Chapter nine: Return Of The Heart
Creeping across the floor as if trying to sneak up on him, Chase's mirror image of a brother stopped at his side and sat down. Lifting a paw he momentarily stopped it, before choosing to set it down gently on Chase's back, to which the pup leaned his head slightly back toward him; unable to bring himself to look at his brother.
"Hey..uh.. y- you ok, bro?" Chester almost whispered, almost afraid of what he'd say. Chase leaned his head to the right(opposite the side Chester was standing on) against his paw with a sigh.
"I'm tired of this.." He spoke up softly. "I'm tired of feeling like I can't do anything."
"But you can do things." Chester returned meaningfully.
"Not like I used to." Chase withdrew, sitting up, the slight pain making him grunt and close one eye toward it. "I can't move like I want to.. and I can't stop hurting without help… maybe it's hopeless."
"Don't say that!" Chester cried, coming to stand in front of him, crouching down to be eye level with Chase. "It's not hopeless.. its.. just gonna take some time." He stood at his full height when Chase looked his way. "You knew that, when you started treatment upon returning home." Chase broke his gaze to the ground, hopelessness still dripping off his face. "I know it's not what you wanna hear.. but it will take time.. more time than you might think. But part of your healing is understanding that your injuries have set you back and bit.. And remain mindful of that, as you press forward; and not overdo yourself simply because you want to be better. You can't rush healing.." Chester lifted his brother's chin to meet his gaze. "No matter how hard you try." Chase's eyes glazed over as if he were to cry.. but no tear ever fell.
"I know." He sighed finally dropping his head.
"Look." Chester lifted Chase's gaze back to his. "I think we can ask Billy, Marcus, and Daniel if they can make your therapy more fun.. but you gotta figure out how to handle this better. And I'll be here to help you if you need it.."
"We all will." Marshall added, as the pups drew closer.
"I know you're used to directing traffic, but now we're here to walk you through this process." Chester continued. "It's ok to feel unsure of yourself here.. this is a work in progress. Plus come on.. who wouldn't want an excuse to get wet on a hot summer day." Chester smirked and somehow encouraged Chase to lightly giggle with him.
"Yeah.. I guess you may be right." The pup half chuckled in saying this.
"That's the spirit!" Chester praised, ruffling the fur on his brother's head. "Don't worry.. knowing you.. this feeling of helplessness won't last forever. 'Least not on my watch.. if I had one." Chase and Chester shared another chuckle, life returning back to Chase's eyes; as he suddenly looked like himself again. This reaction brought warmth to their hearts, at this wave of relief that washed over them in seeing it.
"So Chase.. what'do wanna do when you get done icing your shoulder?" Rocky wondered.
"I don't know." The pup shrugged, despite his limited range of motion; due to the ice pack(and the pain). "I guess we could try to loosening up a bit with some easy pup-yoga exercises."
"Sounds like a great idea, Chase." Frank smiled, Ryder nodding in agreement.
"Ok.. sounds good." Skye smiled, pleasurefully wagging her tail.
"I've never done pup-yoga before.." Chester thought aloud. "Sounds fun." Chase just shook his head, and humorously rolled his eyes up with a sigh to match his grin.
XXXX
Chase stretched, lowering his forelegs toward the floor, tail straight up, but immediately receive a twinge and lowered himself all the way down to the floor.
"Ok pups.. I can't do this one.. but let's go with downward dog." Chase delegated to the group around their circle. Chester followed the other pups movements, but seeing how easy the position was and the glee in Chase's eyes.. he took the opportunity that was presented to him. Lowering himself to his front elbows, he placed a paw to his cheek to rest his head against casually.
"Ahh.. man.. this is the life am I right, pups?"
"How are you doing that?!" Skye gasped in surprise, as Chase held back a giggle.
"Oh you mean this?!" Chester asked goofily. Turning his shoulders to lay on his back, he made a goofy face and sound; forcing Chase to bite back his laughter. Chester sang the 'I'm walking on air' song while literally walking his paws through the open air above him; then rolled onto his belly to 'ground swim' intentionally making the bubbling noises. By this time, Chase had given up trying not to laugh and was rolling on the ground in completely hysterics at his brother's goofing off. Chester chuckled as he stood himself up where he was, gleefully taking in his success. As Chase recovered, still lying on his back, he looked up at the shadow being cast over him; finding it to be none other than Chester, grinning down upon him.
"Hah, you know.. this is the most interesting pup yoga class I've ever seen." Chase giggled, shooting Chester a knowingly serious look; despite his remaining broad smile.
"But isn't that the point with me?" Chester returned coolly, making Chase snicker once more.
"Yeah, yeah.. so you say." Chase joked, adding to his brother's amusement. The pups joined in the laughter, as they were now all engaging into the antics of the two German Shepherds.
"Well.. I'm glad you're feeling better, Chase." Rocky smiled, giggling a bit as he spoke. "I know this whole thing hasn't been easy for you."
"Well..I still don't feel great." Chase admitted. "But.. I do feel better than I did… thanks to you guys."
No problem, dude!" Zuma piped certainly. "That's what we're here for!"
XXXX
"I just don't know, Rayla." Chase sighed loosely, plopping down to hang his head off the edge of the indoor playset he was lying on. "Training has started, but.. is doesn't feel like there's been any progress on it."
"I know you've probably heard this a lot, but.. give it time." The Golden Lab reassured him from where she was below him; lifting her gaze to his. "Its gonna take a lot after what Rex did to you. Besides.. I'm sure they'll understand if you can't compete this time.. I hardly believe this'll end with one competition."
"But I've wanted this for years, and haven't gotten the chance!" Chase protested turning his gaze on her hurtfully. "And now I do. I can't miss out this time."
"You can, if you can't physically do it." Rayla pointed out. "Look.. I know you don't wanna sit this one out, like you have all the others.. but if your injury is still an issue by then.. it's probably not safe for you to even try to compete. I wouldn't want you to risk re-injury so soon, none of us would. It could cause more damage than good."
"I know you're right." Chase sighed unfortunately. "But I kinda wish to believe otherwise."
"Pshuh, wouldn't put it past ya." Tiny remarked with an understanding smirk, earning him a distasteful glare from Ci Ci. "What? All I'm saying is that he's been through a lot. It's no wonder he feels this way."
"Don't worry, Chase." Rayla reinforced once again, turning from the other pup's to the German Shepherd, as he hopped down off the playset. "Things'll get better eventually. And let's all hope it's sometime soon."
"Yeah.. let's hope." Chase repeated lowering his gaze thoughtfully; hoping that saying it himself would help him to start believing it.
XXXX
"Go!" Chase took off at his command and began the first obstacle. Diving into the open mouth before him, he slid through the canvas tunnel; only to dive right into the semi-circular tunnel right after it. Hopping up through the window of the window jump, pressure occured;.. yet he kept going. Racing up one end of the seesaw, he weighed it down to the other side until it touched the ground; before leaping off of it and dashing around toward the line of weaving flags. As the name of the obstacle states, Chase swiftly weaved his way through them, clipping the last one ever so slightly with his shoulder; the pressure building slightly more. Pausing for a moment on the waiting platform from which he took off; he counted to five in his head before shooting forward and over the brush jump; unable to hold back a little sneeze in the process. Slipping around the flag marker, he swiftly climbed the cat walking maintaining his balance all the way, as he sprinted across it and down the other side, the pressure by now becoming increasingly evident. Streamlining himself, he cleared the tire hoop and dove into the final tunnel. His body slightly tensed, as he rounded himself around to climb the small wall set over top of the tiny tube. Hopping up onto it, he found no immediate pain, but the pressure pursued heavier still; as he pulled himself over the top. Almost sliding down the other side, he hit the ground running and cleared the last jump; before making it back to the platform at the center of the course.
"Great work, Chase." Daniel commented after stopping the clock. "You're looking so much better."
"Yeah.. you even made it through the course in a new record time." Marcus smiled grandly.
"Annnd you made it over the catwalk and the up and over just fine." Maggie smiled.
"You've been doing so much better these last few weeks." Billy grinned, his pride shining off his face like the sunlight itself. "I'm really proud of you, Chase." The man smiled warmly.
"Well.. the athletic tape has been helping." Chase replied, subconsciously placing a paw to it. "But I do feel like I'm finally starting to get better again."
"How's your shoulder feel." The fire pup and paramedic in red wondered. "And please! Be honest this time?" Marshall's begging eyes bore into Chase, but the German Shepherd already knew what he was gonna say.
"It.. actually feels pretty good." The pup's tone genuinely impressed. "Even I can't believe how good I did today."
"Oh, good." Marshall sighed, relief washing over him. "I still wanna take a look, though. Mind lending a paw, Billy?" The Dalmatian looked to the man in question patiently.
"Can't, don't have paws…" Billy responded grinning. "But I can lend a hand if that's what you need." And Marshall and the pups giggled together.
"Okay.." Marshall snickered. "That works, I guess."
"Then let's go." Billy said finally, heading for the Lookout.
XXXX
Maneuvering Chase's leg about, Marshall noted the wider range of motion that seemed to result; and found only a slight resistance to his touch when rolling his shoulder backward then forward.
"Any pain?" Marshall asked, lifting his eyes to meet Chase's. The pup tensed his shoulder slightly.
"More like an ache." The German Shepherd corrected, clearly a bit disturbed.
"Good, then everything's how it should be." Marshall nodded, the massive shower of satisfaction raining drops of sunshine onto him, giving off an infectious sense of relief. "It'll probably ache from time to time. But I'd say you're near completely healed."
"Thank goodness!" Chase gasped in a sigh of relief.
"Glad to hear it, pal." Marcus beamed pridefully, giving him a thumbs up.
"Yeah." Daniel agreed, with a smile of his own. "You've come a long way in the last few weeks." Boomerang and Mariana stood at a distance with Frank and Maggie; all enjoying the happy moment. Suddenly Mariana's gaze fell, developing a shadow of remorse that seemed all too personal.
"Are you alright, Mariana?" Boomerang wondered catching on to her poorly hidden distress.
"I'd like to be.. but.. I'd be lying by saying I was." The older German Shepherd admitted sadly, dropping her gaze to the ground once more. She finally lifted it to meet his to finish her unspoken thought. "Chase has grown up so much without me, that-.. I fear I barely know him."
"That may be true…" Boomerang ventured thoughtfully. "But he's still your pup.. No matter how long you've been apart.. there's still some things you may never forget about them... Even when their all grown up."
"Hm.." Mariana thought briefly. "Perhaps.." She looked back up at the group, as Billy lifted Chase and Marshall down off the table they'd been sitting up on.
"He may almost be ready for actual Zoom-it training practice again." Billy stated, standing up from placing Marshall on the ground next to Chase.
"-R..really? You think so?" Chase blinked, building excitement arising to fill his eyes with a passionate hope.
"Definitely, kiddo." Billy smiled, winking at him positively.
"And that means we can start working on Zuma and Ryder for the competition too." Marcus added excitedly.
"Cool!" Chase remarked, his expression lightening more(as if it could get much lighter). "Then we can both train more together! Maybe even run this course together!" Chase smiled, batting his friend on the shoulder and gesturing to the course still laid before them.
"You bet, dude!" Zuma barked willingly. "I'm totally down for that!" The two pups shared a high five and howled their excitement to the heavens above.
Hey guys, what up?! Another chapter finished! Love this chapter because of all the heartfelt moments here. And I hope you feel them too. So.. until next time! Thx!