Zuma was about to hang up with Chase when Skye's chopper suddenly plummeted into the bay.
"Crap! Chase she just crashed into the bay," screamed Zuma, "I'm going for her. Call Ryder."
*** PAW PATROL TO THE LOOKOUT ***
"Ryder Needs US!" yelled the pups heading for the Lookout.
Rocky and Rubble arrived in the elevator, noting that Zuma and Skye were missing as well as the others and Chase was panicked.
"Chase, Is it Skye?" asked Rubble.
"Zuma called," explained Chase pacing, "He said he saw smoke and then he watched her crash into the bay."
"It's going to be ok," assured Rocky.
Zuma watched the chopper bob on the surface and then it quickly sank out of sight.
"Ryder, She's still in the chopper," said Zuma. "It sank and I still don't see her. I'm almost to the crash site. I'll send the location to your pup pad. I'm diving in as soon as I get there. Get Marshall to the shore. I'll bring her to him."
"Pups thanks for rushing," said Ryder, The pups noticed Marshall, Everest, and Yeshe on the screen listening in, They appeared to be driving. "You know why we're here. Zuma said the chopper sank and did not see Skye get out. He's diving down to find and rescue her. I'm not going to assign anyone because I know you're all going anyway. Marshall, Zuma sent the location. Get to the shore, He said He'd come to you once he gets her out."
Ryder called Katie as soon as he was out of the Lookout bay, "I'm sorry I know you're in class. Skye's crashed in the bay. Zuma's trying to save her. Is there any way you can meet us at the clinic?"
Katie looked at her professor who was already packing his things and the rest of the class stood. "Apparently, the entire class is coming. We'll see you at the clinic."
As Katie got out to her vehicle, she called Marshall. "Marshall, as soon as you know something, let me know. I'll be ready for you at the clinic."
The others tried to keep up with Chase as he sped toward the beach. Chase knew he shouldn't be driving but nothing was going to stop him from getting to Skye. Marshall and Gale had still been at the Retreat and were driving with everything he had. Everest and Yeshe were right behind him.
Zuma arrived on scene and immediately dropped out of his hovercraft in scuba gear. He quickly swam down to the Chopper. As he approached he saw Skye still strapped into her harness, she appeared lifeless. He pulled the dive knife Rocky had made him specifically for rescues. He cut the straps with a single pass, he pulled Skye from the chopper and swam for the surface. He loaded her onto his hovercraft and hauled tail for the shore, arriving as Marshall pulled up, Chase was at Skye's side immediately.
"Oh God!" Cried Chase, "She's not breathing! Marshall, do something."
Rocky stepped over and grabbed Chase, "Chase! Let Marshall work. I know this sucks, I've been there. Let's go to Katie's, They'll be right behind us."
"What!" cried Chase looking around frantically. "Wh-O-Ok. Ok Rocky, you're right."
Marshall quickly assessed Skye and began artificial respirations.
"Zuma, You're going to have to drive my ambulance," said Marshall. "Gale and I will be in the back. Let's GO!"
Ryder just stood back as the pups worked, they had grown so efficient he often didn't need to do anything but supervise. In this case he paced feeling helpless as countless adventures with Skye played through his head.
Zuma jumped in the driver's seat. "GO!" yelled Marshall from the back. Zuma slammed it into gear and headed for Katie's. Marshall was working and showing Gale how to do compressions on Skye. He called Katie to provide an update.
"Katie, I can't get her breathing," said Marshall, " and I can't feel a pulse, we've started compressions. Be ready with the crash cart!"
"We're ready Marshall," said Katie. "I'm out front waiting."
"A-are we going to lose her!" asked Gale, as she continued compressions.
"Not on my watch," said Marshall, focusing. "No one dies without my permission."
"But her heart's not beating," Gale said, beginning to cry.
"Hey, Gale, focus!" said Marshall, "we don't have time to do anything but work. No one's dead until they're cold and dead. She's still warm and we have work to do."
Gale focused on her compressions and watching Marshall. Marshall suddenly told her to stop.
"W-why?" cried Gale.
"Hold on," Marshall said, checking for a pulse. "YES! Oh thank God! Her heart's beating again. Her pulse is increasing. Congratulations Gale, on your first save. Hook up the oxygen and put that mask on her for now. ZUMA! How much farther?"
"We're just around the corner Marshall!" yelled Zuma.
Chase jumped out of his cruiser and immediately began pacing, "Where are they!"
"They're coming Chase," said Rocky, "They'll be here soon, I can hear the sirens."
The ambulance pulled up and Katie stepped to the rear opening the doors. Marshall had started an IV and Gale had the oxygen going.
"Talk to me Marshall," said Katie.
"She was pulseless and not breathing," said Marshall, "We regained pulse and respirations just prior to arrival. No visible injuries, more than likely water impact knocked her out. Zuma? Anything strange about damage to the chopper?"
"No Marshall, Just typical water landing damage," said Zuma, "Her helmet had no marks on it."
Katie's professor, Professor Smith, pulled Zuma to the side asking about how long she was submerged and approximate temperature of the water.
They quickly wheeled Skye into the exam room. She was hooked to the EKG, her heart looked to be still improving. One of the other students began setting up an intubation tray. Professor Smith gave the drug to put Skye out and then quickly slid the tube into place. The machine took over her breathing and she quickly began stabilizing.
"If she's breathing," said Chase "Why is she not waking up?"
"They knocked her out," explained Marshall, "We have to make sure she doesn't end up with pneumonia from the sea water in her lungs. It's ok, she's getting better."
"I - I thought I lost her," cried Chase, collapsing to the floor. Rocky helped him up and helped walk him to the waiting room. Rocky sat with Chase holding him as he cried. It was so hard to watch Chase break down, he was so strong, the team's second in command, but this scared him really badly. The waiting room brought back memories to Rocky of the night Yeshe was shot.
"Trust me the waiting is the worst part," said Rocky. It suddenly dawned on him that Gale was with Marshall, 'I wonder what's up with that?' thought Rocky.
Gale stood back watching as everyone worked to get different tests run. Everyone seemed to be working separately on specific tasks but also together as a team. Someone would call for a number of some kind, another would call it out or hand a report over. There was just so much to learn, she wondered if it was going to be possible for her to learn all that she would need. She determined she would get with her dad tonight and ask where to research the information she would need to learn. Marshall noted she had moved over to a corner.
"You ok Gale?" asked Marshall.
"I just didn't want to get in the way," said Gale. "I'm watching and taking notes of all the stuff I have questions about and will need to look up later."
"When it calms down a little," said Marshall, "I'll walk you through everything we've done and answer any questions. You're welcome to stay and watch but if it's too much you can wait in the lobby with your dad."
"No, I'd like to stay," said Gale.
"Ok, I'll be right back," said Marshall.
"Gale is it?" said Professor Smith. "Come here."
Gale gulped and walked over, "Y-yes sir?"
"So you want to learn to be a vet?" said the professor.
"I want to be a medic for now," said Gale, "I don't know, can a dog even be a vet?"
"Of course," said Professor Smith. "That one dog, uh Rocky, is going to be an engineer. If you study and pass the test, there's nothing to stop you. But being a medic is an important job as well. I understand you did the compressions that got this young lady back?"
"Y-yes sir, and Rocky is my dad," said Gale.
"You did excellent work," said Professor Smith. "You definitely saved her life. Do you understand why you did compressions?"
"B-because her heart wasn't beating," said Gale.
"Yes, but that's the puppy answer," laughed the professor. "The medic answer is to compress her heart against the backbone thus artificially pumping the heart until it restarted."
"O-ok I understand now," said Gale, "We really saved her, she wouldn't have gotten better anyway?"
"No honey," said the professor, "She was dead. You and Marshall brought her back. You seem very calm and collected. I think you'll do great. If you change your mind and decide to go on to become a vet, call me. But in the meantime, you can always ask questions. Come around here let me show you how to take a blood sample. Put on some gloves."
"Ok," said Gale walking around the stretcher.
Rocky had stepped to the door window and smiled when he saw Gale stepping over to help take care of Skye.
After what seemed like hours the group began walking out of the room. Katie and Professor Smith walked over to Chase.
"She's going to be fine," said Katie, "She's still sedated but that's only until we get antibiotics in her and run a few more tests. We should be able to remove the breathing tube tomorrow."
"You sir," said Professor Smith, to Rocky, "should be very proud. Your daughter did great work and will be an incredible medic. I think she has what it takes to be a veterinarian."
Gale came out and had her head down at first.
"So do you want to become a medic instead of a guardian?" asked Rocky.
"Y-yes sir," said Gale, "are you disappointed? Do you think mom will be mad?"
"If this is what you feel your heart calling you to do," said Rocky, "why would anyone be mad? We just want you to make something of yourself. Be that Guardian, medic, recycling pup, whatever."
Rocky hugged his daughter, "I do think you should speak with your mother and tell her the truth. How is it you're not at guardian school?"
Gale went on to explain about the incident with Buster and that Kang had sent her to spend the day with Marshall. Rocky laughed when she told him about pinning Buster and then him slipping and telling her that she was beautiful when mad. Rocky still got turned on when Yeshe would pin him by his neck.
Later that night the pups were sitting with Yeshe and Rocky talking. Karuna was laughing at the look on Buster's face when Gale pinned him.
"You could tell he liked it," laughed Karuna. Yeshe turned to glare at Rocky.
"Hey, I haven't said anything,' said Rocky defensively.
"What?" asked Gale.
"Nothing honey," said Yeshe, shaking her head. "Just boys. So you really want to be a firefighter medic?"
"Yes," said Gale, "I know it's not what you wanted me to do."
"No Honey," said Yeshe, "you were sent to Guardian school because you're a mastiff. Training never hurts, but just because you're a mastiff doesn't mean you have to be a guardian. If Lizzy or any other pup wanted to be a guardian they would be more than welcome to go to class. If you want to be a firefighter medic you would do great at it. Your dad said the Professor from the college was really impressed with how brave you were."
"I just did what I was told," said Gale, "I'm going to get dad to show me how to look up what I need to know. I made a list of things I didn't understand."
Yeshe looked at Rocky, "She's definitely yours," laughed Yeshe, "she already can't stand there being something out there she doesn't know or understand. I'm very proud of you Gyal-Tso, you will be an excellent medic or more if you put your mind to it."
"And you're not upset that I want to be like dad?" said Buddy.
"Of course not," said Yeshe, "The team recycling pup / fix it pup is a very important job."
"I still want to be a guardian," said Karuna. "There are those I need to protect."
"Yeah, like Lizzy," laughed Buddy, making kissing faces at Karuna. Karuna growled at him.
"Yes, is that wrong?" growled Karuna.
"Of course not," said Yeshe.
"You know I'm kidding," laughed Buddy, "how can you not like Lizzy. She's so full of life and energetic."
Chase raised his head as Katie walked in checking various machines.
"Are you resting at all?" asked Katie.
"I'm just too scared," said Chase, "What if she wakes and I'm not awake to help her. I wasn't there when she crashed, I wasn't able to save her, All I did was cry. I'm useless."
Katie sat down next to Chase, "Chase, you know that's not true. You didn't rescue her only because Zuma got there first. You know you would have jumped in if you were there."
"But I wasn't there when she needed me most," whimpered Chase.
"Chase, You'll have to fight those demons," said Katie, "You can't be everywhere for everyone. I know you try, but it just isn't possible. She survived and you're here now. I promise she's asleep because I'm keeping her asleep. Dr. Smith said everything looks good. You know she got the absolute best care possible. None of you have had a whole team to work on you like she did. Even with Yeshe, we didn't have all that help."
"I can't help but feel like I should have known something was wrong," said Chase "When Zuma called me, I knew something wasn't right."
"Chase, we got her here and now she's being allowed to rest and her body is healing," said Katie, "I'll wake her first thing in the morning. She's not going to wake up until I turn off the medicine that is keeping her asleep. At least try to rest, do you need to go outside?"
Chase eyed the door but turned back to look at Skye.
"Do I need to call Ryder to make you go pee?" said Katie.
"N-no," said Chase, "Fine, I'll go use the bathroom and then come right back."
"Good enough," laughed Katie, "I'll be right here."
Chase walked out into the night and used a nearby tree. He thought of how scary this event had been. He knew he could never stop her from flying. But maybe Rocky could come up with something to stop aircraft from just falling out of the sky. He took a deep breath and walked back inside.
Chase hopped up on the bed laying at the foot of Skye's bed. He continued to stare at her waiting for her to awaken even though he knew she was drugged.
