ERUPTION
Many a word has been used to describe Chase. Controlled. Professional. Protective. Worrywart. The last two especially so, thanks to Chase's love for the other pups. And when Marshall takes an unnecessary risk on a rescue, Chase reaches his limits and goes too far in a fit of uncontrolled fury. The actions of the two pups end up scarring each other, but the same two pups are also the only ones who can heal each other's wounds.
"Urgh..."
"Hey! He's waking up!"
The light burned Marshall's eyes as he slowly came to. He wasn't quite sure what had just happened. The last thing he remembered was being called to the Lookout. Now he found himself waking up to Skye's voice.
"Guh… Urrrrggghhhhh… Ugh, wha-" Marshall grumbled.
Slowly, his vision came back into focus, and the multitude of amorphous shapes changed into those of the other pups. Somehow, he found himself back in the Lookout, laying in a dark red pet bed. Everyone had a decidedly perturbed expression on their face. To his right, Ryder was kneeling on the floor looking at him with concern. A small amount of worry worked its way through Marshall's head. Something told him that a rescue had gone wrong somehow. And that he'd made a life-threatening error.
"Marshall! How're you feeling?" Skye asked frantically.
"Ugh… what… happened?" Marshall mumbled.
"You nearly got yourself killed, that's what!" Rocky sharply interrupted, worried anger permeating his words.
"Hey! Wocky! Cool it!" Zuma shot back
"Yeah, he's still out of it!" Rubble added.
"Killed? What are…" Marshall questioned, his worry intensifying.
"Marshall, don't you remember? We were fighting a fire in Mr. Porter's store?" Ryder asked gently.
The memories started to come back to him, the blanks in his mind filling back in. Ryder had called them together thanks to an electrical fire in the store, and Marshall, naturally, had to take point in putting it out. The fire was more monstrous than he was used to, but it wasn't anything he couldn't manage.
"...actually, yeah… I kinda do. Agh-!" Marshall suddenly cringed, moving a paw to his head as pain flared up within.
"Whoa! Take it easy, Marshall!" Skye yelled. "Your head's still kinda sensitive!"
"Ugh… I remember we… had to save Alex…" Marshall continued.
"Again." Zuma dryly interjected.
"...but what made this happen? The last thing I remember is pushing him out the front door."
Sadly, Alex had ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time. Alex had gotten himself stuck as he tried to do something about the fire himself. With Alex getting buried alive being the only thing on his mind, Marshall had charged in recklessly, helping him out of the debris that was pinning him down and helping him towards the exit. And indeed, the last thing he remembered was the ceiling starting to fall in around him, and he acted on instinct, shoving Alex towards the store's exit as hard as he could.
"Some rubble came down and hit you in the head." Ryder explained.
"Hey! I didn't have anything to do with this!" Rubble joked in a bid to lighten the mood. The sea of disapproving looks showed that it didn't work, however.
"Not a good time, Rubble." Skye gently admonished.
"But Alex is safe, right?" Marshall asked.
"He is. But you weren't." Ryder retorted. "We took you down to Katie's and she said the worst that'll happen is this and a few bruises. But you know what she said? She said 'If it was anyone but Marshall, this could've been way worse'."
"You're lucky you've got such a hard head, Marshall!" Rocky sharply interrupted. "Most other pups would be dead! YOU could've been dead!"
"Rocky, you're yelling. Ease up." Ryder commanded quietly.
"Oh… sorry." Rocky turned from angry-looking to embarrassed.
"But he isn't wrong." Ryder continued with a firm look. "Marshall, what you did was VERY dangerous. I know it's your job to save people, but there are other ways of saving them than running in head-on."
"But Alex was in danger!" Marshall countered.
"Not IMMEDIATE danger. We could've come up with a plan if you didn't charge in. All that does is put yourself in danger, too."
Ryder sighed, laying a hand on the dalmatian's head. "Marshall… I'm disappointed. But I'm not mad. Once you're better, we'll talk strategy. You might have saved Alex, but taking unnecessary risks like that is not good for you or any one of us."
Marshall had attempted to deny the ramifications of his actions, but seeing Ryder upset with him caused everything to hit him. Suddenly, he felt extremely guilty. Not only did he get injured, but all he did was worry everyone. Something told him that if he didn't wear a helmet all the time, he would've come away with something far worse than a headache and some lost memories. If he came away at all, that is.
"Ryder, sir… I'm sorry." Marshall whispered, his head weighed down by guilt.
Ryder sighed again, reassuringly rubbing Marshall's head in a bid to soothe him. "If you're really sorry, you'll get better and then come see me. Right now, the important thing is that you're safe."
Marshall sighed, looking around the room to see everyone looking relieved, if worried. It wouldn't be the first time Marshall had taken big risks, but rarely did they endanger him to such a degree. He internally vowed to make good on what Ryder had asked him. He couldn't keep worrying everyone like this.
But it didn't take long for someone to catch Marshall's eye. Chase had been stood at the back with a blank expression. He hadn't spoken a word the entire time. Marshall felt his stomach sink. Something told him that Chase had not taken his gamble well.
"Chase?" Marshall piped up after a few seconds. "You've been kinda quiet. Are you OK?"
"...pups…" Chase began flatly "...can I talk to Marshall alone?"
"(Uh-oh… I've done it now...)" Marshall thought, believing his suspicions to be coming true.
"Pups, let's do as he says." Ryder swiftly commanded, having the burning feeling that he knew what was coming.
He turned to the emotionless-looking shepherd. "Chase. Don't overdo it. Please."
Chase didn't reply as Ryder and the pups apprehensively left the room.
"(This is not going to be pretty...)" Marshall internally bemoaned.
Ryder and the pups disappeared out of the room one by one to wait outside. For a while, the shepherd and dalmatian stared at each other. The atmosphere was thick enough to be cut with a knife. Being unable to take the suspense any longer, Marshall opened his mouth to defend himself.
"Chase, look. I know that was-"
Marshall didn't a chance to finish his sentence. In the blink of an eye, in a few milliseconds. Chase's demeanour changed rapidly. His formerly blank face had changed to one of pure, untempered rage as he stomped his front paws on the bed, one to each side of Marshall's head and shoved his face in closely enough that their noses were close to touching.
"WHAT?! WERE?! YOU?! THINKING?!" Chase roared. "YOU… IDIOT! STUPID, STUPID!"
To say that Marshall was taken aback would be an understatement. "Wh… Wh-wha-?" he stammered, not expecting Chase to get that angry.
"HOW COULD YOU JUST THROW YOURSELF INTO A COLLAPSING ROOM?! YOU SAW AS WELL AS I DID THAT THE BUILDING WAS FALLING APART! YOU'RE LUCKY YOU GOT OUT ALIVE, BUT I MIGHT JUST KILL YOU MYSELF!"
"Chase… Chase, y-you don't mean that..." Marshall stammered fearfully. Seeing a friend this angry with him was more scary than any fire Adventure Bay could throw at him. It didn't feel like Marshall was staring at a friend. It felt like he was staring into the eyes of a snarling demon.
"QUIT BEING SO PIG-HEADED, YOU SELFISH IDIOT! WE KEEP TELLING EACH OTHER TO BE CAREFUL, AND YOU GO AND NEARLY GET KILLED! WHY DON'T YOU EVER LISTEN TO US?! WHY DO YOU KEEP PUTTING YOURSELF IN POINTLESS DANGER?!"
Marshall first decided to try and take things calmly. With Chase so close to him, he couldn't help but notice the small, beady tears of fury that were forming in the shepherd's eyes. "Chase… You know as well as I do how dangerous my job can be." The dalmatian tried his hardest to keep an expression of neutrality. "Sometimes, I have to make on-the-spot decisions. And what was I supposed to do? Let Alex get crushed? Besides, it takes more than a little rubble to kill me. Especially when I'm wearing a helmet."
"YOU'RE! NOT! LISTENING!" Clearly the calm approach hadn't worked. "DON'T YOU DARE SHRUG ME OFF! YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT YOUR OWN SAFETY! YOU KEEP THROWING YOURSELF INTO DANGER! YOU'RE GOING TO GET YOURSELF KILLED! WHAT GOOD IS A DEAD FIRE PUP?! HUH?!"
As much as Marshall tried, he couldn't stop himself from being dragged down to Chase's level. He felt his temper dropping more and more, and now he'd lost it entirely. Marshall got to his feet and glared at Chase.
"...Look in a mirror, why don't you?!" Marshall barked.
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!" Chase bellowed, apoplectic at being talked back to.
"Why are you yelling at me about danger, Mr. Super Spy Cop?! Have you forgotten what you do?! You go after dangerous people like Humdinger and Sweetie and you're yelling at ME about not caring?!"
"I KNOW WHAT I'M DOING!" Chase had shoved his head against Marshall's.
"SO DO I!" Marshall screamed back, shoving back against Chase's head. "I might've made a bad choice, but that doesn't mean you get to scream at me like I'm some kind of criminal!"
"YOU'RE GOING TO GET KILLED WITH THAT KIND OF ATTITUDE!"
"Oh, so you're gonna make my choices for me?! Get off your high-horse once in a while, you dummy!"
That had done it. Chase's rationality was being held up by a thread, and that thread had just snapped with Marshall's retort. With an inarticulate scream of rage, Chase shot forward, shoving Marshall to the floor and constricting Marshall's neck with his paws, choking the life out of him.
"Chase-! Ack-! What are-?!" Marshall gasped, too shocked to raise a defence.
"WHY?! DON'T YOU?! EVER?! LISTEN?!" Chase screamed in Marshall's face.
"Aggghhhkkkk! Stop! Please-!" Marshall choked, feeling the air leaking from his lungs "I'm… I'm… sorr- ughk!"
Marshall tried to struggle out of Chase's grip, but it simply wasn't enough. The shepherd's anger had overwhelmed any defence that Marshall may have attempted to put up, and the dalmatian could already feel himself getting lightheaded from the lack of air.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
The next sound Marshall heard came from Ryder, who had appeared at the door, evidently having stayed near it to listen in on Chase's "conversation" with Marshall. When he heard the sound of choking, he finally opened the door, only to freeze up in horror at the sight of Chase choking out one of his fellow pups.
"STOP IT! STOP IT, I SAID!" Ryder roared, charging forward and snatching Chase up, forcing his grip off of Marshall, who coughed as he felt precious air reentering his lungs.
Marshall barely reacted to anything going on around him as he focused on trying to get his breath back. If he'd stopped to look on, he'd notice that Ryder had set Chase back down on the ground, giving him a look of disgusted fury.
"HOW COULD YOU?!" Ryder yelled, before turning his attention back to the gasping dalmatian.
"Marshall, are you OK?" Ryder asked gently, placing his hands comfortingly on either side of Marshall's head, gazing into his eyes with worry.
"I… I… I'm a little shaken up, but I'll be OK..." Marshall stammered between breaths.
"You sure? Not in any more pain?"
"I'll be fine… It… it'll heal."
"Say something if something doesn't feel right, OK?"
"Yeah… will do..."
Ryder gave Marshall a comforting neck rub before slowly getting up, his face turning to a rare expression of fury and whipping around to Chase, who had run off to the corner and lay facing away from Marshall and Ryder. If they had paid any attention to him, they would have noticed Chase's actions hitting him like a ton of bricks, his eyes going wide and a paw going over his mouth before he ran off to the corner, practically hyperventilating.
"Chase…" Ryder began. "You'd better have a very, VERY good explanation for that."
Perhaps the most terrifying thing was that Ryder was no longer shouting. Ryder was talking at a very normal volume and tone. But it didn't take a genius to know that the boy was, for the first time in a very long time, utterly incensed. Chase still had yet to reply.
"Well?!"
"...n't..." Chase squeaked at a barely-audible volume.
"What was that?" Ryder asked in the same calm, yet enraged tone.
"...id… n't..."
Ryder leaned in, his anger having not subsided. "I can't hear you."
"I SAID I DON'T!" Chase finally screamed, still not looking at Ryder. Now Chase had undergone yet another sharp change in personality. Now he sounded scared. Regretful. Almost immediately the target of his anger had changed from Marshall to himself.
"What… what have I done… WHAT HAVE I DONE?!" Chase had begun to shake. "No! No, no, no! How could I have done that?! I just attacked someone for no reason! I'm a horrible pup! I don't deserve to be on the team! I'm a terrible leader! I… I… I'M A MONSTER!"
Ryder sighed so hard at Chase's sudden mood swing that it was slightly surprising that he didn't move anything in the room with the force of it.
"Marshall… I'll be back in a few… I think I need to have a talk with Chase… ALONE." Ryder sternly took the quaking shepherd in his arms and moved unflinchingly to the elevator, presumably to take Chase to his room to talk in private. All while Marshall watched on, wide-eyed.
The time was a blur for Marshall from that point on. Getting his breath back didn't take long, but trying to comprehend what went on took an eternity. Chase screaming in his face like an enraged beast? Chase choking him out? Ryder becoming utterly furious? No matter how he tried to fit the pieces together, they simply didn't stick. The other pups, of course, ran in after the shouting match to see what went on and if Marshall was OK, but their presence only stressed him out further. They left, but not without Skye issuing the condition that Marshall told them everything later. After what seemed like an eternity had passed, Ryder sauntered back into the room with a blank look on his face, carrying his Pup Pad with him.
"So? What did he say?" Marshall immediately asked. Ryder remained quiet until he reached Marshall's pet bed and sat cross-legged in front of it.
"Aside from putting himself down and trying to turn in his Pup Tag on the spot?" Ryder replied quietly, causing Marshall to look down in sadness.
"He told me that he was really angry. Like, more than he'd ever been. I asked him why and he just said that… he was worried."
Marshall looked back up. "...'worried'?" he echoed, cocking his head.
"He said that when that rubble hit you in the head, it scared him worse than… well, any time before." Ryder was struggling to explain. After all, he was struggling to comprehend these matters, too. "You know how protective Chase is, right?"
"Well… yeah, but..."
"He said that it felt like you didn't care. You probably could've died, and he felt like you didn't take anything seriously."
Marshall felt guilt punch him in the stomach. He was starting to feel incredibly stupid for taking such a life-threatening risk. Not once had he considered how the team's chief worrywart would take something like this.
"Ryder, sir…" Marshall whispered, looking sadly down at the floor. "...this… this is all my fault... isn't it?"
Ryder emitted yet another sigh, reaching over and reassuringly scratching Marshall behind the ear.
"Marshall… look at it this way. What you did was dangerous, and, yeah, pretty dumb. There were other ways we could've helped Alex than running in like that. You scared us all, not just Chase."
Marshall let off a guilty whine.
"But that does not, I repeat, does NOT give Chase the right to attack you like that." Ryder continued firmly. "I know he worries about all of you, and him yelling at you doesn't surprise me that much. But fighting you? Choking you? That's where Chase crossed the line."
Marshall looked up at Ryder. "Please don't punish Chase for this..." he pled.
At that moment, Marshall wanted nothing more than to find Chase, hug his brains out, apologise for scaring him so badly and tell him that he forgave him.
"I won't." Ryder replied. "But on one condition."
"'Condition'?"
"Chase has to make up with you. When I send him in, he needs to apologise and smooth things over with you. I'll only punish him if he can't do that."
Marshall looked down again. "...I see..." he whispered guiltily.
"But the problem is, it looks like he doesn't think he can. He kept saying that he doesn't deserve to even be around you anymore. And 'how can he be friends with someone he choked out?'."
Marshall began to feel even worse. Chase may have overreacted, but Marshall still cursed himself for not seeing his reaction coming. He hated seeing Chase worried, but he still felt heavily responsible for causing his worry-induced meltdown.
"But… I forgive him…" Marshall squeaked. "He… he wasn't himself when he did that, right?"
"No. No he wasn't." Ryder sharply concurred. "That wasn't the Chase we knew. And I think he knows that. You've gotta tell him that, too."
A heavy silence passed through the room, taking a couple of seconds before Marshall spoke up again. "...do YOU think I can make up with him, Ryder?"
"If I know you two? Then yes." Ryder replied with utmost confidence. "You two have fought before and you're still really good friends. It's on you to make sure this is no different. But I know you can make up with him."
"You do?"
"Can you hold a grudge, Marshall?"
Marshall's head snapped back up. "Of course I can't!" he shot back.
Ryder smirked. "Well, there you go."
After some more quiet reassurance, Ryder finally got up and departed again, heading for the door, Pup Pad in hand. A few seconds later, the elevator ascended and descended once more, this time with Chase as its passenger. Chase, however, kept his eyes firmly glued to the floor as he very slowly sauntered to Marshall's pet bed. Marshall couldn't quite see Chase's expression, but he got the feeling it wasn't anything good. Still without looking in the dalmatian's direction, Chase gingerly laid down, still having an apparent staring contest with the floor.
"Hi… er, Chase..." Marshall stammered, trying to get a conversation rolling however he could. But it was as if he was talking to a statue. Chase didn't reply at all.
"Chase?" Marshall repeated.
After a pause, Chase, while still not moving, finally began to speak. "Marshall… There's… there's no excuse… I… I am so, so, so, SO sorry for getting like that..."
It sounded like Chase was desperately trying to keep his emotions in check. His voice was flat, but at the same time, heavily strained. Like his emotional state was a mere poke away from toppling like a tree.
"I know… there's no way you could ever forgive me for choking you out… I d-don't even deserve to be a m-member of the Paw Patrol after that… A-and I'm a selfish, horrible, EVIL pup…"
Marshall couldn't help but notice the tears dripping from Chase's eyes, as much as he tried to hide it. His tone had changed to match, becoming distraught and regretful, self-hatred radiating from every word.
"But all I can say is… I-I'm s-sorry… Even though… it's not gonna be enough this time…"
Marshall had decided that he'd heard enough.
"I-I… I know... I'll n-never… NEVER make up… for attacking-"
Chase didn't get to complete his sentence as Marshall lunged forward and chomped down on Chase's collar. Chase expected as much, and closed his eyes in preparation for a retaliatory mauling. But the last thing the shepherd expected was for Marshall to forcefully yank him into the bed as hard as possible, catching him in a hug tight enough to practically break his spine. Chase's eyes shot open in disbelief, his mouth hanging open.
"Chase… You talk too much." Marshall whispered lightheartedly.
"Y-you forgive me?! H-how?!" Chase stuttered in shock, continuing to cry as he lay limply in Marshall's arms. "I-I thought you'd hate me! You should be terrified!"
"You know me, Chase. I can't hate anyone. Least of all you."
"B-but… You should! Marshall, I CHOKED YOU!" Chase screamed, voice wracked with despondent regret. "I attacked you! I swore to myself I'd never get violent like that! And I completely b-broke that promise!"
"No you didn't." Marshall firmly replied, squeezing Chase tightly. "The angry Chase earlier did. You obviously weren't in your right mind when you did that."
"R-right mind or not, it was still me! I completely lost it! I-I don't deserve… to be a member of the team… w-when I attack my teammates!"
"Chase, we aren't gonna throw you out for one mistake. We don't throw each other out for messing up."
"None of you have choked each other, though! I deserve to be thrown out! I don't deserve any of you! What kind of police pup goes around hurting his friends?! Can I even call you my friend after that?!"
Chase's guilty crying had only gotten louder. "I… I… I'm a terribl-"
"Chase, stop it, will you?!" Marshall barked, having had enough of Chase's self-castigation. "I. Forgive. You. And whether you think you deserve it or not, it's high time you did the same thing."
"But-!" Chase sobbed.
"Sorry, my mind's made up." Marshall interrupted again. "Whether you like it or not, I forgive you. I still love you. I'll tell you as many times as I've gotta."
Chase sniffled and sobbed. "Marshall-"
"Before you say anything else, you've gotta calm down. Stop tearing yourself apart. Just take some deep breaths."
A small pause ensued while Chase continued to cry. "I-"
"No more talk. Just breathe."
The two pups were always close. To the extent that some would dare to refer to them as brothers in all but name. Part of the reason for it is that they were always there for each other when they were feeling downcast or angry. And now was no different. Chase's anger-laden, guilt-filled sobbing continued unabated for at least three minutes before he slowly, but surely began to calm back down, his hatred for himself losing the battle against Marshall's warm reassurance, as the dalmatian had been nuzzling the shepherd and rubbing his back the whole while. After Chase had fallen completely quiet, save for the occasional sniffle and hiccup, Marshall finally began to speak once more.
"Better?" Marshall whispered gently.
"...kinda..." Chase replied quietly, his voice reduced to a hoarse whisper.
"So… You were worried?"
"Well… yeah…"
"About losing me?"
A long pause ensued. Marshall was about to speak again before Chase said something that he wasn't quite expecting.
"...I know."
Marshall blinked. "Huh?"
"I know… you think I'm overprotective… You think I'm stubborn… But… I thought… you'd actually… died on us this time..."
"Yeah… Ryder said." Marshall whispered guiltily. He was about to apologise until Chase spoke up once more.
"...you know I have nightmares about losing you guys, right?"
Marshall went rigid. "...wha?"
"Please, Marshall, don't act so shocked." Chase pled. "I really do dream about you all dying sometimes… You burning to death… Skye crashing… Rubble… getting crushed…" Chase started to sniffle and whimper again, finally returning Marshall's hug, desperately clinging to his friend. "...Zuma… drowning… Rocky's… machines… blowing up… Heck, even… even Ryder falling to his death!"
"Chase..." Marshall whispered in horror, his eyes widening and flushing with tears.
Now everything was starting to make sense. Chase never really showed it, but he was truly scared for his teammates. Marshall knew he was a worrywart, but he never thought that it went this far. But any chewing-out Marshall was to give Chase for hiding his emotions would have to wait as Chase continued to pour out his heart.
"So… when that rubble… came down and hit you… It felt like those awful dreams had come true! It felt like now we'd really lost you!" Marshall couldn't see his face, but Chase was obviously bawling again. "And… and it felt like… you didn't even care! It felt like you didn't mind dying at all! That's why I got so angry! And… and did… THAT!"
Now it was Marshall's turn to break down crying in guilt. "Chase, I… I had no idea… I'm so sorry!" Marshall sobbed, Chase's despair spreading to him like a virus.
"Marshall, I-! I… I… I-I…" Chase stammered tearfully, before letting his emotions out in a deafening yell. "I CAN'T LOSE YOU! PLEASE!"
"I-I'm not gonna let that happen! I swear! N-Never!" Marshall wept, continuing to squeeze Chase for dear life. "I-I didn't realise you were so scared of losing us!"
A few minutes passed of the two pups crying into each other's fur, trying to calm down enough to find the words to speak again.
"Promise… promise you'll never do something that dangerous again! Please!" Chase begged while continuing to cry. "P-please say… you'll never risk your life like that!"
"Chase…" Marshall sobbed. "I-I can't say that we're not gonna do something... really dangerous… That's just the job…"
Marshall tightened his grip on the shepherd, his voice becoming more determined.
"But I swear… I won't jump in like that again… I won't throw myself into danger... I'll stay with you… W-We'll all figure something out as a team… C-cross my heart and h-"
Marshall quickly stopped himself, realising how that sentence ended and how Chase got like this in first place.
"Well, y'know." Marshall concluded lightheartedly through his tears.
Almost as if by magic, Chase quickly managed to calm down. He continued to whimper and sob, but now it was far more muted. As much as he clung to Marshall for dear life, Chase's breathing became more steady, even as he kept weeping.
"Thank you…" Chase whispered tearfully. "Marshall… Thank… you..."
There was no doubt in Marshall's mind that he'd managed to fufill Ryder's conditions beautifully. A huge smile spread across the dalmatian's face as he continued to hold Chase in his arms. And Chase, for his part, finally felt at peace, knowing that his fit of volcanic rage was forgiven, and Marshall had sworn to keep himself safe. After all, Marshall was a tremendously-poor liar.
A few minutes of holding each other close later, Chase finally stirred within Marshall's arms, pulling back to look the red-eyed dalmatian in the face.
"Chase?" Marshall whispered.
Despite Chase's coat being soaked with tears and his eyes being red and puffy, Chase still had a sad smile on his face.
"I… I always was kind of a crybaby about this kinda thing, wasn't I?" he croaked, his voice having been destroyed by the crying and yelling he was doing.
"Hey, it's nothing. Really. Heck, I should've realised you worried that much."
"I know we're all confident about what we can all do…" Chase averted his gaze, looking down at the floor sadly. "But I can never shake that feeling..."
"If it makes you feel better, when things get dangerous, I worry about us, too." Marshall retorted, causing a smile to return to the shepherd's face.
"Heh… Another thing we have in common..." Chase muttered ruefully.
Marshall closed in again, reassuringly nuzzling the shepherd. "I'll make sure I stay safe if you do. I've got your back if you've got mine."
Chase was quick to return the favour. "Always, Marshall. Always."
A few seconds later, the pups had yet to stop hugging each other, but this didn't stop Ryder from walking in with a proud smile on his face, kneeling down and pulling the two pups into his arms, turning their embrace into a three-way group hug.
"I told you." Ryder whispered sincerely. "I said you'd be able to make up."
"Yep." Marshall replied without missing a beat. "And now we both know better."
"I still kinda can't believe Marshall forgives me..." Chase mused quietly.
"How many times have I said it, Chase?" Ryder asked. "Marshall can't hold a grudge."
"Not even against Sid Swashbuckle, if you'd believe it." Marshall added, earning amused laughter from the other two parties.
"Well, anyway…" Ryder said after a pause. "You both think everything's OK now?"
"...yeah..." Chase whispered, more calmly than ever. "I think… I think it's gonna be fine."
"Well if Chase thinks so, then so do I." Marshall added breezily.
Ryder couldn't help but squeeze his pups even more tightly. Pride overflowed from the boy as he whispered to the pair of them.
"You're both such good pups… No matter what you think of yourselves..."
Whew... long one. And if you'd believe it, it's not the longest fic I have in store. That honour goes to next week's fic, which will also be the final one. Yep, Sunday's story will be the penultimate fic in this collection, with the last one being uploaded next Wednesday, as ever. This fic in particular, however, was my favourite of the lot. I only hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it.
I feel like after a one-shot with as much intensity as this one, Sunday's fic should be one to help with cooling down from it. So Sunday's fic is basically going to be fluff and virtually nothing else. But it will contain a rather interesting diversion. The summary below should help clue you in. Thanks for listening, and see you Sunday.
MOVIE NIGHT
After a long series of rescues, Chase has been left exhausted and grouchy, unwilling to play with anyone. So Ryder hatches a plan to leave the overworked pup with Marshall to finally get some time to relax. And Marshall can't think of anything better to do than watch a movie to unwind, leading them to sit down and watch the most recent Apollo movie together.