Expanding Horizons - Chapter 3

The next morning Ryder walked into Skye's room, Chase raised his head to see who it was.

"Morning Ryder," said Chase, turning back to Skye and resting his head on his paws.

"Good Morning Chase," said Ryder, "I see you didn't sleep. Maybe after Katie wakes her up you'll feel safer. Katie said her class was returning this morning to go over Skye's chart and help with the procedure."

"I know she's getting better," said Chase, "But until I can hear her voice again I won't totally feel safe."

"Chase, I know you won't be able to help yourself," said Ryder, "But you are going to have to let her fly again."

"I know," said Chase, "I can't keep her safe all the time. I think somehow this is somehow my fault."

Ryder sat down, "What do you mean? You didn't cause the Chopper to crash."

"We were discussing pups," said Chase, tears beginning to run down his muzzle. "We talked about it and then she decided to go fly and clear her head. She wouldn't have gone had it not been brought up."

"Oh Chase," said Ryder, "It wasn't your fault. She's always in the air. Sometimes crazy things happen, luckily Zuma saw it happening and was able to be there quickly."

"I will owe him forever," said Chase, "He saved her when I couldn't. That and Marshall and Gale, they did CPR and got her back when she was gone. I can't believe how close to losing her I came."

*** Meanwhile in Skye's Mind or is it? ***

Skye woke in a cloudy area. She looked down and realized she was in the air.

'Oh No!' Skye said in her head, 'I must have not made it. Poor Chase, he'll be so heart broken.'

"It's still up to you you know." said a voice from seemingly everywhere.

Skye spun around looking and finally spoke, "H-hello?"

"Yes, I'm here Skye," said the Voice.

"A-are you God?" asked Skye.

"If it makes you feel better to call me that," said the Voice. "I've been called many things over many lifetimes. But you know it's up to you if you go back. It's not your time yet."

"What happened?" asked Skye. "I mean I know I was heading for the water but then I woke up here."

"You crashed and the helicopter sank," said the voice, "You drowned. Currently Zuma is trying to save you. But you're not breathing and your heart has stopped. They can save you but it's still up to you to go back."

"I don't want to leave Chase," said Skye.

"I figured you'd say that," said the voice. "It's still going to be a while."

"But why?" asked Skye.

"Well they are working to get you back," said the Voice. "You're going to be Gyal-Tso's first save. She's going to be one of the first Canine Veterinarians in the country. She will accomplish great things in her time. She's just getting around to telling her parents that she doesn't feel like she's meant to be a Guardian. She's not very sure of herself, but saving you will inspire her to learn more and more. She's actually going to be smarter than her father."

"Wow, that's so cool that you can see that," said Skye. "What about Chase and I?"

"You mean your pups?" asked the voice.

"Pups, as in more than one?" asked Skye.

"Do you really want to ruin the surprise?" asked the voice.

"I guess not," said Skye "Will they be healthy and happy?"

"They will if you go back," said the voice. "If not they will never have existed, so you don't really lose them. But they will make you quite proud if you do."

"I do want to go back," said Skye.

"Well wake up," said the voice.

"How?" asked Skye.

"Open your eyes, Skye" said the voice, seeming to fade away. "Open your eyes, please."

"Open your eyes, Skye" cried Chase, "Please Skye, just open your eyes."

Skye's eyes fluttered and she slowly opened her eyes.

"Skye! Oh thank God!" cried Chase. "Katie! She's opening her eyes. She's ok! She's going to be ok!"

Katie came running over to the bed. "Calm down Chase, calm down." said Katie, "You'll scare her."

"Oh, I'm sorry Skye," cried Chase, "I'm so so sorry. Please forgive me. I'll never ask you about pups again. I'm so sorry. I. uh, I…" Chase slumped to the floor.

"I'm really sorry Chase," said Katie, placing the syringe back on a tray. "But you were going to frighten her and you were making my head hurt."

"Why," whispered Skye, she swallowed and tried again, "Why does my throat hurt so bad?"

"Skye, you had a tube in your throat helping you breath," explained Katie, "It will probably be sore for a few days. Do you want to drink a little water?"

Skye nodded.

"Ok honey," said Katie, "just a little sip for now."

Skye sipped a little and laid back. "Is Chase here?" whispered Skye.

"Uh, he was," said Katie, "He was getting too excited when you started waking up. He, uh, he passed out."

"Oh, ok," said Skye. she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

"Thanks for the update Katie," said Ryder, hanging up. He turned to the pups who had come into his room when they heard it was Katie.

"Skye woke up for a little while," said Ryder, "But then passed out. Her body has been through a lot. She'll need to sleep for a while. We can go see her in the morning."

"I'm just glad she woke up," said Rocky. "I'm going to go tell Yeshe and the pups. Gale will be so happy."

"Can I go check on Chase?" asked Marshall.

"Marshall," said Ryder, "You've been checking on him every hour since the accident."

"Please," begged Marshall.

"Ok, but if Katie tells you to come home," laughed Ryder, "then come home."

"Ok," said Marshall running for the slide. Gale was waiting in his truck as he landed. Marshall laughed and started toward Katie's

Marshall and Gale arrived and walked into Katie's.

"Hello Marshall, Hello Gale,"said Katie. "Go on back. Chase should be waking any moment now."

"Let me guess," laughed Marshall, "He got over excited. Not that I blame him."

"I only gave him a half dose," laughed Katie, "When this is over he's going to sleep for a week. He hasn't rested since this started."

Marshall walked in and nuzzled Chase. Chase's eye shot open.

"Marshall!" yipped Chase, "Oh, it was a dream. I must have dozed off."

"No, no it was real," said Marshall, "You were getting too worked up as Katie was checking Skye. She gave you something to sleep for a moment. Skye's vitals are good, She's sleeping now just because her body has been through a lot. She should wake up soon. You know you're going to have to get some sleep, you're going to be no good to her if you're too tired to help her for the next few weeks or so."

"I know Marshall," said Chase, "we've known each other longer than anyone else on the team. You're my best friend. This scared me more than anything ever has. I really thought I'd lost her. I know technically I did, I owe you and Gale everything for bringing her back not to mention all of Katie's class and her professor. I just had to make sure she was ok. I couldn't sleep whenever I tried to close my eyes, all I saw was her laying there not breathing."

"We just did what we're trained to do," said Marshall, "Gale is going to be really good. She's smart, she will be better than I am soon. I'm here now, why don't you sleep. I promise when Skye wakes up, I'll wake you immediately."

"You promise?" said Chase, yawning big.

"I promise," said Marshall, sitting down beside the bed and getting comfortable.

"I'm going to go see if Katie needs any help," said Gale.

Chase curled up at the foot of Skye's bed and promptly fell asleep.

A few hours later Everest poked her head in the room.

"Finally," said Everest, "You convinced him to get some rest?"

"I know this scared him badly," said Marshall, "I would be the same way. We were so close on this one. The fact that we got her back and Katie's professor happened to be available. It just feels weird, like this all had a greater purpose."

"I was talking to Yeshe," said Everest, "Gale hasn't stopped reading since she got home from y'alls rescue, she's in the lobby reading right now. She is very much like Rocky in that she won't quit until she understands everything. She very much wants to be a firefighter medic."

"She's already a better medic than I was starting out," laughed Marshall, "But you're right. I think she will definitely be my replacement someday. So where's Lizzy?"

"Where do you think?" smirked Everest, "She was at the retreat watching Karuna. She's home and in bed now, it's late, I just wanted to check on you."

"Those two are so young," laughed Marshall, "But no one can doubt their love for each other already. He sure took to her the moment they were placed next to each other in the nursery. I guess us choosing her and them being placed next to each other was fate of some kind. You think she might want to try becoming a guardian as well, I could speak to Kang. Or you could for that matter, he trusts you as much as he does Yeshe."

"I think it would give you a bonding moment with Lizzy," said Everest, "And it would be good for you and Kang to talk as well."

Skye began waking up,

"Chase?" said Skye weakly.

"Just a second Skye," said Marshall.

Marshall nugged Chase, "Chase, Skye's waking up and asking for you."

Chase shot up awake.

"Skye, Skye, I'm here," said Chase gently kissing her forehead.

Marshall went to get Katie.

"Chase," said Skye, "I, uh I, died didn't I?"

"Shush, don't worry about that," said Chase, "You're going to be fine. Zuma saved you then Marshall and Gale brought you here. I'm just happy you're waking up. I was so scared."

"I knew you would be," said Skye, "that's why I came back. I, uh, I."

"Rest honey, rest," said Chase, tears running openly down his muzzle. "You just rest, I'm right here if you need anything. Marshall went to get Katie, she'll be here in a minute. Don't worry about anything, just rest."

Chase was rubbing her head as Katie walked in.

"Hey Skye, your voice is going to be weak for a few days," said Katie. "In case you don't remember you had a tube in your throat to help you breathe. I know everyone is happy to see you alive, but nod or shake your head as much as possible. Your voice will get stronger."

"Ok, can someone call Gale and Yeshe?" whispered Skye.

"Sure, Gale's right outside in the lobby," said Marshall. "In Gale's waking time she's been reading or with me learning."

Marshall stepped outside to get Gale, Everest called Yeshe.

Gale walked in timidly, "Yes Aunt Skye?"

"Oh, Gale I know what you did," said Skye, "I know you were scared. Have confidence in yourself, you will be great one day. Thank you. And Marshall, thank you as well. Oh can someone call Zuma and make sure he knows I'm back?"

Everest looked down at her best friend and suddenly realized just how small she was. It always seemed Skye was larger than life and so full of energy.

"Skye?" said Everest, "I'm so happy you're going to be ok. I thought I'd lost my best friend."

"I love you too," whispered Skye.

Ryder and the others came running in.

"So glad to see that you are ok," said Ryder.

"I took a couple days off of school," said Rocky, "Zuma and I recovered your chopper already. I'm going to redesign it. I'll wait until you're better, but I'll show you how much safer I plan on making it. Don't worry about that right now, rest and get better."

Zuma stepped forward, "Hey Skye, sorry it took me so long to figure out what was going on and get to you."

"Sorry Zuma?" said Skye, "You saved me and got me to shore to Marshall and Gale. I will never be able to thank you enough, to thank all of you enough. Rocky, you took care of Chase when he was about to lose it. Chase, don't think for a second you did nothing to help, it was your love that I thought of the whole time. Your love brought me back."

All the pups, Ryder and Katie had tears in their eyes.

"Skye, did you hear us talking while you were getting better?" asked Chase. "No one has told you about everything yet, but you seem to know everything."

"It's a long story," said Skye, "I need to talk to Yeshe. But when my voice is stronger I'll tell everyone."

Yeshe came forward, "Skye did you talk to the great one?"

"I'm not sure," whispered Skye, "I think I did, it was just a voice."

"Everyone, let's give them some time please," asked Chase.

Everyone turned to leave. "We'll be just outside Skye," said Chase.

Skye began to tell Yeshe everything that was said. Even the part about Gale going on to great things if she decided to.

"I think I will just encourage her for now," said Yeshe, "If need be I'll let you tell her. I'm so proud of her and the boys. Rocky hasn't slept since your accident. He's determined to fix your chopper so this doesn't ever happen again. You know the Voice as you called it, I believe the great one takes the shape we need to see at the time. For me it has always been a great white wolf, others have seen other forms. You just heard a voice, could you actually see everything that was happening?"

"Bit's and pieces," whispered Skye, "The voice told me other parts as they were developing. It was weird, the voice was telling me to wake up, please wake up. Then it was Chase talking and I opened my eyes and he was there, crying and begging me to wake up. I wasn't sure if it was real or just in my head."

"It seems that is the way many describe being brought back. A loved one or someone important talking the person back," said Yeshe, "Are you going to tell Chase about your pups?"

"I'm definitely going to tell him I want pups," said Skye, "I started to ask about them, but I decided to let it be a surprise. The voice said they would be healthy and happy, that's good enough for me."

"I definitely think it was real," said Yeshe, "I had a similar talk when I was shot. I had already been spoken to before though, telling me to take the patrol in the first place."

"I'm just happy knowing there is a Great One," said Skye, "It doesn't really matter what they're called as long as they are there watching over us." Skye yawned big.

"I'll get Chase," said Yeshe, "Rest, we'll talk more later."

Yeshe walked out into the waiting room. Chase stood up.

"Is she going to be ok?" asked Chase.

"Yes, she'll be fine," said Yeshe. "You better go see her. She'll be asleep in no time. Take care of you as much as you take care of her."

"I will, I promise," said Chase, as he walked into Skye's room.