from that fall. Med had to patch you up like a broken chew toy."
Chase frowned, now looking at his body, noticing some areas covered in bandages. The side of his stomach was entirely swirled with gauze wraps, and his front left paw was completely sealed from view. Even his forehead had some covering.
Perhaps the most distressing thing was that his bandana was missing.
"You had a cut on that side, a big one too, but the bleeding should be good now. You also bruised the same side. Twisted your front paw and had a minor concussion. Nothing major though! Pretty damn lucky if I gotta say."
Chase continued to glare hard at him. This voice… it was the same one who chased him all over. He knew it was. He just took off his sunglasses.
"The name is Archie." The older German Shepard said coolly. "Member of the K-9 unit for Detmold City." It suddenly flipped at what Chase thought the dog had the most dumbest, oblivious looking smile on his face.
"What's yours?!"
Crickets.
The Serbian Hound didn't take his nervy eyes off the pup. "Uhhh, I don't think he wants to tell us his name." Lucky whispered not-so-quietly to his comrade.
"Naahh," he dismissed casually, slacking his jaw. "bet he's tired. I'll be too after what he did." He turned to Chase again, his eyes looking wide and naïve. "Hey, did they feed you yet? I'll bring you some grub! And the good stuff too. Not the gross vegetable chicken food Lucky likes."
"Gross?!" Lucky stuttered, taken offense of his food choice, but Archie ignored him, waggling his tail happily at his idea. "Oooh, I should bring the beef chicken mix. I think I have some left. If not, I'll take from Sunny. He won't mind."
"He would! And stop taking his food! He thinks I'm doing it!"
Archie directed his attention to Chase, and again with that smile. "Sound good Junior?"
Chase didn't say anything. His eyes, hardened as ice, gave another dark glare before he coldly turned his entire body away from the older dog, and he plopped himself down, now facing the wall.
Ouch.
Archie though didn't seem to mind. "Back in a bit. Lucky, watch him!"
"Where will he go?!" he yelled back, but the German Shepard already dashed off. Lucky sighed heavily, and he glanced back at the cage, thinking the pup would want to growl at him like earlier, yet his eyes met the puppy's back.
Oh biscuits they had a case on their paws.
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Archie did return very soon, bringing a fair amount of food, boosting the stupendously of it, but the injured pup didn't respond. However, the older German Shepard wasn't frazzled by the attitude, and when Archie slide food underneath the mini window, Lucky was internally panicking.
"Archie! You're not suppose to give food other than standardized meals." Lucky scolded heavily, but he kept glancing around, hoping no one would notice what his comrade was doing. "T-They'll give him food soon!"
"C'mon Lucky. He just woke up. Besides, pup needs something to fuel him."
"Which is why the pound provides food, not you!"
"I told them I'll be feeding him tonight." He dismissed the comment away.
"Archie–!"
Bark! Bark! Another dog came rushing in, and Lucky jumped, immediately becoming rigid with paranoia while Archie grinned slyly at the incoming dog who was a Golden Retriever.
"Evening, Officer Archie, Officer Lucky."
Both replied with a minor arf.
The new dog looked to the Serbian Hound. "Lucky, you're needed at front desk."
"Oh." He nodded to that, and he glanced to Archie, who only continued to have his little innocent grin. Ha. Innocent. That made him inwardly sighed. "I'll see you later Archie."
"Yup! See you tomorrow."
Lucky took one more glimpse at his comrade before leaving immediately with the Golden Retriever. He did mouth 'don't do anything besides protocol' but Archie continued to have his naïve smile, waving a paw away. Chase would have sighed in relief but to his annoyance the other one stayed, still talking to him. And how relaxed and damn friendly he was acting made it even worse.
"C'mon Junior, the food is good." He suggested airily, returning to their one-sided conversation. "It's made with just meat. Good old fashion meat. Well, enough to be old fashion. You get what I mean."
The large room was now soundlessly empty. When Archie went to retrieve the food earlier, humans came in and transported the few dogs in the room somewhere else, but Chase didn't bother to watch the ordeal. He kept his gaze entirely at the dumb white wall.
"So his name was Lucky, that dog from earlier. Been my friend for years. Super smart but gets scared way too easily. One time I jumped him," he laughed. "Never seen a dog peed himself so quickly before." He then stretched out his front legs, sighing contently.
"Say, doc's gonna come in and check on your wounds soon. Probably tomorrow or next day. Not really suppose to tell you that but letting you know doesn't hurt anybody. Heck, I rather someone tell me. When I get injured, I'm the squirmiest, loudest dog you'll ever see. One time I busted my leg, oh man, when docs tried to wrap it, I ran off! And bit them! Ha I always hate going to the doctor."
Archie grunted a bit of a chuckle, and he looked to the pup, but still had nothing. Didn't stop him though.
"Junior, I know you're probably thinking, I'm some annoying police dog, but I'll be honest here: I'm not gonna ask you about what you did back there, or what type of gang you're from, any of that stuff. I just wanna help you."
Help? Chase despised the word. No damn way he was gonna get talked down by some stupid police dog. He hated the police. He hated them. Unlike Swift who enjoyed mocking and manipulating authority, Chase had no interest in those tactics. He just hated the police too much to even much look at them, much less try to talk to them. And the gang? As if he was gonna mention anything about it. He will get out, and he will return back to it. He was loyal to it, and it was loyal to him.
"Junior," he lightly asked, and Chase had to jab his teeth together, his patience wearing thin. "C'mon, you know you gotta eat. How the heck you're gonna get better if you refused to eat? It's really good~"
Chase felt his fur spiking up. He was nearing his last straw.
"Actually, you were out for the entire day, now that I think of it. It's night now, really late, but I beat you're starving. I would be. Actually I kinda am. I'll probably eat some food later. But what though?" he was then contemplating to himself, and hearing him argue between eating either chicken or beef was becoming terribly irritating. Was he doing this on purpose? Chase didn't want to ask. Besides, he knew what he was doing. Trying to be nice so he could hopefully talk about the robbery, tell him details about the gang, heck, this police dog just said he didn't want answers. He wanted to scoff. Sure.
Chase wasn't stupid.
And that's what made him angry.
"I gotta admit, you're one fast pup. And I don't say that to anyone! Trust me."
Right. As if.
"Junior~" Archie suddenly called out jovially, and Chase's ear twitched, his teeth gritting so hard. Don't get annoyed. Don't get annoyed. Don't–
"So shoulda eat the chicken or the steak?"
That was it. He was mocking him. What they stole. It broke.
His silence broke.
"What?!" Chase finally seethed, eyes burning in rage, such fiery, detestable rage. His voice rang so loudly in the room as if it vibrated off the walls. "What do you want me to say? To beg forgiveness?" He growled loudly, his anger visibly showing. "Because I rather die than do that. Especially to you damn police dogs."
Archie didn't move. Actually his eyes blinked wide and dumbly. Chase thought he finally got through to this Archie that he didn't need sympathy, companionship or some dumb friendship with him. He didn't need anything, so he could now leave him alone.
But damn, to Chase's shock, something else happened.
"So you do talk?!"
Chase dropped to the floor comedic-like.
Archie sounded genuinely surprised, and then grinned cheeky, chuckling a bit to himself.
"What's so funny?!" Chase cringed his face in fury. One thing he hated too, probably more than police, was when others didn't take him seriously, and all because he was a pup. He experienced it in the gang, and there was no way he was gonna let that happen here too in the pound.
"For a second I thought you hit your head way too hard."
Chase started to growl.
"Alright, hold your bite Junior. I'm not trying to be mean. I'm just saying I'm glad I got a response outta you. And a strong one too! You have a lot of spunk. Don't see that alot around here from the pups at the Academy."
Academy? As if. Chase scowled heavily. "As if I would ever join you."
A sly smile was grazing Archie's mouth. "Since when did I imply that?"
The atmosphere thickened instantly. It had become a standoff, with younger vengeful eyes concentrating on a pair of oddly calm ones. Chase was already snarling, his legs standing despite the pain in his side. He didn't care. He just wanted to fight this dog. He never felt the need to actually fight so badly before.
And as if a switch came again,
"Rest up Junior! Don't want to be struggling all your life just because you wanna fight right now." A quick smirk was tugging at his face, and he winked, beginning to stroll out of the room. "Night."
Chase glared one more time before turning coldly away.
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He couldn't sleep that night. He was too anxious and frankly too damn paranoid to even consider resting. Yeah, Chase was tired, especially from his injuries, and to his irritation he was hungry (since he didn't eat, uh, all day!) but he still refused to eat the food he was given. Eating meant submission, and that was something he didn't want to accept. So, he instead with all his strength and wits tried to think of a way to escape. He thought of climbing up the cage door, but him being injured and it being too high, he couldn't do anything other than slip and tumble down. Multiple tries and he barely made it up. Logically, his next option was climbing the walls. Didn't work out the way he wanted it to though, even when he tried to jump back and forth between them. They were too slippery and frankly too clean to get any good leverage or grip. He learned after one try that wasn't going to work (as the one attempt he fell and he couldn't move after that for a good while. How injured was he?) And of the course, the major source of the problem: his stupid chain around his neck. The grip wasn't tight around his neck but he felt more confined than ever with this thing around him. There was no way escape would be possible with it still on him, and with each passing minute, it was becoming a dark reminder that he was truly a prisoner in this pound. And they took his bandana! He was still pissed about that. Dumb police dogs.
Eventually, after several times of trying to tug the chain off, he stumbled to the ground, and for the rest of the night, he soundlessly remained there. He only observed his surroundings continuously, like the bed he was on, the bowls in the corner, the caged door in front of him, and the small window on the wall outside of the cage. The window was the only thing he found some type of comfort, leading to the outside. Yet, as nice as he found it to be, it also gave a bitter feeling he was trapped here. Away from freedom.
Why did he have to be nice? Why did he have to go back and save Black Bee? Well, it would have worked out well if the dumb dog with sunglasses didn't go epic jump on him and having determination like steel. Seriously, that police dog was weird. And annoying. Emphasis on annoying.
When the night wore on, his thoughts trailed to Swift. Did he know he was caught? Course he did. He wasn't dumb. But was Swift…looking for him? Was he at all concerned?
Chase didn't know.
They were brothers, and everyone in the gang knew that. Swift often teased him, and it became an occasional habit that the two would play fight (probably more violent than regular dogs but never to their full strength). They were commonly paired together for work, and everytime Boss was happy about the outcome. With their tacts teaming up, they were pretty much an unstoppable duo.
And while that was all good...Chase realized there was always this distance between them, like sometimes he truly didn't understand what went through Swift's head. He always told Chase straight up what he wanted to do, loud and aggressive, but there was often this underlying tone he was never completely honest.
Yet despite the two not being extremely close, Chase was more than accepting of that. His brother liked his space and he liked his own (but it seemed Swift loved riling him up by purposely annoying him). He respected the dog who took care of him while they were on the streets, and while he might not understand everything about him, he knew for a fact that if Swift got caught, he would be doing anything as possible to escape.
And that was exactly what Chase would do.
He knew gang dogs were wary when other dogs were released from capture, because getting caught once meant you could be caught again. And you had a record. Were they gonna trust him again with work? He didn't care if they did or not. He would prove it again. He will get out.
When morning came, and the light from the window skimmed the floor, Chase knew it was time to try again. He mustered his strength and attempted to jump on the fence. After several tries he finally had a good grip, and he was clinging to the fence, struggling to stay on.
"Junior!"
Chase slipped.
He yelped a bit as he landed, and ouch, that really hurt. He narrowed his eyes at the incoming dog, knowing exactly by that scent and sound who it belonged to.
Archie came rushing in, bag of something in his mouth, looking like a pup ready to give the morning paper to his owner. Chase also noted he wasn't wearing his uniform, and instead had on a blue collar with a police tag. When Archie noticed the pup rolling a bit on the floor, he tilted his head with a loop-sided smile.
"Fell out of bed?"
Chase tried to hide his ungainly stand, and he gave a quick glare before slowly turning around to resume staring at the wall. Yet again, (to his dumb injures) he slipped on his sprain paw, and he fell, but he cringed his pain by biting his tongue, not wanting to show the dog his discomfort.
Archie arched a brow. "You alright? Looking kinda tired." He glanced to the bowls. "Aw man, you didn't like the food? Ugh don't tell me you rather have Lucky's gross vegetable stuff. I know they say we should have a balanced diet, but pff, as if they know what dogs want. And I want meat!"
Chase was still struggling to move, but he gave a frown to Archie as he trying to turn around.
"Don't want to talk again today?"
No.
"I won't pressure you Junior. Besides, you need to rest. Can't function without all four paws."
It got quiet. But then Archie blinked largely, recalling something. "Oh, for you! I know humans are gonna come and feed you, probably check on you too, but personally this is my favourite grub." He shuffled through the bag with his muzzle and soon emerged from it, holding a small bowl. He then took the bag with his teeth and shook it, and dry pet food came rushing out, obviously making a mess, but still went into the bowl.
He pushed the overstuffed bowl into the mini door. "Now this stuff is pretty good. I always prefer wet food, but the only dry food I eat is this one. I know it's not the same from actually meat and stuff, because I'm the same as you, I like the real stuff, but try it. You won't be disappointed."
Chase didn't reply.
"I know I just got here, but I gotta head out now. Police department is riding up my tail to do work I'm delaying on. I'll come back later though! Just focus on getting better, alright Junior?"
Chase's body heaved a sigh.
He knew wouldn't get an answer, so Archie ran off, his paws treadling against the flooring underneath. He hoped the pup would listen to him.
And try not to escape like he was earlier.
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Ironically, despite Archie not wanting the pup to escape, he heard only after two hours of leaving the pound he did try to flee. Apparently when a worker at the pound tried to give him his food and assess him on his injuries, the moment she opened the cage door and his chain was off, the pup bolted. The human tried to stop him but with the pup being terribly aggressive (and a bite on the arm) he was able to escape his cage and run out of the room. Thankfully, there were other members working at the time and they were able to stop him. But, oh, it wasn't easy. They actually had to have three full-grown humans to hold him down and had to sedate him in order to calm down the pup. Archie immediately rushed back to the pound (meh, his paperwork can wait) but was greeted by nervous volunteers and two very serious K-9 members.
"Officer Archie, you weren't called out here." One dog said distastefully, a Rottweiler. The other dog with him was another German Shepard, and they were in front of the recovery rooms.
Archie smiled as he reached them, not at all intimidated by the tone. "I was in the area."
"Never knew you cared for things like this."
"A lot of things you don't know about me Officer," he titled his head, snickering. "Bud-dy."
The Rottweiler frowned, irritation spilling on his face. "My name is not Buddy. It's Bud. Bud!"
"Not on your birth certificate it says that~" he teased.
Buddy was definitely getting flustered, (and even more angered) but the other German Shepard tapped him with a paw, trying to ease the tension.
"Alright, you had you fun Archie," the second dog said, his name Pongo, "But Bud and I are here on duty. Please don't disrupt."
He looked offended. "Since when do I do that?"
"A lot." They deadpanned at the same time.
"I do? Nah."
Buddy sighed lightly. "Anyways, you may leave." he suddenly said sharply, reverting to his stoic ways. "You're not needed here. Your paperwork though, sheesh, that needs help."
"Thanks for the reminder." He winked. Buddy scoffed.
"Let's go, Pongo." Buddy commanded, beginning to walk away, "we need to collect some statements from the volunteers. And once again Archie do not interfere. Despite you capturing the pup from the supermarket robbery, you have no further obligations to be concerned." Pongo nodded and with a swirl followed his partner. The only sounds were paws padding against the floor, leading to the door.
"He's not dangerous." A voice calmly stated. Buddy and Pongo paused and with a turn and saw Archie with a stern gaze at them, particularly at Buddy. He had a light smile, a sly knowing smile. "So don't think about suggesting it to the commissioner Buddy, that he should go there."
Buddy didn't react. He kept his façade and with narrowed eyes continued outside, with his partner following behind.
Once the two German Shepards were alone again, Archie focused his attention at the sedated pup. He was lying on a pillow, immobile, but he was eyeing hard at the floor, refusing to look up.
"You sure like to cause trouble Junior." Archie sounded amused, and he laid down on his stomach, lowing his height to the pup. "I tell you one thing and you do another." His ears peaked up at a thought. "You can move again in a few hours, but you'll feel a bit loopy. Don't worry. Will wear off by morning." He eyed the bowls soon after. "But Junior, try to eat. You don't wanna waste food." He expected no answer since the pup was sedated, so he smiled in reply.
"Hey, I have a funny story to tell. You wanna hear? I bet you wanna hear."
If Chase could glare, he would.
What a strange, strange police dog.
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When the next day rolled around, the same routine played as followed. Chase was a bit more agitated than usual because he really wanted to mobilize himself and do something other than rest, especially since yesterday when he was sedated. He couldn't stand just doing nothing. It wasn't in his blood to be a lazy pup. Escaping wasn't an option either since they heightened security around his cage (and he had a weird mix feeling between pride and annoyance about it) as this Marty dog always roamed down the hallways between rooms whenever the police dog wasn't around.
Was he really at a pound? What a weird pound this was. He learned from Archie that he was at the Rescue Canine Centre, where they send animals fresh from the streets here, especially those who were in need of treatment.
Gosh. It sounded like he was pathetic.
When Archie was talking to him, (something about melons, how did he get there?) Chase interrupted him with an evident scowl.
"I'm not a dumb street dog you know." he grumbled lowly.
"I didn't say you were Junior." Archie should have been beyond shocked he was talking again, since it was the first words the pup had said since the outburst, but he acted as if the pup was conversing with him mere moments ago. He titled his head.
"Then why are you talking about fruit?"
Archie looked shocked. "You don't like melons?!"
The pup didn't say anything else to him that day. He just had the urge to hit his own head against the wall.
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When the forth day wheeled in, Archie came in later than his usual time. He entered that time with his uniform, saying he just got back from a patrol routine (and wearing those sunglasses again). When he wore the uniform Chase had the involuntary need to feel more aggressive and on-guard.
Archie simply smiled at this behaviour. "So I'm guessing you really don't like Police dogs. Or the colour blue."
Chase snarled a bit.
"But you gotta admit, the blue looks good with my fur colour."
The pup's eyes darkened. "Stop calling me that."
"What?"
"Junior. That's not my name."
"Oooh," Archie glanced to the ceiling for a few moments, but he returned his eyes on the pup. "Well, you didn't want to tell me your name from day one. And what's wrong with Junior?
"It's not my name!" Anger was beginning to leak from him.
"Then tell me your real name, or Junior's gonna stick."
And just like that the rampant anger dried out. Chase had his mouth open, yet no words were spoken. It was quiet, but Archie was patient, waiting for an answer.
Then Chase slowly glared at him, his eyes becoming daggers. "I don't want to tell it to a police dog like you."
Words became dead again. Yet Archie grinned happily. "Fine then, Junior~"
The pup growled loudly at the dumb name.
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Chase learned after four days he's been here he wouldn't be getting rid of this Archie anytime soon. Even though he would ignore him, or if he didn't, give menacing glares at him, or heck, the small banter that clearly could turn ugly, the K-9 member brushed it off and continued to converse on lightly. He sometimes came in with food, others without, but no matter what he was always energetic.
Yet on the fifth day, something else happened.
Chase passed out.
He wasn't pretending so he could escape or something like that, no, no, no, he legitimately fell unconscious in the afternoon when a volunteer was changing his water.
The K-9 member wasn't entirely shocked by this outcome per say. Archie knew the pup wasn't eating. Everytime he went to visit him he noticed the dog bowls were always full. He did try to convince the pup to eat, but there was only so much his high-pitched whining and howling he could do (and it made Junior frown at him even more). So, when he heard the pup passed out due to a lack of nutrients, he kinda felt relieved that finally the pup would succumb to hunger and begin the path of taking better care of himself. However, when he got there, Archie learned something that shocked him.
"He wasn't drinking water?!"
"N-No, Officer Archie." The medic dog recoiled drastically, scared of the sudden outburst. "Our results said he was fairly dehydrated."
"…Son of a dog," Archie was aghast, and the other dog looked mortified a police dog was cursing openly. "And why did no one mentioned this to me?"
"We uh, thought you knew. You were spending a lot of time with him."
Archie… couldn't believe it. What was this pup doing? Trying to go through five days without water or food? And on top injured? What was he trying to prove?
Yup. He was right. This pup definitely had a lot of spunk.
"What else do his medical records say? The initial examination?"
"Oh. Uh, well, for a pup at his age, he's actually a good size. He's a tad underweight, but nothing else major."
"And he's cleared?"
"Yes. He has no signs of ticks, worms, rabies, or any kind of ailment. I'm surprised too. In the condition you brought us in, usually, a dog would have some type of illness. And since he's a street pup, they have higher chances of exposure."
Huh. Archie thought. Ain't he lucky?
When Archie went to see him, he was curled up in the corner, away from the K-9 member's view. It looked like he was asleep, probably after the small intervention of the volunteers inserting food through a tube musta tired him out. The tube though was nowhere near sight, and his bowls were replaced with new food and fresh, clean water.
"Archie? You're here?" A new voice called the dog, but this defiantly didn't sound like it was coming from a canine. There were shoes clicking on the ground. It was a human.
"Eh, Simon!" Archie barked with a grin. He lifted his paw to do a salute, but the relaxed nature of it clearly meant it was playful.
Simon smiled back. He was an African-American man, hair buzzed neatly. "I didn't know you'll be here."
"Same back at you sir!"
"Why the yelling Archie?"
"Dunno. Had an impulse to."
Simon had a muddled look, but he kept smiling, knowing it was a habit of Archie. "So Arch, why are you here? I thought you were doing paperwork."
He had a mocking hurt look grazing his face. "I'll get it done." he then looked inside the cage. "Eventually."
"Archie." Simon lightly chastised.
"What? I have other stuff to do besides going through casework. Eh." He peaked over his sunglasses. "You didn't answer my question why you're here."
"I wanted to check on the new pup. I heard my partner was coming here, but I didn't expect him to be here so fast."
"Well I am a fast dog." He grinned.
"Oh, which reminds me," Simon's entire demeanour changed when he looked to Archie. "I need to talk to you."
If Archie was concerned about Simon's change of mood he certainly didn't show it. He didn't look bothered about it at all. "Alright."
Simon nudged his head over, indicating that this conversation was to be in private, away from the possibly conscious pup. The two made their way outside of the room, into a corridor where no was walking through.
"The department has been talking about the case you worked on the beginning, with the pup in the next room."
Archie nodded his head, still willing to listen.
"And well, he's part of a case that includes theft and assault, not to mention gang involvement. You know gang activity has been on a rise for the past decade, especially with dog gangs."
He arched a brow. "So...you want to charge him?"
"I don't. I don't think he should even go to trial, and some officers, dog and human agree, he's too young. But you know, not everyone is going to think the same way. The good news though is that the owner he attacked is willing to drop charges on the pup, since, well, technically he wasn't the one who did it. However, he did attack a volunteer here. He can be charged for that. And remember, even though he was dropped the charges of assault from the owner, he still has gang violence hanging over him. That is to be remain unless he proves himself that he's not accountable of any of the violent attacks that's been present for the past weeks."
"And?"
"I'm just letting you know Archie." Simon smiled sincerely. "I just hope you know what you're doing."
"What do you think I'm doing?"
"To be honest I don't know. Even years knowing you I don't know what goes in your head of yours. But all I know is that it's something good."
Archie grinned cheekily.
.
.
.
When Simon left, Archie walked back to Junior's cage and to no surprise the pup hadn't move. Chase was in fact was very much awake, but didn't mean he wanted to talk. He just wanted to be left alone.
But oh no, the K-9 dog said something that shocked him.
"You can understand human can't you?"
Chase visibly flinched. He was caught completely off guard, and Archie noticed. "I'm not gonna condemn you or anything. I just saw how your ears moved when Simon was talking. To be honest that's pretty cool to know you age! I didn't learn till I was much older. Makes me wonder how you learned already."
Chase wasn't going to admit he knew a small amount. He picked up bits and pieces when he was on the streets, and to be frank, when he first thought about the idea of trying to know human language, he grimaced. Yet, when those small opportunities came…he guessed he unconsciously learned it from random signs or books found in dumpsters. Or sometimes...sometimes when he was alone he would listen in the wall cracks on those domestic dogs that ate with their owners at those outside restaurants. He didn't dare tell his brother or anyone in the gang he was learning it, much less knew a bit how to understand it. He was taught that they didn't need to know the human language, because knowing human meant you liked humans. He didn't like humans, but dunno…the idea of knowing something no one knew seemed…interesting.
But now he's caught red-handed.
"I'm gonna expect you to eat properly Junior." Archie decided to randomly changed the subject. "I doubt you want to faint and have a tube down your throat again, which to be honest that sounds really gross, eat. Unless," He wiggled his eyebrows, clearly teasing him. "You want to eat no name standard dog food~"
Chase grimaced. He knew what that was. One time the gang jumped a human who came from a pet store, and Chase, curious, tried the dry pet food from that brand. He remembered because it came in a ridiculously bright yellow bag.
Worst decision ever.
"I know what you're doing." Chase said suddenly, but he didn't turn around to acknowledge the K-9 member.
"Hmm?" Archie titled his head, as if naivety reined his mind.
"You're playing it out like it's a game, but I know what you're doing."
"What game am I playing?" he had a sly smile grazing his mouth. "No game Junior. Just wanna be friendly."
Chase scoffed.
"So you don't believe I care?"
"Not at all."
Archie shrugged. "If you wanna believe that Junior."
"And stop calling me that. I've told you before that's not my name."
"Then tell me."
Chase growled in annoyance, and Archie laughed.
"But hey, I brought you something."
Food. Chase thought dryly. Okay, he was a street pup and food was always a priority in their minds but hey he had other interests –
Chase's ears peaked up.
It sounded…weird. But he wanted to know what it was. He turned around and to his surprise saw –
The sound squeaked again. "You want Junior?" Archie offered, and he dropped the chew toy down from his mouth. Chase's eyes widened when it fell, and he swore he heard the thing make another sound when it landed gently on the ground. His eyes instantly went to the toy but, when he realized what he was doing, he blinked and with a vicious shake of his head he forced himself to stare at the wall.
"It's a brand new toy from the Pet Shop near by. Just went on shelves today." Chase could practically hear the smirk in his voice. Don't give in. Don't give in.
"Look Junior, I'll promise to give it to you, if you promise me you'll eat."
No deal. Chase refused to agree with such terms.
"C'mon, you know you wanna."
No, he didn't need the toy!
"It's a limited edition. What the tragedy if no pup uses it."
Chase forced himself to stay quiet. It made Archie sigh. "Junior, all I want for you is to get better, you know? So you could be healthy and do what pups do, be wild. Well, not as wild as me."
"And weird." Chase abruptly added, and it startled the pup that he said something before he realized it.
"Weird?" Archie shock his head. "I'm not weird. I rather use, amazingly different."
Chase rolled his eyes.
"Or cool. I like to be cool."
Bet you do.
"But you know what I like to be even more? Impossible dog."
Impossible dog? That sounded dumb. He wanted to ask but he decided not to.
"Lucky says I can't make things all things possible. I made him get over his fear of heights. Yeah, he was kinda pissed at me for taking him in a glass elevator but to be fair I didn't know the thing was gonna get stuck! It was a few hours but meh, we lived." He laughed. "I always want to achieve something for my bros, no matter how dumb or dangerous it is because I think the greatest thing a pup or dog, heck, any animal could do is help someone out. If it worked out, great! Made it possible. If not, well you just learned that one way won't work, and you gotta try a new tactic. I think It's never impossible to find a solution. But what's possible is you giving up."
"..."
"I just realized something. Lucky calls me crazy all the time. I don't think I'm crazy though. Heck, I say I'm adventurous cause it's much better and cooler–"
"It's Chase."
Archie sat up. His ears couldn't deceive him. "What?"
"Chase." He repeated, and he continued his focus on the wall. "My name is Chase. Not Junior."
Nothing was said for awhile. Chase wondered if Archie was planning some smart remark about him finally revealing his name, or proclaiming loudly in a rowdy way. But to his amazement, that same squeaky sound plopped on his head, and he twisted around, now seeing the toy in his cage, lying on the ground. He looked up and Archie wasn't there anymore.
He didn't move for several minutes, just staring down at the toy. That dumb dumb toy he didn't think he wanted until now. It was gawking at him, with its bone-like shape, it's pure simplistic white. Chase frowned. He didn't need this toy. He never needed it before, and didn't need it now.
He sniffed it.
Once.
Then he waited.
Again, he did it two more times, and paused in between. When the forth time came, he sniffed in the air, making sure Archie wasn't here anymore.
And when he thought no one was looking, he bit into the toy and began chewing on it silently.
.
.
.
A/N: Kay, I wanted to clear it out that not all dogs and cats can fully understand human, and vice versa. It's like a second language dogs and cats, (and possibly other species) could learn if taught by their own species. Example, if a pup was born and their mother could speak human, she could teach her pup. Initially, the pup would understand dog language because it's easier to learn. This is my theory why some animals (like the paw patrol) could speak human while others (like Cali the cat) can't.
Anyways, hooray for Chase! FINALLY some progression in him, hey? Let me know what you thought about the characters I introduced. (because I did mention a few OCs)
Thank you to all those who continuously read, comment and follow my work! (critique/suggestions are welcomed!) ^_^
P.S REVIEW!
Till next time,
mokocchii