(A/N): Hey guys! Had to release this chapter early thanks to a family event that has come up. My brother is graduating from the Army and I need to make an appearance. So I'm releasing this now so I won't have to worry about it later.
A very exciting chapter for you all today, as we will be peeking in on how Dally and Stacy's life is like right now.
What has happened since Marsh..I mean Dally woke up? Has he remembered anything? Is he happy? and how has Stacy been treating him?
Well, those questions will be answered down below, so please do...enjoy!
Welcome back to Paw Patrol: The Ballad of Dally!
Chapter 25: A Day in the Life
"Alright Stacy. I think that does it for today."
Stacy gave an uplifting smile to her boss. He says the same thing almost everyday at the exact time. Stacy had it planted in her mind that her workday was done, unless of course…
"You won't need me to stay a little bit today?" She asked. Oftentimes, Seth would ask her to stay a little bit longer, which she didn't mind at first but started to get annoyed by it after a while.
"Nah. The papers are already printed for tomorrow. There's no need to stay today."
"If you say so Mr. Carlton." Stacy grinned, as she gathered up her camera and notebook, and went over to her boss's desk. "Just make sure you wait until I get home first before you call me at the last minute."
"Hey, don't come down on me!" Seth defended. "I don't know exactly when you get home Miss Jackson."
Stacy kept her grin on, as she made her way to the door. But as she reached for the handle…
"Oh Stacy! I almost forgot!"
She sighed annoyingly. "Really Mr. Carlton? I hadn't even got out the door yet."
"Oh no no no Miss Jackson. I just forgot to comment on your recent writings. I have to say, you've been improving." Seth pointed out brashfully.
Stacy's grin turned into a sheepish smile. "Oh….r-really? You really think so?"
"Yeah. Your stories have become quite the joy to read Miss Jackson. You dialed back and let up on the Paw Patrol a bit."
"Oh...yeah." Stacy was a little disappointed. She thought he meant her articles have improved overall, but all it was, or all he seemed to notice, was Stacy letting up on Ryder. Not that her opinion has changed over time, just that she hasn't been giving any jabs at him. Still….It was nice to get a compliment at least.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you're starting to warm up on the Paw Patrol."
"Perhaps," Stacy replied. "Although I wouldn't say much Mr. Carlton. I still think Ryder isn't all that he's cracked up to be, but I love the pups. In fact, I think one of them is sorta grown on me."
"That's very comforting to hear from you Stacy." Seth commented with a smile. "You've been a lot more cheerful than usual. Something must be keeping you in a good mood recently. I wonder, has something changed in you Stacy?"
Stacy too noticed that she has been a little more uplifted recently. And she couldn't think of any other reason, than what was now waiting for her at home. She didn't want to tell Seth about her pup though. He'd want her to bring him into the office and see him and meet him. But considering who the pup was, it definitely wouldn't be wise. Seth would immediately recognize him, and Stacy could lose him.
Stacy gave a confident smile to her boss. "...honestly, I don't know Mr. Carlton. I guess I'm just feeling better these past months."
"Well whatever it is, I hope it keeps it up, because I love to see you happy Stacy." Seth chimed. "Puts a smile on my face."
"Awww Seth, You know I really appreciate that." Stacy warmed.
"Well don't get too used to it, because I don't do it so often." Seth charmed.
Stacy made a chuckle before opening the door. "Understood Mr. Carlton. See you tomorrow."
Stacy stepped out as her boss said to her. "Be safe walking home!" While she responds with a simple "I will" before she starts her lengthy route back home.
So much has happened in the few weeks after she found Dally, and Stacy has gained more love to him than he could give to her himself. She enjoyed being home with him, as she has been more joyful than she's ever been in her life. It made Stacy so happy to see him everyday, and treasured the day she found him in the forest.
Though it started with a very challenging week to say the least, when she had to officially adopt the pup, which was a very difficult and stressful process for both her and Dally. Made only more strenuous due to the many loops she had to go through to adopt Dally as her own.
Normally, to officially adopt a lost dog in the United States, you first have to go up to the nearest state certified dog kennel or pet store, and turn it into the kennel official. The dog has to stay for at least one week in custody while the kennel itself by law, has to spread awareness of the dog to give a chance for the owner to claim ownership. If one week goes by and no one comes up and shows proof of ownership, via adoption papers or birth certificate, the dog is immediately put up for adoption and is available to anyone. All part of the Lost and Found act of 1932.
Because of Dally's real identity though, Stacy couldn't take him to Adventure Bay, so she had to take him to the Foggy Bottom kennel and follow through the process there.
Stacy was so stressed the entire week in fear that Dally would be claimed anyway. Even though Foggy Bottom news doesn't really reach Adventure Bay thanks to a certain petty mayor, and Ryder believing his pup is dead, there was still a sliver chance that someone would recognize the pup, and give word to Ryder. Stacy could remember the many hours she spent, calling the kennel nearly every hour to see if Dally was still there. As soon as the week was up, she took the day off and sped all the way to Foggy Bottom to adopt him the second he was available. She was so relieved when she finally had adoption papers in her hand.
As stressed as Stacy was though, it was way worse for Dally himself. Mainly, because of one thing. Dally has separation anxiety. Really bad. Almost to the point where he would have a near heart attack, when he was alone.
Stacy found this out the hard way, right after the day he woke from his four day slumber. She forgot to tell him that she had a job, and would be gone from home at least ten hours a day, sometimes more. So when she returned home that day to find a hysterically crying Dally on the floor, it nearly killed her inside. Dally never let go of her the whole night while Stacy reassured him that she never will leave him for good and promised to let him know if she'd be late coming home.
That helped him to get through the ten hours she would be gone, and when she'd come home, he would never leave her side, in total fear of being alone. Whenever she had to go to the store or anything, she had to do it on the way home. If she had to go back into town to even go get something to eat, Dally would freak out.
So naturally, he wasn't thrilled at the fact that he had to stay at the kennel away from Stacy for a whole week. Stacy could remember the cries the dalmatian let out, when they took him away. It nearly made her break down herself with guilt and sorrow. Strangely though, when the week was up and she picked him up to take him home, Dally didn't didn't say a thing the entire car ride. She painfully thought the Dally was mad at her, and didn't want to be her pup, but in truth, he wasn't mad. He was entirely worn out from crying that he couldn't say or do anything. Stacy promised him when they got back that there would never be another night he had to spend without her.
After all that hardship, pulling hair out, and climbing the walls from both sides, it was finally over. Dally was finally hers. No one could take him away from her. Unless of course, he gets his memories back.
She still had to be careful though, especially when it came to Adventure Bay. It was obvious that she couldn't take him into town, let alone let him go by himself. Thankfully, her house being alone in the deep forest, with tons of space, Dally had a wide area to play around. Though she still had to give him a restriction that he couldn't get past a certain tree and was never allowed to go into the city for under no circumstances whatsoever. She didn't want to do that to him as she would love for him to have at least one friend, but it was far too risky for him to free roam the city.
Miraculously though, Dally has been very obedient, and followed her rules strictly, though he of course expressed sadness in not having a playmate. She can trust him, and would let him loose, but all that needed to happen is a normal citizen to see him, and Stacy would lose Dally.
As far as Dally regaining his memories, Stacy has never heard a single breath about them at all. In such a mind boggling and strange occurrence, Dally seemed to have forgotten about them at all. She didn't know how true that was, she wouldn't be surprised. He hasn't had any moments he remembered vaguely. In the first month he was asking yes, but after a while, he stopped asking altogether. Even though it was a nasty thought, she wished it would stay that way.
What started out as a way to keep him from Ryder and also have a dog of her own, has blossomed into something more than an owner and it's dog. She had already loved him at first sight thanks to his adorable self, but as the months rolled by, her love for Dally grew and grew. To her, Dally was her own child, who she would do anything for. The thought of him gaining his memories, or someone finding him and taking him away would cross her mind constantly. She would tear herself to pieces if it ever came true. The worst part was that she knew it's going to happen, sometime or later. It was a loose chandelier dangling above her.
Of course….if he regained his memories…..Stacy has to accept it….and let him go…...while also taking her licks for keeping him away from his home….the question is…...will she be ready when the time comes?
She went up to her front door and opened it where she was immediately rushed at by a very excited pup, who jumped up to her. Stacy caught him perfectly. She was ready for him.
"Stacy!" Dally cried, as he drenched her face in licks. Dally then buried his snout in her shoulder and nuzzles. "I missed you so much."
"You say that every day, Dally." Stacy chuckled.
Dally looks at Stacy with a wide smile. "Mhmmm. And I always mean it Stacy." Dally then looks down as his smile fades. "It's so lonely without you."
"I know Dally. I wish I could at least take you with me, but….I'm not allowed to." Stacy says, as she puts the pup down.
Dally looked up at her and put his smile back on. "It's okay Stacy. The fact that you come back makes me happy forever."
Stacy gave a warm smile back at him. "Thank you Dally, but you deserve way more than you get. One of these days, I'm going to make it up to you. Maybe finally get another dog for you to play with."
"Another dog?" Dally asked before he suddenly got excited by hopping in place, and furiously wagging his tail. "Oooo. Can it be a German Shepherd?"
Stacy did an immediate double take on that. She didn't expect him to have a preferred breed for her to get. "German Shepherd? Why did you pick that in particular, Dally."
The pup's smile turned into a sudden puzzled look. "Ummm….I...I don't actually know. I guess I think that a German Shepherd could be a great friend for me."
Dally might not know why, but Stacy suddenly does. At least, she had an idea. One of the members on Paw Patrol was a German Shepherd named Chase, who apparently was Marshall's best friend from what she gathered at the funeral. It was probably best to change the subject, in case he was retreading his memories.
"I bet you're pretty hungry right now, huh?" Stacy chimed.
"Huh? Well...not really…..but...what does that have to…" Dally said before he was interrupted by his growling belly.
"Oh yeah, you're definitely hungry. Off to the kitchen I guess." Stacy announced, as she quickly made her way to said kitchen.
"Hey! W-wait for me!" Dally called as he bounded behind her.
Stacy then realized what he was doing and spun around. "Wait. Dally, don't ru…."
Too late. Halfway towards the kitchen, Dally miss stepped, and tripped on his paws, making him face plant the carpet, but the momentum he had turned him into a running wheel. He rolled past Stacy's feet into the kitchen. Before Stacy could do anything to stop him, Dally hit the cabinet doors, stopping him as his body set on the back of his neck and his hind legs pointed at the roof.
"Dally!" Stacy cried, as she ran to him with her heart racing out of her chest.
No matter how common it was for Dally to trip and crash at anything he did, it still scared Stacy whenever Dally would have a mishap. Running into things, slipping or tripping on his own paws, and taking so many bumps that would definitely hurt. Amazingly, very little of them made him cry. Most of the time, the pup would get up and shake it off. Stacy still made a point to work on him so he wouldn't get seriously hurt one day.
She got up to him and cradled him in her arms. "Are you okay?"
Dally shook his head and smiled at Stacy. "Yeah. I'm good."
Stacy formed a relieving smile while shaking her head. "Dally, what did I tell you about running in the house?"
Dally's smile faded. "That there's no reason to and I could get hurt. I'm sorry Stacy."
"It's okay Dally, just be more careful, and pay more attention where you put your paws."
"Yes mam." Dally responded, licking Stacy as she put him down and grabbed his bowl.
She put the bowl on the counter and went to get the bag of dog food in the pantry with Dally following her every move, panting excitingly.
"Come on Stacy! Hurry up! I'm soooo hungry." The pup begged, hopping around in anticipation.
"I know Dally, I know, just be patient okay?" Stacy beamed with a smile.
"That is really hard to do with an empty tummy like mine." Dally complained with a short whine.
Stacy chuckled as she reached over to grab the bag. But then stopped when she realized that there was no bag to grab.
The young girl felt a cold chill run down her spine. She doesn't know how she allowed herself to forget stopping by the store and get more dog food on the way home. But she did, and now Dally had no food. Which means of course that she had to go into town to get some.
"Stacy? What's taking so long? I can be patient…." Dally groaned, as his stomach growled again. "But I don't think my belly can."
Stacy had completely frozen in place. She knew what she had to do. Considering Dally's problem with being left alone, even for a minute, it made it a very difficult task.
"SSStacy? I-Is something wrong?" Dally slurred out with a concerned voice.
Cringing at the question, the girl turned around with a reluctant face. Better tell him the truth. "Um...no...not totally wrong. I uh….just forgot to pick you up some food. You're all out Dally." Stacy struggled.
Dally's ears drooped and formed a sad look. "Oh...I-I don't have any more food?" Dally whimpered. "I'm sorry Stacy, I shouldn't have eaten so much."
Stacy dropped to a knee. "No. Dally. No. It's not your fault. I just forgot to stock up."
Dally looked at Stacy with the cutest curious eyes. "What happens now?"
Stacy averted her eyes from him. She knew Dally wasn't going to like it, but she had to. The guilt would take her over if she made Dally go through the night and first half of the day hungry.
"It-It looks like I'm going to have to go to the store and...get you some food."
Stacy tried all her might not to look at her pup's reaction, but the temptation was far too much for her. She landed her eyes back on Dally. Her heart ripped in two. Dally looked as if Stacy told him that she would be leaving forever. "You...you have to leave me?"
"Only for a little bit, Dally." Stacy tried to reassure him. "I'll take the car to get there and back faster."
Dally's look got worse as the tears came down his cheeks. "D-Do you really have to? C-Can't you just fix me something here with the food you have?"
Stacy shook her head. "I wish it was that easy little guy, but you can't have any of the food I have right now, it will tear your tummy to pieces. I'm sorry Dally. I have to."
Dally closed his eyes and stayed still as a tree. Silent as one too.
"Dally? You okay?" Stacy breathed.
Dally didn't move. "You don't have to Stacy. I can tough it out until tomorrow. You don't have to go."
Disbelief struck the girl like a wood plank. "What do you mean Dally?"
"I mean, you don't have to go now. I'll wait till tomorrow to eat." Dally said with determination.
"What? No. That's not an option." Stacy responded sternly. As bad as Dally's anxiety was, there was no way she wouldn't let him go without eating. "I'm not going to allow that."
"But Stacy. I can do it! It's just a day!" Dally insisted.
"I don't care if it's just an hour. I'm not going to just let you starve." Stacy demanded, not paying attention to how harsh her voice was.
Dally fought back with tears. "But I don't want you to leave me!"
"I'm only going to be gone for no more than thirty minutes, Dally. I'll be back before you know it, I promise." Stacy pushed with care.
"What if you don't come back?!" Dally cried.
"Why do you think I won't come back?!" Stacy questioned, bewildered that Dally would even think that.
"Because I'm scared you will abandon me!" Dally cried before his voice got as low as his head. He then whimpers out. "Like my owner did."
The argument stopped at that. Stacy lost her will to speak. Dally hadn't spoken a word about his past life for the few weeks after. Stacy assumed that he stopped thinking about them or simply forgot about it. Has he started to remember bits and pieces?
"I don't remember who it was or what my owner looked like, but after thinking about it for a bit, I believe I was left inside that building. No one has made an effort to find me, and the fact that no one claimed me when I was at the kennel, that tells me all I need to know about my owner."
Stacy sat there and listened to Dally, ready to comfort him as he got closer and closer to bawling on the floor. "My owner left me Stacy! He left me in a burning building with nothing! It won't matter if I get my memories back, because my owner doesn't want me anymore!"
Dally then looked at Stacy with lonely sad eyes. "I don't want to be alone, Stacy. It reminds me about being in that burning building alone with no one coming for me. I feel like I've been abandoned again. So whenever you leave me here, I feel unwanted. I know that you have a job to go to everyday. I can understand and get used to that, but anytime after you get home, I'm so scared that you don't want to be with me, and find excuses not to be here. Though I don't blame you because…" Dally lowered his head in dreadful sadness. "I had to be abandoned for a reason, and that reason is that I was a bad pup, and no one loved me."
Stacy's heart could hardly take it at this point. She hated seeing him like this. So scared that everyone he loved would one day never come back for him. That if Stacy were to leave the house for only a little bit, Dally would instantly jump to conclusions and think that she would never come back.
"Dally, look at me."
Dally slowly raised his head to her with his adorable eyes.
"I don't know who your owner was, or why they would ever put you through that, but I assure you, I won't ever abandon you like they did." Stacy stated with sincerity.
Dally, didn't look very convinced. "I'm pretty sure my owner said that too."
"Yeah? Well there's a big difference between me and your owner, and that's the fact that I'm telling you the truth. Your owner didn't."
She then picked up Dally's paw and firmly grasped it. Rubbing it comfortably as she looked straight into the pup's eyes. "I love you Dally. I don't have the faintest idea why your owner would just leave you, in such an awful place no less. You are a wonderful pup who doesn't deserve to be left behind like you were. But whatever happened before doesn't matter now. You're with me, and I will never abandon you for anything. I promise you that."
Dally stayed silent as he looked at Stacy with faithful eyes.
"Now I know you don't want me to, but I need to go into town to go get you some food. I know you can barely handle me being gone, but I'll be damned if I let you starve through the night. Do you think you'll be okay if I go into town for just ten minutes?"
"Ten minutes?" Dally asked.
"Just ten minutes, and I'll be right back here, I promise."
Dally gave Stacy a small smile. "Twenty."
Stacy's face morphed to confusion. "Twenty?"
"I don't want you to rush and get hurt Stacy. I can deal with twenty minutes." Dally said confidently.
Stacy gave a warm smile back. She gave the pup a loving hug. "You got it little fella. I love you."
"I know you do. Just….go on and get it over with please?" Dally hastingly said.
Putting aside the sadness she gained for Dally not saying that he loved her back, she lets go of Dally, and walks to the front door, making sure to grab her car keys that were laying on the table beside the door. Before she left, she heard Dally call out to her.
"Stacy?"
She looked at him as he ran up to her. His eyes were trembling as he looked at her. "Twenty minutes…..please."
Stacy smiled at her pup. "Don't worry little guy. I'll be back before you know it." She says, before she went through the door, leaving Dally sitting in front of it, waiting for her to get back.
Ten minutes have passed since Stacy left to get dog food, and Dally hasn't moved an inch since she left. He couldn't think of doing anything else, not even going to the bathroom, nor that he needed to of course. He felt that if he took his eyes off of the door, Stacy would never come walking in, and he would be alone….again.
He believed her when she said that she would be back and when she promised him that she would never abandon him, but the thought of his previous owner, saying that over and over to him countless times as well, kept him in his doubts.
When he woke in that burning building, he had no idea what he was doing there. He tried to remember, but like all of his memories, none ever came to him. All he could remember was being in the building, with fire all around him, ready to consume him if he didn't get out.
In the first few weeks since he woke up in Stacy's house, Dally tried to think of his life before the fire but got nothing but emptiness. He felt something should be there, but for whatever reason, was not. He was starting to doubt that he even had a life at all.
For the past few days though, Dally has thought more and more about where he woke the first time, and remembered that he had a particularly weird thing on his body. It was a red vest and some sort of mysterious backpack looking thing that was broken. It told him that he may have been sent in to fight the fire and something must've gone wrong. That would explain why he woke up underneath a pile of rubble. He may have been crushed by it and lost his memory then.
Considering all of that, Dally started to think that maybe his owner didn't mean to abandon him, and that what happened in the building was just an unfortunate accident. Prompting his owner to believe that he was dead. Dally knew that had to be the case. He wouldn't have thought that even a heartless owner would leave a dog in a burning building to die, but that claim was yanked away, when Stacy took him to the kennel a couple of weeks ago.
To say that Dally was very frantic during the week he spent in that kennel was an understatement. Dally couldn't stand being in a cage, hearing other dogs cry and bark in their cages, and of course being all by himself. The other dogs tried to talk to him, but Dally made no effort to respond, as he had no idea what was happening to him. Stacy did say what was going on when she took him, but he never thought that he would not see Stacy for an entire week. Due to his traumatizing moment in the building, he feared being completely alone with no one coming in to save him. Despite only knowing her for a few days, he already attached himself to Stacy. She was the only one who showed love for him and took care of him. But when he found out the city was keeping him away from her for a week, he hoped he would reunite with his owner, whether or not he remembered him. But to his sadness, no one claimed him, and Stacy adopted him. That confirmed to Dally that he was abandoned and left behind by his owner.
From that day on, he never made another attempt to remember anything about his past life. He didn't care anymore. Why should he if his owner didn't want him?
In the event that someone does find him and gives a really good reason why he was left, he would go from there, but he was pretty happy right here with Stacy.
He did wonder from time to time though, if whoever he was before everything, was very happy with his life.
"Uggh! You've got to be kidding me! I don't have time for this!"
Stacy looked at her car's clock and found that she had five minutes left to get home for Dally. She was able to get to the store very quickly, taking only five minutes to get there. She ran in there, picked up the dog food, had to wait five more minutes because someone paid ten dollars in only nickels, paid for it, and ran out before she could get her change. Not that she needed it anyway. All she cared about was getting back to Dally in time.
The problem was she forgot that the police pup of Paw Patrol, Chase, usually did his afternoon patrol around this time, and he popped her right as she got into the forest.
Stacy looked at the clock like it was a countdown to extinction, as after what seemed like forever, Chase finally made it to her window. "Hello Miss Jackson. You know why I stopped you, right?" The pups sternly asked her.
"Yes I know I know Chase. I was speeding." Stacy said in a heartbeat. "Can you just get on with it? I need to hurry home."
"I understand mam, but that's no excuse to speed." Chase lectured. "You know speeding can endanger everyone's lives, not just yourself."
"Yes of course Chase. I know the rules of driving." Stacy replied quickly. "I've never seen you out this far though."
"I've never seen you drive Miss Jackson. What's the occasion?" Chase asked back.
"Chase please. I don't have time to talk." Stacy insisted. "I have to get home now."
"Don't rush me Miss Jackson. It's not going to make the process faster." Chase replied professionally. "Ruff! Print!"
On command, a ticket was printed from his pup pack. He grabbed it and proceeded to give it to Stacy, who received it and immediately rolled her window up, and started her car back up.
"Now I'm letting you off with a…." Chase was interrupted by Stacy suddenly driving away, making sure she didn't speed while he was still watching her.
"...warning. Man, some people just have no patience for the law."
Twenty minutes have passed, and Stacy has not returned.
Dally started to panic a little. He eyed the door like his life on the line. His heart rate jumped up along with his breathing.
'She's not back yet. After she promised she would be, she's not. She left me. I knew she would!' Dally's mind was launched a million miles an hour. 'I knew it, I knew it, I knew it!'
Dally formed tears in his eyes, thanks to his anxiety making him feel worse. 'Why would she promise me that she would come back?! She loved me! She does!'
Dally was thanking god that he didn't say that he loved her back, even though he really wanted to, but couldn't for some reason, something in his mind prevented him. Maybe it was a sign that this would happen. That she would lie to him, and leave him alone forever, again.
'This is her house though, she has to come back sooner or later, right? Maybe she got held up? Yeah, that's it! She got held up! Nothing to worry about! In fact, I bet she's about to turn the knob, right now.
A minute passed as he watched the knob but nothing happened.
'Nothing. Just nothing! How could I believe that she was coming back for me? She doesn't love me. She doesn't! Oh why do I even bother!'
Dally collapsed on his belly and started to cry. He felt so lonely, unwanted, and unloved.
Then, the door suddenly opened, with Stacy bursting in, with the dog food in her hand. "Oh my god! I'm so, so sorry Dally. I got held up by….."
Stacy stopped as Dally looked at her, tears still in his eyes after crying.
"D-Dally?" Stacy stammered as Dally continued to stare at her with sadness, making Stacy get closer and closer to crying herself. "Dally I'm sorry. I really am. Please forgive me."
A few seconds went by as Dally stared at Stacy. Tears flowing from both of them, as Stacy dropped down to a knee as she looked into his eyes. "Dally?"
A few dreadful moments passed of Dally saying nothing until…
"Y-You came back."
Dally's voice was low as a mouse. "You came back."
Stacy's mouth was agape, not knowing what to say. Then Dally rushed forward into Stacy's arms and sobbed into her shoulder.
"YOU CAME BACK!"
Stacy gracefully hugged back with tears of her own. "Of course I came back, Dally. I promised you I would."
"You did Stacy. You did! You came back!"
Stacy let Dally cry for a bit, until he heard his belly growl, which prompted her to push him off and smile at him. "Let's finally fill that tummy, yeah?"
Dally wagged and licked his owner in agreement, as Stacy carried him into the kitchen.
After the two had a nice dinner and watched television for about an hour, Stacy announced bedtime, after a mentally exhausting day.
Stacy laid in her bed in her pajamas, while Dally had his bed off to the side, on the floor. Between the master bath and the closet.
She tried letting Dally have his own room to sleep in, with the extra room that she had. But after about a week of Dally usually winding up in Stacy's arm after every night, she decided to pull up on that, and put his bed in her room, next to hers, so he wouldn't have to walk far in the dark.
Stacy was on her way to a peaceful trip to dreamland, when Dally suddenly sounded off in a tired voice. "Stacy?"
Stacy admittitly groaned a little as she willed herself a response. "Yeah Dally?"
Stacy could hear the sudden reluctance in his voice, while he hesitated. "C-C-Can I…...sleep with you?...Just for tonight?"
Despite the annoyance of her sleep being interrupted, Stacy answered with a heavenly manner. "Of course Dally. I don't mind. Come up here."
In a matter of seconds, Dally jumped up on the bed, while Stacy moved a little away from the edge to give him some room. Dally laid down and snuggled himself beside him while She draped an arm over him and held him close.
Even though Stacy would love for Dally to be able to sleep on his own, she never hated Dally sleeping with her. She was always open. No matter what time of night he woke her up or how many times he would ask to sleep with her. Stacy loved Dally and would do anything to make him feel comfortable in his sleep. She felt like she was protecting him from any bad dreams that would dare plague his sleep.
Before Stacy could drift to sleep though, something came across her mind. It was what Dally said to her earlier about him being abandoned. More specifically, who abandoned him. She wondered, what does Dally know about his owner?
"Dally?" Stacy called quietly.
Dally opened his eyes with a moan. "Yeah Stacy?"
"I wanna ask you something, about what you said earlier to me before I left."
The pup had a curious look on his face. "Huh? What about what I said?"
Stacy had her fingers crossed when she asked. "Dally, how did you know you were owned before me? Are you starting to remember?"
Dally looked at Stacy with a blank expression, as Stacy tried to keep herself from looking very nervous. Thankfully, Dally didn't seem to notice at all.
"Um….I don't really know. I guess I just assumed that I was...judging from where I was when I woke up and….what I had on."
Stacy popped an eyebrow. "What you had on?"
Dally nodded tiredly. "Yeah. When I woke up in the building, I noticed that I had this...thing on me, along with a vest."
After thinking about what the pup said, Stacy determined that what Dally was talking about, was one of those backpack things the pup of Paw Patrol wore that they called, "Pup Packs", which was a device that had everything the pup's needed to perform their jobs. Of course….she didn't want Dally to know she knew what he was describing.
"Do you have any idea what it was?" Stacy asked.
Dally shook his head. "M. M. Nope. It looked mechanical, like a tool or something. I didn't think I could figure out what I did because it was broken, or at least I think it was. When I ran out of the building, I wanted to find out what it was, but before I could even stop to get it off, I blacked out."
Tears then formed in Dally's eyes. "I...I thought, that...that was my only clue to my memories. But...when I woke up here, I didn't have it on anymore. I don't know what happened to it." He then looks at Stacy's eyes with hope, as he thought of a question he needed to ask. "Stacy? When you found me, did you take it off? Do you know where it is?"
A pit formed in the girl's stomach. Due to his hopeful cute eyes, she had to tell him the truth. "I….I'm sorry Dally. But...when I found you, you were laying there with nothing on. I didn't see any such thing on you or even near you."
Stacy dreaded the tears that Dally shed in response. His voice pierced her heart. "A-Are-Are you sure? I know I had it on. I know it."
Stacy could hardly respond to the whimpering pup. "I'm sorry, but it's the truth. I swear there was nothing like that on you. You were bare naked."
Dally started to sobbed in disbelief. "I-I don't get it. I had it on...I know I did. That was the only lead I had for who owned me. How can it be true? It-it just doesn't make any sense."
Stacy stroked the crying pup with her heart bleeding out. She wished she could tell him differently, that he did have the vest on, but…..it was the truth. Dally had nothing on when she found him.
To tell the truth, if he did have the pup pack on, Stacy would've taken it off to allow herself to treat his wounds that he had. She didn't know if she would've junked it, but she definitely would've taken it off him, and have it stashed in a closet somewhere. Even if she had the idea to keep him before she found out about his amnesia, she couldn't have just tossed it. It was the only thing he would have from his past, and wouldn't have the heart to just throw that away, even if it would help him find out who he was.
"I'll never find out now! I'll never get my memories back! I'll never know who I really am!" Dally sobbed a little louder, but his tiredness kept him from getting too loud.
"Dally...it's okay. Don't be upset about it. It doesn't matter anymore." Stacy cooed.
"What? Wh-Why do you say that? It has to matter. What if I had a family? What if my parents are still alive and are worried about me? What if I had friends that cared about me?" Dally paused on another thought. "...What….
What if….my owner….did care?"
Stacy gave a warm, comforting smile to her pup. "Yes….that could be true, but you've tried all you could to remember, and you just went around in circles. You can't force them to come back Dally, especially if it's not even there. You have to be patient, little guy, and they will come to you in time."
"But what if they never come back?" Dally asked through his whines.
"If they never do, that's okay. You're with someone who can take care of you. All you have to do is live the life that you have right now. If you do get your memories back, you can choose what you want."
Dally looked at Stacy with concerned eyes. "But what about you? What will you do if I choose to leave you? Will you be okay?"
For the second time that day, Stacy pondered what she would do. The reason she was doing all this was to keep him safe from Ryder. To give him a chance at life without being forced to be in danger every day. But, what would happen if or when he does get his memories back, and he chooses to leave? He probably will, considering all the friends and family that he had that cared deeply for him and still thinks he's dead.
The guilty feeling had months before came back to haunt her tonight. She really shouldn't be doing this to him. She should've given him back to where he belongs. No matter how right she felt, she was keeping him away from not just Ryder, but all of his friends and family who were devastated by his apparent death, while also never telling him who he was.
But no matter how hard her conscience tried to convince her to do the right thing, she won't. She can't.
Not only would she leave him with someone who was not fit to take care of him, and get him killed, again, but she would lose Dally. She was sure that if he remembered everything, he would forget about her, and if he found out that she not only knew who he was, but kept it a secret from him, he would disown her, and forever hate her.
Stacy didn't have the heart to give him back, and wanted Dally to be with her forever. There was no turning back now, she just hoped that he never remembers, and if he did, hope that he doesn't resent her.
"If it does happen, and you leave me, for your past, I have no choice but to accept it. I just hope that you don't forget about me." She says to him, with support for him. "But we'll cross that bridge when we get there. What matters now is that you're healthy, happy, safe, and loved. I promise I will love you as long as I live, and if the time comes, I won't make it hard for you to leave…..if you want to."
Dally grew a wide teary smile. He hugged Stacy, nuzzling her as he closed his eyes to go to sleep.
Stacy hugged back, as she held him close, and closed her eyes to follow him to dreamland. Before they were off, Dally let out. "I love you Stacy."
The girl's eyes shot open. Her heart exploded in a million pieces.
He said it. After so long of saying it to him, she finally got one back. She couldn't have been more loving in her response. "I love you too, Dally."
(A/N): What a sad/happy situation Dally is in. It's nice to know that Dally would be taken care of, but will always be happy...mostly. But as much as it's great to know that Dally will be okay...we all know who he really is, and hope that Dally does eventually remember who he really is.
Next Friday, we will go back to the Paw Patrol and see how the pups are doing. I hope you all will come see what happens.
Question of The Chapter: Do you think Stacy will willingly give up Dally if he regains his memories and goes back?
let me know in your review!
Please review and tell me your favorite parts and if you have any questions about the story or anything else, just put it in your review or pm me and l'll get back with you as soon as I can.
This Is Sean Thames of Dragonsfire Entertainment signing off!