Doing the Uncomfortable

Marshall shuddered as he was about to enter the Lookout. He had reflected for three days over whether to tell Ryder about what he learned Chase and Skye had been up to. Storm clouds were literally gathering above the town. However, before he entered the building, he quickly called Everest on his pup-tag.

"Hey Marshall, what's up?" asked Everest.

"I was about to confess to Ryder, then I felt worried about getting you in trouble," expressed Marshall.

"Don't worry Marshall, that's why I'm confessing to Jake. I know I won't be in as much trouble if I do so," explained Everest.

"What does he actually do to you when you're in trouble," asked Marshall out of curiosity.

Everest blushed slightly in response. "Do you remember when I told you about me and Jake's conversation in the cabin that day? That's what he does," explained Everest.

"Sounds pretty light," thought Marshall aloud.

"It sure doesn't feel that way, he has this strange way of getting inside your head, and making your guilty feelings float to the surface like an iceberg," countered Everest.

"Thanks Everest, that makes me feel less bad about what I'm about to do. Well, talk to you later," finished Marshall, and the two hung up.

Marshall then took a deep breath, and then proceeded through the automatic doors. As soon as he entered the living/playroom, he saw Ryder relaxing on one of the beanbag chairs.

"Ryder," began Marshall as he walked over toward his owner guiltily.

Ryder, taking the hint, looked up the Dalmatian to show he was listening. "All right Marshall, what do you do?"

"I d-didn't do anything," began Marshall nervously, "but three days ago, me and Everest found out, about something Skye was doing, and Chase knows that she's doing it."

"What are they doing," asked Ryder as he began petting him.

"Skye has been checking out 'adult books' from the library without your knowledge," explained Marshall, "she convinced the security guard outside the adult section that the usual age restrictions didn't apply to pups."

Ryder sighed, he hated when he had to do this. He then smiled at Marshall and gave him an affectionate rub under the chin. "Thanks for telling me Marshall," said Ryder.

Marshall gulped before asking, "Am I in trouble, Ryder?"

Rather than answer him, Ryder asked, "Why did you wait three days to tell me?"

"I-I w-was trying to d-decide whether telling you was the r-right thing to do," stuttered Marshall. "Also, I was trying to work up the courage to tell you," he added guiltily.

"In that case, for thinking deeply about it, and doing the right thing, you're off the hook Marshall," informed Ryder. "Now, go and play with the other pups."

"Y-you wouldn't mind not telling Chase and Skye that I told on them, right?" asked the nervous fire pup.

"No problem," responded his owner.

The relieved Dalmatian smiled, and trotted out the door.

Ryder hated doing this. If you were to ask him what his least favorite part of his job was, he would, without hesitation, say disciplining his pups. Ryder wholeheartedly loved all of them, and understood that sometimes the love he showed needed to be the tough variety, but that didn't make him like it anymore. To top it off, it always felt so weird when Chase was in trouble, but then again, his mature, stoic, and generally by the books attitude explained both why it felt so weird, and why it was such a rare occurrence. Fortunately for Ryder, Chase learned his lessons with little incident each time.

In any case, he pulled out his tablet and called the library.

"Hello Ryder," responded the voice on the end.

"Hello", Ryder began, "could you email me a list of Skye's checkout history for the last month?"

"Sure thing," said the man on the other end of the line.

"Thanks," said Ryder before hanging up.

He then made a mental to do list. First, he need to find out what Skye had been reading. Second, he need to figure out how deep into this Chase was. Third, the unpleasant task of determining the right disciplinary actions. Fourth and most unpleasant of all, actually punish them.

He then heard a ding on his tablet indicating an incoming email.

"Must be the library. At least I can now check item one off the list," thought Ryder. He then opened the email, and gasped, gagged, cringed, and retched.

"What the heck has she been reading?" said Ryder quietly.

Ryder had always known there would be times when he need to show tough love, but that realization was now more apparent it had ever been. To take his focus off his anger, he contemplated, "how do I figure out how deep into this Chase is?" He then realized he had no way to know or figure this out. "I really should have asked Marshall if knew more about Chase's involvement," he realized. "I'll just probe him for an answer when I talk to those two tonight," he concluded. Once he had a better idea of his involvement, then and only then, would it be wise to determine an appropriate consequence for Chase. Skye's transgressions, on the other hand, were fully known, and she needed to be taught a lesson. It was beyond a shadow of a doubt in his mind that she needed, and deserved to be punished, but how to do it. One idea popped into his head giving him a brief vindictive smile. He then hit himself, saying, "What's wrong with you Ryder? You promised yourself you would never do that to any of your pups, especially to her because of her past." He then remembered back to what he had done when Chase lied to him half a year ago. While the period of disappointment from the other pups would likely be longer, the self-reflection would be good for her. "And having her do this as well would make her own up to her actions," he thought. "Of course, I have to do that too, she will remember better if I drag this out," he decided. "Of course, I can't encourage this interest she's developing," he concluded. He sighed. He had no clue how willing Katie would be to involve herself in this. He sighed again. He knew it would be unreasonable to expect his pups to never misbehave, but he never thought any of them would do anything to warrant designing something this elaborate. He explicitly knew that a certain other dog's owner would've gone much easier on her own pup for borderline treason, but that was the big difference between them. He knew Skye need more than to be told she'd had been a bad girl and sent to her room, he understood their was no point in doing this if she didn't learn from it, and in a round about way, he knew this was part of the promise he made to her two years earlier: to be for her what her parents failed to be. As much as he hated that girl's scheming Westie, he simultaneously felt sorry for her. Never in his life had he before seen a pup with so little love for its owner, nor an owner who so poorly knew her own pup. "Even Arrby seemed to legitimately love Sid, despite him being crooked and clearly needing to spend some time on the couch with professional," thought Ryder angrily. She was in complete contrast Jake, who knew Everest so well, he could elicit remorse and self-reflection from her without ever raising his voice. He didn't get to see too much of Carlos's relationship with Tracker, but judging by the fact his dog was always in a good mood, it was probably pretty good. Tuck and Ella were irrelevant to the discussion, as it was unclear whether or not they had or didn't have any owner, but Ryder knew it was pointless to put such big thoughts into little subjects like poor characterization and wasted potential. After about a half hour thinking about these unpleasant things, he went to go get a drink of water to give himself a break. As he walked to the kitchen, he came across Skye. He Just ignored her to hint he wasn't happy, but not give away he was mad at her. He walked into the kitchen and grabbed a glass. As much the hated having to do this, he ultimately knew it was the right thing. In the end, all of his reasoning boiled down to one detail: "because I love her."

The End

Notes:

Rex: Seeing as Rex doesn't show up till later in this timeline, it can be assumed that, Ryder hasn't met him yet.