Chapter twenty-five: Adventure Bay's Most Wanted!
Chase hadn't laid on the pillow with a blanket for long, before starting to sleep so hard they could hear his breaths as something between a vocal sigh and a light snore.
"Why is he so tired?" Marshall wondered aloud.
"Him.." Zuma quoted, while strolling up alongside his friend with Skye. "How 'bout all of 'em, dude?" He finished, glancing around at their three sleeping friends with those that were awake.
"Ok you're right, this is weird for all of them." Marshall concluded after a moment, turning to the water pup. "But what do we do about it?"
"How 'bout we let them sleep.." Skye suggested. "And then? If and when they wake up? We'll ask them if everything is alright."
The pups hesitated.
"Ok.." They said, nodding, then they all filed from the room. And when the doors closed behind them, they all looked up together, immediately surprised by what they saw.
"Uhh,.. is this a bad time?" Rayla asked, as she and the Prescotts stood before them.
"Umm,.. you could say that?" Marshall answered, quizzical to say the least.
"What's going on?" Rayla wondered, drawing closer. And Skye and Marshall's eyes cocked over to each other.
"Uhhh..- come on." They said, "You'll see."
When the doors opened again, the newcomers of the environment took on an odd look, each of their own accord.
"All sleeping?" Rayla observed, looking to the pups who were still awake. "Even Ryder?.. was this because of Chase?"
"That's the thing." Marshall shrugged. "I don't think it is."
"Well.. whatever the reason, they clearly need it.." Frank decided. "Let's give them some time.. and go get breakfast at Mr. Porter's restaurant, shall we?"
"Really?" Marshall asked, looking up at him strangely. "But,.. what if they wake up while we're gone, and wonder where we are?"
"That's the funny thing,.." Maggie smiled, strolling forward toward Ryder. She pulled something from her pocket and the click of a pen soon followed.
"The wonders of sticky notes," she said finally, holding a pad of yellow sticky notes up reading 'Gone to Mr. Porter's.' on it. Taking the note off the pad, she set it next to Ryder where he'd no doubt see it, and stood up again.
"Ok,.. are we ready?" She asked, facing them directly.
"What do you say, Marshall?" Frank asked, looking at the Dalmatian. "I'm buying."
"Why are you asking me?" Marshall asked, backing down slightly.
"Well you're two leaders are down for the count,.." Frank shrugged. "Seemed only right to look at their third."
"Yeah but,.. Why me?" Marshall asked, still unsure.
"Son,.. you carry more in you than you realize.." Mr. Prescott told him. "You spend so much of your time as backup,.. But that just shows how much capability you really have."
Marshall's brow just arched, even though his eyes lightened with the opening of his lips. Then closing it, his eyes wandered down to think on this for a moment. And looking over at Chase, he could remember something he'd told him before.
"You can do it, buddy!" he once said. "Whenever we're needed, that's when we need to be there! Us leaders have to stick to-gether!.."
Thinking one moment more, he looked up at his friends, then softened his gaze to smile.
"Ok,.. I.. guess we can go for a little while." He said finally.
"Wah-hoo!" the pups cheered, though trying to be quiet. The three sleeping members of their team slightly stirred in different ways, but all seemed to remain asleep.
"Oh!" Rubble gasped, once they'd all dropped their guards again from their accidental disruption. "Uh,.. I guess we better go before we wake them up."
"Good idea." Chester agreed, as they all turned for the door.
Then filing out of the room again.. they all made sure to shoot one last glance over their shoulders. Mariana had made her way over to Chase during the conversation, and with their exit she left a gentle lick across her pup's head before quietly heading after them. Not even knowing the state of his being, as another tear soaked down his cheek with a small, congested sniffle.
xxxx
The sun climbed higher into the sky, reaching a mid range that would otherwise be annoying for those facing it. But thankfully, the shield of the umbrella was somewhat helpful.
People passing by would wave and point at the pups, while they sat around a circle next to the table; which the three humans among them occupied.
"So um.. Mr. Prescott?" Marshall spoke up again, softly to say the least. "I still don't quite understand why you looked to me for this little trip.. what makes me so special that I'd be the next one to go to, when Ryder and Chase are out."
"Marshall, it's as I said.. there's more to you than meets the eye." Frank answered, setting the menu aside.
"Right, but.." Marshall's gaze lowered to fall on one among them. "What about Chester? I mean, he's almost an exact copy of Chase.. why wouldn't he take charge now?"
"Because that's not where he stands as of now." Frank answered simply.
"Plus I don't live here." Chester added. "Meaning the Lookout of course.. which also means I'm not entitled to assuming command unless so given to me by either Ryder or Chase.. but I highly doubt that'll be the case after I dragged Chase into trouble out in the desert a couple months back."
Marshall just gave him an odd look.
"In simple terms?.." Chester followed up, taking a step closer to him. "I don't have the authority nor jurisdiction to assume command."
And Marshall gave him another confused look.
"Heh,.. since when do you get so formal?" Rocky smirked. "I thought only Chase forgets he doesn't have to use his 'professional voice' all the time."
"Right, sorry.." Chester realized shaking himself out of it. "Well, not the first time.. but what can I say, I'm a police pup through and through.. Ain't nothing better, if you ask me."
"Heh heh," Maggie smirked.
"Ohh Chester." She smiled, shaking her head a little.
"All things considered,.." Frank continued, turning back to Marshall. "You're the most logical choice for taking charge.. quite simply because of who you are as a backup pup."
I knew that would catch on eventually! Marshall's mind reeled, but then he began to waver once again.
"But.. why me?" He wondered still.
"Oh, ye of little faith." Frank sighed thoughtfully. "Let us just say that you possess a few of the good merits of a leader as well.. Things that make you the perfect candidate to fill the flagpole when either Ryder or Chase cannot,.. which is very much the case here."
"Well,.. sure but-.."
"Guys!" Suddenly some men in uniform arrived at their table and they recognized them immediately, even with the panic of their sweat-streaked faces.
"Chris? Ryan?" Billy asked, rising from his chair. Mariana rising immediately. "What are you guys doing here?"
"Oh you know,.." Chris shrugged in a light tone, then placed both hands over his mouth to add.. "Chk! Mission control we have a problem!" Ryan elbowed him and motioned for him to cut the theatrics and then turned back to Billy.
"We have reason to believe that Rottweiler; Rex may be in the area." Officer Garcia told him.
"What?" Billy vocalized in confusion, as Maggie rose to join him.
"Rex!" Rayla breathed, having immediately stood upon hearing his name.
"You mean the Rottweiler that beat up Chase?!" Marshall asked.
"Oh no!" Mariana gasped to herself.
"What would he want here?" Maggie wondered openly, keeping both hands set tenderly around Billy's left arm.
"You gotta be kidding me!" Billy declined, seemingly ignoring his sister completely.
"I wish I was.." Chris shook his head anxiously.
"You're kidding!" Billy repeated.
"I'm not, Billy," Chris re-emphasized. "He's here." Then both men broke their gaze to the majestic Lookout Tower far beyond them; a feeling of dread falling over both of them.
"I don't get it,.. how's that possible? He shouldn't even have a clue of where Chase even came from." Billy shook his head finally. "That'd be the only reason he'd come here. And I wouldn't imagine Chase would be dumb enough to share that openly.. even to the PUP Pals at the time. How would he know to find him here?"
"Unfortunately, if he's eluded us for this long, he's no dummy either.." Ryan sighed, letting their gazes wander for a moment.
"But Billy!" He lifted a hand toward him to earn his immediate attention again.. "We gotta figure this out fast, and track him down even faster!.. 'Cause if he finds Chase, before we find him.. he'll know the right moment to strike.. Count on that!"
"I hear you.. that's why I'm glad he's not here.. we wouldn't exactly want him to know about this just yet.. he's been under pressure as it is.." Billy said.
"How bad?" Chris wondered, pulling up a chair to sit down, while the two Prescott siblings took seats and Ryan momentarily left to grab a chair for himself.
"About as bad as you could imagine.." Billy sighed. "Your typical soldier's PTSD.. I'm almost certain he's got it.. but.. of course he won't admit it.."
"Oo, poison.." Chris and Ryan cringed.
"Poison?" Skye and Rocky echoed.
"Just a phrase, pups." Chris told them.. "PTSD is known as a poison, because it can become a control on a person,.. or in this case, a pup's life.. something that constantly plagues them through triggers, thoughts and reminders of a traumatic event in their life.."
The pups still seemed a little confused, despite the understanding of their explanation.
"PTSD stands for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.." Ryan explained. "It's the result of a physical, psychological, or emotional trauma that often turns into a chronic source of pain and inner turmoil."
"Too many big words, boys, you're confusing them more." Maggie told them at seeing the pups blank expressions.
"No.." Marshall sighed, as all their faces filled with hurt and dropped to the floor. "We understand,.. I guess we were all hoping it wasn't true." And after saying this, nods from others among him reinforced this statement.
"Don't we all?" Ryan sighed earnestly.
"So what're we gonna tell him when he notices you guys are here?" Rocky wondered innocently. And all the humans among them met glances.
"Ok, ok, we didn't think that far ahead." Chris admitted, gesturing both hands out to them. "But I guess we'll have to think of something now."
"If that ever happens." Ryan thought optimistically.
"Which it will," Chris countered. "Remember this is Chase we're talking about.. He won't be fooled for long. Distracted or not he still pays attention,.. Unless this thing has him so bogged down that he won't, which seems unlikely as of yet."
"I wouldn't quite assume that yet.." Maggie decided. "Something tells me he's not as aware as we might think."
"Oh he is.." Billy knowingly mused. "He's just gotten a lot harder to read sometimes."
"I hate to say it,.. but he's right." Rayla spoke up finally. "This is not a safe situation for him.. And even though I haven't known you or him very long,.. I can tell you he's definitely gonna notice.. eventually."
"Friend of yours?" Chris asked, leaning over to Billy slightly, without breaking his gaze from the golden lab.
"You could say that." Billy murmured back. "Just go with it."
"Ok.. but seriously what are we gonna tell Chase about why we're here?" Officer Myles wondered.
"Let's just- say you came to watch him at the competition this weekend." Rayla suggested. "I mean you guys were probably wanting to come anyway, right?"
Every pup looked at her.
"Aw, that is good." Chester awed.
"Good thinking, Rayla." Billy complimented. "And it's not like it wouldn't entirely be the truth.. After all, we've all been pretty heavily involved with him since he was little.. -until more recent years of course. Why wouldn't we all want front row seats to watch his biggest dream come true?"
"Exactly!" Ryan agreed, tossing a pointed finger gun at him proudly.
What's up, guys? I'm finally back! A few rough patches, some writer's block and a bit of a breakthrough later, and the next chapter is finally here!
A couple things I'd like to note about this chapter.. One is,.. the scene where Officers Christopher Myles and Ryan Garcia arrive in Adventure Bay has been a scene I've been DYING to write for a while.
Two,.. Rayla, Ryan, Chris and Chester's involvement here was super fun! XD
And three,.. anyone else take pleasure in Marshall's callback to Mighty Pups? I thought it was Hilarious when he referred to himself as a "backup pup" and I just HAD to make a reference here! Lol!
But all that goofing off aside, I hope you enjoy this new chapter, and hopefully I'll see you again soon. Thx!