DISCLAIMER: I do not own PAW Patrol, the characters, or any association of the series.
A/N: HELLO READERS! So the final chapter for Chase! Dun dun dun! Hope you enjoy its bittersweet feelings. And caution of violence. It's gonna get a bit dark.
PBJNachos - Skye, Marshall and Chase knew each other the longest. I added that bit in chapter 5.
Matthais Unidostres - LOL I guess it could be a twist. Thank you though for your excitement of the chapter, and picking up the little seeds about Bud and Cody's characters. They're pretty interesting haha.
lovepawpatrol - Ah, my superfan. You always comment, and it makes me so happy you're loving this!
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It still seemed unreal.
Here, lying on this disgustingly cold concrete, encompassed by the shallow lighting he knew all too well. It was true.
He was back at the hideout.
"To be honest bro, when I heard you got caught, I laughed. I was like, nah, that can't be my little brother. He's too smart for that stuff. Then hearing from Black Bee that you saved his ass…" he chuckled dryly. "Damn I really thought you were being dumb."
Chase was hesitant, but he kept his voice steady, looking around at the other dogs that were coming out from the dark. "Where is Black Bee?"
He shrugged. "Not here anymore, if you're asking that."
An unnerving thought came about. "You…you didn't-"
"Now Chase, I thought you knew me better. I only kill when it's fun. And Black Bee ain't fun."
"Sure wasn't." Someone mumbled. Chase was evidently shocked, seeing it was Rocket, standing on the side with a confident smug look. Rocket was here? But didn't him and Swift hated each other? And seeing there were a dozen or so dogs surrounding him…how much power did Swift gained since he disappeared?
"I honestly thought you were gonna break yourself out Chase. You're pretty smart for a pup. But damn Chase, you were gone for so long – for one month! So you know what? I decided to look for ya."
The pup kept his eyes weary on his brother.
"But then I saw it. I saw you hanging with a K-9 dog."
A sharp realization came to Chase. "You were hiding in the bushes…"
A grin came upon Swift's muzzle, and he slowly roamed around the pup, circling him like a prey. "And you know what Chase? While looking for you, I was thinking they musta hurt ya so bad, you couldn't leave." He dryly laughed out. "But...you were fine. Not chained, not beaten, nothing. And you were hanging out like you were damn friends with them!"
His voice roared in anger, but Chase forced every ounce of will not to flinch. No, he mustn't falter in front of Swift. He mustn't.
"And cause of that, you gotta remember bro..." few dogs began growling. "You ain't friends with them."
They came at him fast. Fangs daggered at his body and he tried to fight it off, growling and biting back with just much malice.
But who was kidding against three gang dogs?
When the chorus ended Chase stumbled around, trying to be strong, despite the aching pains coursing through his body. His mouth felt bruised, head dizzy from the whacking, and bloody cuts began to seep in his fur.
But no, he refused to show his pain. He never did before, and still he wouldn't now.
"Is that…the best…you got?"
Suddenly, Swift began smiling. "There, that's my brother! Tough as rock. Ain't I right Chase?" he snarled brilliantly.
He didn't answer. "Swift," Chase asked hoarsely, gritting his teeth to resist his pain, and the said dog looked to him objectively. "Are you happy here?"
"What?" Swift sounded genuinely amused, turning around to exasperate his disbelief to the others, crinkling a brow. "You hear this?"
"I asked you a damn question Swift!" He yelled, his brown eyes turning fierce. "Are you really happy here?"
Opting for once to listen, the teenage dog shrugged his shoulders. "I do what I do, and this is what I wanna do."
"So you never thought about something else? Nothing beyond this?"
For the first time, Chase saw his brother momentarily horrified, brown eyes widening before narrowing in disgust. "What…what the heck happened to you? What did those cops do to you bro?!"
"They didn't do anything to me! I just finally realized what we're doing, how we think, it's all wrong. This isn't right."
"Isn't right? Isn't right?! What isn't right is how my little brother got all this stupid moral stuff in his head!"
"It isn't stupid!" Chase couldn't turn back now. He had to say it. "I don't want to do this anymore. I want to leave the gang. And I want to join them too."
For seconds it was dead silent. No one on either side said anything after that revelation.
But then suddenly, the group started laughing.
The glee beckoning in their voices never felt so hollow. Before, Chase would be on the other side of this, never laughing, but he would have a sense of belonging with them, paying no attention to the victim dog that would soon face the wrath of the Blood Canines.
Now being on the other side, he completely understood the sheer panic that mirrored in their eyes. It was absolutely terrifying.
"Man that," Swift was now wiping the humorous tears in his eyes. "That was funny. I never knew you could tell jokes Chase. Damn, you made me cry how funny it was."
Chase didn't answer.
Suddenly, Swift's brown eyes almost darkened to an obsidian black. "It was a joke, wasn't it Chase?"
Chase mumbled a reply. "It wasn't."
Whack! Chase felt a powerful paw slap against his face, and the strength of it made him fall to the ground in shock. There was a stinging sensation buzzing on his cheek, feeling it might be bruised, or even possibly broken, but the pup didn't care. He didn't even dare touch it with his paw to check its condition. He looked back up, seeing raging eyes staring down at him.
"Damn you Chase! How can ya be so naïve to join them?! I thought you were smarter than this! Ya actually believe in their stupid ass lies?!"
"They're," - he coughed, suddenly realizing the pain in his jaw - "They're not lies Swift." Oh how Chase felt himself trembling right now. He wanted to release his anxiety, all his fear openly, but he forced himself to stay strong, standing back on his legs and looking at his brother willingly. "It's the truth. They're not as bad as we think they are."
That surged ferocious anger in Swift, and with a loud bark, few dogs charged at Chase, a second raid commencing.
It didn't last long.
Chase fell to the ground, and he groaned, feeling the thick red liquid now dripping from his arms. One of the dogs pounced his eye, which was probably swelling up now, and from the last hit, there was a huge gash on his back, along with some bloody bites. A dark shadow poured over his frame, and Swift stood there for several moments, staring hard at him.
"Can't believe it came to this bro. And you, out of all dogs, would do this." A stiffened chuckle drawled out, and Swift began shaking his head before turning his half-hooded threatening eyes at the pup. "Guess you gotta learn the rules, nope, gotta remember them." he gently placed his paw on Chase's chest, padding it, and the pup stiffened from the contact. "You ain't allowed to leave."
A rib cracked.
Chase never felt such intense agony before, and he cried loudly, feeling his entire body convulsing of shock.
"Wussing out already?" Swift said with mocking disbelief. "You ain't as tough as I thought you were."
Snap.
Chase held in his whimpers, biting his tongue till it was bleeding. It hurt. It hurt.
"Now bro," Swift's voice writhed with uneven vindication. "What did you learn?"
He heaved out sobbing breaths.
"What did you learn Chase?"
The wheezing got louder. The pain was burning.
"You better answer me!"
When there was no reply, Swift's eyes flashed in anger, and another fierce crack rippled through the air.
This time Chase screamed.
Swift kicked him away, and Chase helplessly slid across the room, unable to brace his impact on the concrete ground. He was paralyzed in pain, and all he could do was lay there like a prey, whimpering, trying to endure the injuries. He was gritting his teeth, but he refused, refused to cry. Crying meant Swift got to him, and he refused to make his brother think he won.
So, with the strength he still had, he sharpened a glare at Swift, keeping his eyes on the dog as Swift slowly began walking back to him.
"Too bad bro," Swift finally said, very lowly for Chase only to hear. "I really didn't want to end it like this." He lifted his paw high, ready to slam it down on another rib, and Chase clenched his eyes shut, ready to endure the impact.
Suddenly, a cacophonic bash of a door thundered, and the two brothers turned, a large cloud dust appearing at the room entrance.
Chase's eyes widened. No way…
"Well, well…look," Swift snidely grinned, tipping his head. "I bet you're the cop dog that wanted to "fix" my brother. Nice to finally meet ya."
The police dog stood tall, doting in blue, and he smiled lowly. "Touchè." He gazed around the room, and his blue eyes found the pup in question. He suddenly winked casually. "Hey Junior."
This couldn't be. Archie…he was here? At the warehouse? No, this must be a mistake. How did he even find him?
Emotions twisted within the pup. Once again, confusion became his vision. On one hand, he was relieved. Archie was here to help him? Yoko was right. Archie did care. He was endangering his well-being to find him, to get him out, and that made the pup gulp in relief. Despite how beaten Chase was, a foolish belief blossomed that maybe, since Archie was here, they would survive this. They would get out alive.
Yet, the other feeling, the much stronger, probing one, was his vehement fear of this situation. Archie, someone who was so nice and damn heroic, was now involved in his messy life and his equally messed up gang. Chase was quickly becoming fearful of Archie's fate in a place where mercy did not exist.
"Junior? You let him name ya Chase?" Swift chuckled darkly. "Well ain't that cute?"
"More like cool. Only cool dogs get the nicknames."
Chase had the unwelcome need to smile. Of course, only Archie would stay calm in situations like these. He kept blinking his eyes closed, trying to stop the feeling of tears from coming out.
A distasteful growl ignited in Swift. "Well aren't you damn funny?" Fangs of three other dogs snarled out, and Chase recognized it: they were preparing to attack, and they charged.
It was a crazy sight. Chase watched with a mix of fascination and anxiety as Archie handle the gang dogs. They came all around him, trying to overwhelm him, but Archie was quick, jumping at the right seconds and hitting in vital areas that made the dogs howl and groan. And for awhile it seemed he had the upperhand.
But then the dogs blocked Chase's vision, and he couldn't see the fight. His breath hitched up as they suddenly backed away. Was Archie okay?!
In a surprising fashion, Archie didn't fall. Despite the cuts doting the K-9's legs and arms, and panting slightly loud, his demeanour remaining cool and strong.
"Now, this won't go anywhere if you send them again and again." Shrugging casually, Archie's eyes locked onto Swift. "How about we do a little brawl ourselves? One on one? Unless you're afraid."
That sure shrugged a reaction. Swift clenched his fangs. "If you want to, you're on!"
They dashed. Dogs were howling at the sight, excited for the fight that was happening in the pit. Chase thought was fearfully silent. All he could do was watch with dreadful eyes, words failing to spill out of his mouth.
This fight…it was ruthless. Swift continued to attack with unrestricted power, pounding again and again, never giving a moment for Archie to recover. The police dog however was strong on his defense, swatting his paws and using Swift's attacks against him. This was obviously frustrating Swift, and the gang dog's anger spiked, using his fangs to grip Archie's neck.
The police dog yelped, and the street dogs howled in excitement, the fight now turning bloody. Chase tried to stand – he needed to help him – but the pain was so terrible the pup fell clumsily to the ground, never even getting his legs up.
The fight took a momentarily halt, as Swift was thrown back, his head slamming to the ground. He grunted and steadied himself up.
"I don't know how your relationship with Chase is," Archie began, his words were drowned in the barking. "But if you care about him, you would let him do what he wants. Don't you want him happy?"
"Shut up!" Swift growled. "You don't know what my damn brother wants!"
"And you do?"
"I do dammit! I'm his brother! Not you! No one else! And after this, I'm gonna fight him for ditching the gang!"
"Fighting? More like beating. You were beating him to death."
"He deserved it!" he snarled. "He ain't allowed to leave!"
"And why can't he?"
Swift crunched his fangs, as he seemed conflicted suddenly. "J-Just cause! And shut up already!" he charged, and Archie braced himself. The two were at it again, and despite Swift being smaller than him, his rage evenly matched Archie's tactics, even overwhelming him as he got another grip on Archie's neck. Archie was able to throw him off, and both were bitting each other's legs, trying to disable the other's mobile skills.
"I bet this ain't about the gang." Archie muttered, sweat dripping his fur. "You're upset. You're upset Chase is leaving. But even more than that. I bet you're afraid he's leaving you."
"SHUT UP!"
Chase had to do something. Swift now pushed Archie back, and the dog fell, getting pounded, and the K-9 is trying to counter. With a gruff, the pup tried to get up to help, but once again he crashed down, a scorching pain filling his side once more where his bones were cracked. It couldn't help that he was having trouble to talk from Swift's direct hit to his jaw.
And suddenly, seconds later, a loud tear screeched through the air, and Chase snapped his head up, widening his eyes at the sight.
Seeing his brother scream as a portion of his ear was torn off.
Spatters of red scattered on the concrete floor, and Swift howled, stumbling backwards and flailing his head out. Archie kept calm, tossing the flesh aside, watching him squirm. Swift quickly locked eyes with Archie, and when that happened, he saw nothing but red.
"Damn you police dog! Damn you stupid, stupid POLICE DOG!" He roared, the room almost shaking, and he and all the dogs dashed to Archie.
Now it wasn't only two dogs, it was all of them.
Chase lost his vision on Archie as he disappeared in the group. He heard tearing, barking, yelping of pain…and he recognized the sounds. Chase realized it. Those sounds of pain…it belonged to Archie's.
This wasn't even a fight anymore. It was just brutality.
Chase was shaking so uncontrollably, he couldn't even breath properly. All the dogs were attacking him, and Swift was leading it gladly, hitting with the most violent assaults.
Chase began screaming. "Stop it Swift!"
Another howl.
"Stop it please!"
Blood was splattering around.
"Stop! I said stop! STOP!"
And all too quickly, it did.
They threw his body at Chase. The thump was soundless, and Chase with all his strength limped to his mentor, his heart sinking at the sight.
All he saw was red.
His body gave up, and he plummeted down, near the injured K-9, and dust dotted their injuries. Archie's once clean, brown fur was soaked in thick red patches, and his face…his nose was horribly bloody. His neck too was plucking out, and those pink areas…it must be skin. Then a horrified realization came to Chase that Archie didn't stir from his throw. He wasn't even breathing.
Darkness shadowed the pup's eyes. He gripped the ground tightly, clenching so hard he felt his own dewclaws seeping inward into his fur.
"So," that voice made the pup tremor, but not in fear. "Did you learn your lesson Chase?"
"I really…"
"What?" he replied airily.
His eyes snapped up, nothing but vengeful anger seeping in his brown eyes. "I really hate you. I hate you! I HATE YOU SWIFT!"
His voice boomed brashly, the dim light bulb in the room even shook. Swift stared at his brother for dead silent moments, almost, almost flinching at the shock of his baby brother verging hatred towards him. Swift clenched his jaw, his eyes briefly widened in disbelief, but as sudden as the feeling came his eyes turned instantly cold, staring down at Chase who was struggling to breathe after the lash.
"Good. Cause I hate you too."
The animosity thickened, and even some of the other gang dogs the noticed the sudden darkened atmosphere between the two brothers. It was if something was broken, that reminisce of their past life shattered into the reality they both chosen for themselves.
"Let's go boys." Swift suddenly said, turning his eyes away from Chase, and towards the broken door. "Boss is leaving. City ain't fun no more."
The dogs silently followed the German Shepherd, and that was when Chase felt his cold demeanour break down, wheezing harsh breaths from his pain. When an abrupt shadow casted over him, he tiredly looked up and-
A paw slammed down his throat.
It was Rocket. He was smiling. "I've always wanted to do this." He hardened the pressure, and Chase struggled to breathe. "You were always so annoying, but finally your brother realized you have no chance with us. Oh, did I forget to mention," his grin radiated malice, "I always hated your glare."
Crash! Rocket was catapulted through the air, and Chase, with peripheral vision, tried to understand what he saw. Rocket was on the ground, yelping at the dog above him. The dog pounded hard at Rocket's eye, twice, and what made it more strange that the dog hitting Rocket was Swift.
Once he was done, he backed away, giving another glare at Rocket. "You ain't allowed to kill him Rocket." He turned strangely quiet, and he glanced to Chase sternly, muttering under his breath. "That's gonna be my job."
Rocket whimpered at his eye injury.
"Now!" he hollered, "I said we're leaving."
At his command, the remaining dogs nodded and they too left, including a grunting Rocket. When Swift was the last one, he stopped at the door entrance, ducking his head low with a low voice.
"Shoulda stuck with us bro." And before anything else he dashed off.
When silence fell upon the room, Chase immediately got up, staggering to Archie, and he began nudging him awake.
"Archie! Archie! Answer me," he nudged him once more. "Please Archie. Say something!"
He didn't move.
And Chase's ears began to twitch at a snapping sound.
He glanced up and to horror saw one of the water pipes cracked open, and water began pouring rapidly out, following wood and bricks. This was one of the old buildings Boss would hold meetings, but never too often, cause it was on the verge of falling apart.
Panic erupted in Chase's core, and he tried barking Archie awake, even howling, but nothing was working.
It was increasing, and the door entrance was quickly blocked by the falling bricks. The room shook, and the light danced wildly above them, and then it flickered out, darkness replacing its guide.
The building was collapsing.
And they were trapped.
.
.
.
He fell again.
Chase lost count of time long ago, only focusing on the impending task of trying to find a way up. Chase didn't know much about collapsing structures, but he was sure if he could climb up, he could find an opening to the outside, and then call for help.
But his injuries for sure weren't helping.
For what felt for like the twentieth time Chase tumbled down the bricks, landing on his side again. He felt his entire bruising, especially around his chest. Out of all his injuries right now, that was hurting the most. Actually - he winced - it was his jaw. Every time he tried to breathe it would be such a struggle, like he couldn't open it all the way. Chase knew he shouldn't move, but his mind refused to listen. He was the only one who could right now. Archie was still unconscious, and all Chase could do was use the torn police vest as a pillow for the senior.
Chase could only take shallow breaths in this dusted air, and once more he tried to climb, only to fall back down helplessly.
Helpless, that was what he felt. Never before had he felt so pathetic.
"Archie," he whispered, turning to the K-9. His jaw screamed to not move, but Chase ignored it. "You're gonna stay alive. We're gonna get out together. You'll still be the fun loving police dog, becoming a K-9 sergeant… didn't you say you were gonna train the new pups for years to come? And me? I'll…I'll become one! I will become the greatest police dog there is! I'll make you proud Archie! I promise you! So stay alive so you can see it with your own eyes!"
Chase growled and charged up, feeling the piercing pain of his rib cage ripple through him, and it threw him off, falling once more. The sharp agony was strong, as he probably cracked another one, and this time Chase couldn't move.
He wanted to cry. He slithered to the ground, biting his tongue, feeling despair smothering him till he couldn't breathe. This was it. He was gonna die. They were both gonna die in this miserable place by their wounds and the rubble. No one knew where they were, and slowly they will be washed in the background of the world to be forgotten.
No. He opened his eyes. He couldn't give up. He might disappear into the shadows if he died, but Archie deserved better. He couldn't die here. He had too much to offer the world! If Chase was gonna die here then at least he would get Archie out of here alive. Alive for Lucky. Alive for Yoko. Alive for the K-9 unit.
It's never impossible to find a solution. But what's possible is you giving up.
He nodded his head. Yes, another way. Another way. Just like Archie said to him when they first met.
He forced himself to get up, and determination like no other burned in his eyes. With a fierce growl, he charged upward, gripping the rocks, then pounding at them to move. He had to keep trying, he had to, he had to!
And finally, the rock moved.
Chase's eyes widened in relief, and with a jerk he shoved his paws, pushing them forward, and finally, finally, seeing a tiny light peak onto his eye.
Before he could do anymore he lost his pawing and fell back, staggering down, and a sharpening pain burned through him.
When he landed, he felt a blood pool forming from his wounds. He paid little attention to it, already accepting that he was not going to make it. It should've been distrubing reality he was encountering.
But Chase...he didn't care.
He was willing to die for Archie.
"Is anyone here? Hello?!"
That jerked the pup's ears. He began scraping down the tiny rocks, hoping to clear the opening again. His voice was dry, but with a gulp he yelled, "W-We're here! Here! We're down here!"
"Okay, I hear you pup!" there was some muffling and then a shout: "Servo, get the truck. Zeck, call backup, the ambulance. Beanie, get the rope! I'll try to open the hole and-"
The voices slowly faded from Chase's hearing, and he staggered before falling down on his stomach, dust clouding his vision.
Help was coming. Help was coming.
And he passed out before he could think of anything else.
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The sound of a respirator hummed mechanically in the distance. His eyes felt heavy, and when he opened them, a protruding white poured into his vision, seeming to blind him. He clenched them back close, and that was when realized he was lying on something incredibly soft. Almost like a cloud, if he had to pick a word. His nose sniffed the air, and it smelled strongly sterilized. Where, where was he?
He began trying to shift his arm, that was when his ears twitched at another sound of something shuffling near him. He reluctantly opened his eyes, tolerating the white, and then saw that K-9 dog.
"L-Lucky?" his voice rasped out.
The Serbian Hound nodded softly. "How are you feeling Chase?"
He didn't answer. He opted to observe the room he was in, and with another dry mumble he asked, "Where am I?"
"Blue Cross Animal Hospital." He formally replied. "Medic ward C."
Hospital? Chase heaved a breath as he slowly looked down on his body. He was covered in white bandages. And oh god his chest hurt like hell. And his head. And yup, his jaw. It felt way stiffer than before. He tried to move his paws.
Lucky pushed him down lightly. "Okay, no moving Chase. You're in worse shape than we first met you." He began listing out the injuries on his paws. "Two broken ribs, concussion, and two dozen gashes and cuts that needed to be treated. 90 stitches. Probably the worst was your jaw. It was dislodged partially. You had to go into surgery."
Despite Lucky's explanation, Chase's mind was coming in blank. Injured? Surgery? Chase didn't remember getting hurt. So why was he-
Blood.
Growling.
Screaming.
Archie!
Chase immediately snapped from his bed, panting with hysteria. The memories came rushing back to him, and the undoubting question swirled in Chase's mind.
"Where's Archie?" he asked.
Lucky's face suddenly turned solemn as he looked away. "How about I'll get you something to drink? You must be thirsty after sleeping for several days straight."
"Lucky..." Chase's tone tried to become stronger, "Where's Archie? Is he fine? How's he doing?"
Lucky didn't respond.
Frustration was arising in Chase, and he growled. "Dammit Lucky answer me! Where is he?"
Lucky breathed out a struggling breath. And finally, he said it. So lowly the room strangely turned hollow.
Chase's heart stopped. He couldn't hear right. The attack must have damaged his hearing.
"You're lying." He immediately denied. He shook his head slowly, feeling the room spinning. "You're lying to me Lucky."
Lucky didn't say anything.
With little warning, Chase abruptly jerked from the bed. He fell with a thump, and cords snapped off from his body. Lucky jumped in surprise, but quickly acted as the pup began staggering to the door, clearly disoriented from the lack of fluids and strength. "Chase! Where are you going?! Chase!"
He waggled and stumbled but he needed to leave. He couldn't breathe. Everything turned so cold, so cold, he was visibly shivering. Lucky grabbed his leg, and Chase fell, but he still struggled to crawl away on his paws. Lucky was saying stuff to him, something very high-pitched, but his ears went into a pulsing numb. Chase crunched his teeth, desperate to hold his emotions in. Trying to comprehend the situation.
Trying to realize Archie was no longer with them anymore.
.
.
.
The next few days were a haze.
Chase knew that five days had passed since he woke, but he had no memory of what happened during that time. Dogs and people were around him, in particular Lucky, but that was all Chase could recall. In truth he didn't want to recall anything that happened.
It was ironically a sunny day when the funeral came. Human police officers and K-9 dogs came, even those who weren't part of the force. All Chase saw was a sea of blue, crisp in clean uniforms, hats perfectly on, and faces who were sober and quiet.
He stood there lifelessly in the forth row, listening to Police Chief Winston commencing Archie for all his years of service, honouring him the badge of honour. He mentioned something how he conducted over 675 hours of training and worked on 339 cases during his career, which awarded him three other medals to be placed on his coffin. The human Police Chief said a speech too, even that human Officer Simon, and at the end, rounds of gunfire shot into the air. The dogs and humans saluted in pride, the echoing shots buzzed distantly. He saw it all, heard it all, but nothing sank in. Nothing made sense.
Nothing.
When it was over, Chase didn't dare look at Yoko in the face. He was too afraid. Too ashamed. Immediately after the ceremony, he wanted to leave. He struggled through the crowds on his injured legs but to his shock, his and Yoko's eyes crossed each other, and he froze. Yoko was approaching him, ending her conversation with another dog, but he dodged in front of others before she could reach him. She called out his name but he ignored it blatantly. He honestly didn't care. He just wanted to ignore everything.
He limped with bandages still tightly woven on his injuries to the place he wanted to go to. It was that hill. The same one where he and Archie came after their training sessions.
Once he reached the top, and the wind softly blazed through his fur, he bowed his head, struggling to fight the war of agony. Chase shook his head off the stupid cone that they put on his neck to prevent him from biting his stitches and threw it over the ledge. He then gripped the bandana he once treasured and tore it apart viciously with his teeth, shredding it till the pieces fell through the sky. He growled loudly, angrily, terribly anguished about everything before slamming his head on the ground, embracing the thumping pain at his forehead. They were coming. He felt it coming. He banged it a few more times lightly, even slamming his non-injured paw down, thinking it would ease his pain - gritting his fangs - but the hot tears were already coming. It wasn't fair. Not Archie. It couldn't be. Not him! Not him!
He suddenly howled out, letting all his feelings flow out of him.
And he cried.
And cried, like he never had before. Never had so many tears pour out of him, sobbing all the despair and anger he held in for so long. He didn't know how long he stayed up on that cliff, agony pouring out like a title wave. But he didn't care. He cried till he couldn't breathe, because he knew after this he never wanted to cry again.
After unknown time, Chase fell asleep on that cliff, still whimpering his sorrow with choked up sobs.
.
.
.
It became a disturbing sound of normality through the station.
Lucky despised it, loathe it with a fiery passion. He insisted work and assignments, but Chief quietly requested him to go easy with work. But didn't Chief understand? There was work to be done here. Assignments cannot go unnoticed. Besides, it wasn't as if he wanted to work. He needed to. Something to evade the pain.
He couldn't look at Archie's desk. Not for a solid week. He left it exactly how it was, wanting to bask in the memory. Yet, a colleague came with a box eventually and gently asked if he wanted to be the one to take his belongings. When Lucky didn't reply, the dog left the box and Hound alone. That was when Lucky glanced upward to his friend's desk, and his throat felt wobbly. He even saw the sunglasses. The dumb sunglasses he always told Archie how unneeded it was, but always insisted, he needed to look cool on assignments.
He was crying before he realized it. All he could think about was how stupid Archie could be. How incredibly stupidly heroic his best friend is - his throat hitched up - was. His best friend was.
Lucky knew it. That night, when Archie said he had to go to the station real quick, he knew he should have followed him. If he did, then he could have been there with Archie when he passed by the pound that evening, learning of the incident that just happened. Then only, Lucky could have knocked sense into Archie and call backup. Or heck, he would have joined him, charging to the docks and increase their odds of rescuing the pup. But no. Archie with his stupid sly smile and wink said he could go on his own, and stupidly Lucky agreed, resuming to reading his book, thinking none of it.
Of course, dogs and people alike asked how he was. Simon as well inquired, but he was mostly sober about it, as he too was dealing with the loss of his partner. Besides from Simon, Lucky he kept deflecting the question onto something else, but in all honestly, how could he be fine? How could anyone be fine? How dare they ask if he was simply 'fine'? One officer had the audacity to think Lucky would consider blaming Chase for Archie's death, or that they would understand if he hated the pup.
Lucky never smacked a fellow K-9 before.
Immediately, he got detained for violent behaviour. Some were surprised at the outburst, and their widened eyes made it clear. Yesterday's altercation made Chief formally dismiss him off-duty for three standardized days, and it angered him. How dare they?! The station needed his help! He couldn't get off now.
When he left Chief's office, he was startled that Bud was waiting for him in the hall. He remembered seeing him at the funeral, but he didn't pay much heed to it.
"Um," he started, sounding unsure, which was very unlike him. "My condolences Lucky."
The hound stared blankly at the ground.
He sighed heavily. "I know me and him never really got along, but…he didn't deserve that happening to him. He didn't."
After several long moments, Lucky whispered: "I know." And he strolled away.
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It was two weeks later when Winston approached Lucky in the hallway. The Hound's face was tired, evidence of heavy bags lingered under his eyes. "Chief."
Winston nodded in reply. "How are you doing?" he asked formally, yet laced with small amounts of placidity.
"Fine." He stiffly replied.
"I know your circumstances are…currently difficult, but I feel it is in your best interest to know these developments with the pup Chase."
Chase…Lucky blinked at the thought. From what he recalled the pup was recovering smoothly, in fact, he left the medic ward. While he wasn't fully healed, far from it, he was with some ability able to walk. He did see Chase in the halls, and more often in the rehabilitation area, but their conversations were short-lived, simply speaking about his recovery status and if he was eating properly.
"As we know, Archie had enrolled the pup in K-9 program, and it was in the process of being evaluated. As standard processing, the pup would take tests to see if they are able to enter the program, and in current status of the pup, it wouldn't be possible. However, with a recommendation of someone within our field, the pup would then get accepted right away."
Winston continued. "We're thus moving the pup to a new Academy."
"What?" life sprang to Lucky's eyes, and he shook his head. "You can't do that Chief!"
"Officer Lucky, please keep yourself calm."
"No! I will not! I will say what I wanna say! Chase will stay here! You hear?! You hear?!"
Sympathy dotted the old dog's face. "Officer Lucky-"
"Don't send him away! He wouldn't want that. He wouldn't want that. Chase wants to stay here! Please! Did the Commissioner decide this? I wish to prompt a meeting with him then!"
"Officer Lucky!" Winston raised his voice, and that brought Lucky out of his hysteria. "It wasn't the Commissioner's decision, or myself. It was the pup's."
Lucky blinked slowly. "He…requested it?"
"Respectfully."
"But he didn't say anything to me about this! I wish to decline this decision!"
"I understand your concern Lucky, but he has already went through the proper documentation for a transfer. He will be moving in two days."
So soon? This couldn't be. Things were changing too much, too fast. "Where, where is-"
"Lucky."
He spun around, and to his convenience saw Chase standing at the end of the hall, a bandage on his stomach, head and paw. A new cone beckoned on his neck.
Winston began to retreat. "I'll allow you two to speak." His feet padded away, and Lucky rushed towards Chase, who was impassive of the K-9 coming to him.
Lucky huffed. "Chase, don't run away from this."
"I'm not Lucky."
His cold tone angered the Hound. "Yes you are!" he yelled. "You're running away from the truth! You can't do that Chase! Y-You have to accept-"
"I have accepted the truth." Chase mumbled tersely, and that silenced Lucky. "I've realized for awhile now."
"Chase..."
"But what I'm doing, it's not running away. Because if I was, that means I want to forget him. And I will never forget him." His eyes burned with the purest intent, determination of steel. "I will become a police pup. I will be the greatest one there is Lucky! Because I promised him. And I refuse to break my promise with Archie."
Those words hung around them in the air. He didn't know what to say. What to feel anymore. Lucky's eyes softened with a sad smile, feeling tears wanting to spill out. He sniffed, swallowing his unstable emotions, and he looked back into Chase's eyes and nodded.
"Well," he started after a heavy breath. "You better call often Chase. I'll be checking up on you. I'll even visit when I'm able to, especially now it's allergy season. Flowers...they're prone to us."
The pup looked slightly surprised at that notion, to which he glanced to the ground, his voice turning soft. "Archie... told you."
It was more of a statement than a question. Lucky shrugged, a weak chuckle escaping his mouth. "You know Archie." his eyes felt glassy again. "Never kept his mouth shut."
And for the first time in a long awhile Chase smiled.
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.
"Um, Skye?" Marshall asked worriedly, his blue eyes flickering in confusion. "Are you alright?" For awhile now the female aerial pup said nothing, not even emotions on her face gave the Dalmatian a glimpse of her feelings.
"Skye?" he questioned once more, now becoming nervous, trying to look at her face closely. "Please say something."
She didn't need to, because Skye sprinted away.
"Skye!" he cried, "Wait, Skye! Don't-!"
She didn't hear, all she felt was the rapid beating of her heart pounding under her chest, dashing down the Lookout and into town. Her eyes were brimming with hot tears, and they were so overwhelming so couldn't even see straight.
The pain. Oh, the pain was too much to handle. And all this time, she didn't know. She didn't now about the pain Chase had to deal with at such a young age. How he kept everything in. Those subtle gestures she thought it was odd of Chase about being too serious or taking jobs that he said were too dangerous for anyone else. How could he act so happy, especially when the pups would talk about their families and how they miss them?
She realized she was oblivious to him. And she felt horrible.
Skye knew she had to see him. Had to hug him, tell him everything was fine, that he wasn't alone anymore. Those thoughts drove her mind, and she rushed around the streets, searching possibly anywhere Chase would be at this time of day.
But she couldn't find him.
People asked if she was alright, (it was clearly evident she was crying) but she whipped up a fake smile and said she was laughing from a joke. She even encountered Alex and Mr. Porter, but thankfully they seemed to believe her story about her supposed comedic intervention.
The day stretched to six, and to no avail, Skye couldn't find Chase. With her conclusion coming about, she began trailing back to the lookout. And it seemed logic began flowing through her mind again. What was she thinking? Telling Chase she knew? Marshall said it was private, and she knew she should respect his feelings. Perhaps that's why Chase never told her. He knew how she would react.
But then her pink eyes widened in astonished relief.
She found him.
He was at the beach, lying in the cream-coloured sand, watching the sunset fall downward on Adventure Bay. Her heart jumped in joy and immediately wanted to run to him, but suddenly she stopped.
She couldn't go to him in such a mess. That wouldn't be fair to him. For several moments she tried to calm herself down, cleaning her face of any dried tears that were sure staining her face. Once she thought she was presentable, she slowly began approaching him, and soon he turned around, hearing the sounds of crunching sand from behind.
"Skye?" he looked slightly surprised. "What are you doing here?"
She sniffled, the last remnants of her crying all gone now. "I was looking for you."
Quietness drifted above them, and she continued to walk right beside him, this time watching over the horizon above the sea.
"Watching the sunset?" she asked.
"Uh? Oh…yeah." He turned back, his gaze becoming void. "It's nice to look at."
"May I join you?"
Seconds later, he shrugged half-heartedly. "If you wanna."
She plopped herself right beside him, and that was when he took notice. He arched a brow. "Skye?"
"Yeah?"
"What are you doing?"
She smiled kindly, letting the wind dance under her fur, glancing up at him. "Watching the sunset with you silly."
Chase was quiet at her answer. When he didn't reply she resumed her eyes on the sun, hearing the crashing of the waves reach against the shores.
While the two sat, Skye leaned against him. He didn't need to know. It wouldn't help in anyway. But she knew sitting here, lying beside him, she was comforting him. That was what he needed. A friend.
That was what she could do for him.
Slowly, after several minutes, Skye felt a gentle pressure of something above her head, and she smiled softly, realizing it was Chase reciprocating the action, now leaning against her.
The two remained there quietly till it was time to go home.
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A/N: Ugh, my heart. Ouch, kay this was hard to write. I was tearing up when writing this! Especially paired up with Sia's Alive. I never wrote tragedy so it was new thing for me. But man, I was really attached to Archie.
So darling readers…guess who's next? Marshall! I know I didn't give an explanation how Chase became a PAW Patrol member, but you'll find out in Marshall's story. Our clumsy friend's past is pretty important in the establishment of the PAW Patrol.
If wondering if I would do a sequel for Chase, YES, I will. Not for a long time though. Hey, gotta show the love to all the members.
Thank you to all those who continuously read, comment and follow my work! (critique/suggestions are welcomed!) ^_^
P.S REVIEW!
Till next time,
mokocchii