It had been a long night, Charlie, Itchy, and Anne Marie were headed back to the junk yard after another successful race. They'd made a good amount of money they were getting close to having the money they needed to build the casino. Anne Marie was tuckered out after all the excitement from the races. She'd gotten so sleepy that Charlie had to let her get on his back and ride back to the junkyard. By the time they made it home, Anne Marie was fast asleep.
"Man what a day, we made so much money!" Itchy said as they walked.
"Shh, Itch! You're gonna wake up Squeaker," The german shepard hissed back to his friend.
Itchy looked a little shocked at Charlie's words, but he shrugged it off and shook his head. "Okay okay, sorry, pal."
Charlie suddenly realized what he'd said and looked a little embarrassed. As much as he hated to admit it, he'd developed a soft spot for the kid. And he knew it, but he didn't want Itchy to start questioning him so he shrugged. "Uh sorry pal, don't know where that came from. Let's just get some sleep we got another big day of races tomorrow."
Itchy nodded. "Right boss, I'll see ya bright n early tomorrow," the little dog replied, heading over to his shack for the night.
Charlie sighed and he leapt into his old car, and he whispered gently to Anne Marie. "Hey squeaker, we're home."
Anne Marie stirred a little and mumbled something Charlie couldn't quite make out, and he carefully used one arm to get her off his back and cradled her small frame into it and gently laid her down on her bed. The little girl curled up onto the pillow and yawned. "Night Charlie," she mumbled softly.
Charlie looked at her for a moment before whispering back to her. "G'night squeaker." He carefully brushed a few hairs from her eyes, watching her as she slept. He couldn't help but smile a little, she looked kinda cute when she slept that way. She was like a little puppy, except she was human. He picked up a blanket and put it over her and she smiled in her sleep a little bit and snuggled up under the blanket. Charlie smiled a little more, this kid wasn't all bad. She was really sweet, and she had the cutest blue eyes, he frowned a little bit, suddenly feeling a little guilty because they were secretly using her and her ability to talk to animals and make money winning bets at races. Taking advantage of her, just like Carface. He sighed softly, quietly jumping up into the front seat of the cab and grunted in frustration at all these feelings he was getting.
"Pull it together Charlie," he told himself. "Now's not the time to lose your nerve." He sighed and he curled up in his spot and he soon fell asleep.
Anne Marie woke up in total darkness and she gasped in fear. It was dark and cold, and she couldn't see a thing. "Charlie? Itchy? W-where are you?"
"There's no more Charlie. He's dead! And now, you're mine!" A terrifying voice said and Carface came out of the shadows with a scary expression.
Anne Marie gasped in fear. "No no you're lying! He promised he'd help me find a mommy and daddy. He'll come for me!"
"Oh please he never cared about you, he cares about no one but himself. You really think anyone would want you? You're weak and useless. No one wants you. So you are forever mine!"
"NOOOO!" Anne Marie screamed.
Charlie was awake in an instant, leaping into the back seat when he heard a terrifying scream coming from the little girl. He shook the girl gently trying to wake her. "Hey, hey squeaker! Wake up! It's okay!"
Anne Marie bolted upright, breathing heavily, her small body trembling in fear. She looked up at Charlie, who looked back at her in concern. Tears were pouring down her cheeks as she tried to catch her breath.
"You okay Squeaker?" Charlie asked softly.
Anne Marie threw her arms around him, burying her face into his fur and cried softly. "Oh Charlie! It was so scary!" She cried.
"Oof!" Charlie grunted softly when the girl hugged him tighter then she ever had before. Not really knowing what else to do, he wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close to him. "Hey it's alright squeaker, you just had a bad dream," he told her softly.
"It was so scary, Mr Carface was there, he-he said that you were dead. H-he k-killed you and I was trapped. And..I thought I lost you..and-" Anne Marie babbled and her voice was shaking and her small body trembled.
"Hey, hey take it easy Squeaker, you're safe. I-I'm here see?" Charlie said softly. "I got you," he embraced the little girl and rubbed her back gently to try and sooth her.
Anne Marie leaned against him, and choked back a few sobs as Charlie kept on rubbing her back. "Deep breathes squeaker, deep breathes," Charlie told her.
She took a few breathes, trying to calm herself down. She kept leaning against him and she was finally starting to calm down.
"Atta girl," Charlie said as he tightened his arm around her, holding her close.
"S-sorry that I woke you up Charlie," Anne Marie said.
"Hey it's alright squeaker, you had a bad dream but it's okay it's all over. No need to apologize," Charlie replied.
"Charlie, you won't leave me right?" Anne Marie asked, looking up at him with those big blue eyes of hers.
Charlie stared at her a moment, his heart hurt at the sight of this kid and how terrified she looked. He'd never been a fan of kids, even though she was the first kid he'd ever met in his life. And there was no denying the fact that she was growing on him. And that soft spot he had was getting bigger and bigger. He'd never had someone need him before, this was all so new to him but he was slowly starting to like it. He was finally starting to admit it to himself that he cared about this kid. And the instinct to want to protect this kid was kicking in hard. Then he looked into her eyes, and pulled her into his chest.
"No squeaker, I'll never leave you, and I won't let Carface hurt you ever again," Charlie told her softly.
Anne Marie just smiled and she hugged him back, burying her face into his fur. "Thank you, Charlie," she replied softly.
Charlie smiled back, and he pulled back to look down at her and gently wiped a tear from her eyes. "Hey, how about a little music huh? To help you get back to sleep?"
"I'd like that," the little girl replied, smiling back at him.
Charlie released her and let her reach over the front seat and get out the record player. He helped set it up, and turned it on and it started playing a nice jazzy tune, and the two sat there listening to the music together. Anne Marie cuddled up to the german shepard and Charlie wrapped an arm around her, hugging her close. Soon she was starting to fall asleep, and he watched her as she dozed off again into a deep sleep with a little smile on her face.
Carefully Charlie reached over and turned off the record player and he gently laid her back down on her pillows, and covered her up. He watched her for a moment before quietly jumping back into the front seat of the car and sat there for a moment so many thoughts rushing through his head. What was he thinking? He wasn't supposed to get atattched to this kid, but somehow he did. And he wanted to keep his promise to her to find her a family, he didn't want to keep using her the way they were doing anymore. After the casino is built he decided that he would do his best to help her find what she needed. He'd make it up to her.
End
Hoped you enjoyed! Been hooked onto the movie all dogs go to heaven it's always been one of my favorites and I love the relationship between Charlie and Anne Marie they are so cute!