Chapter Two-Hundred and Sixteen

Toby carried John's lunch to their table, setting it in front of him as played with Chance's collar, twisting it around his hands. "Hey, Chancie will be okay." He smiled, gently patting his friend's shoulder, being careful of the still healing burns.

Claire nodded, kissing John's neck as she twisted her engagement ring around her finger. "Dr. Sheen will take good care of her. She'll be fine."

John swallowed, terrified that he would lose his first dog, and it would be his fault for calling the command. "What if I have a flashback…" He whispered, his throat constricting as if the chain were wrapped around his neck again.

Andy placed his hand on John's back, trying to remember what Clarissa had taught him about helping John out of the memories. "Hey… you're safe." He smiled, touching Allison's hand as she leaned across the table to touch John's hand.

"We're here." She stated, looking around as each one of the Breakfast Club leaned forward to touch John and help ground him. "Breakfast Law." She grinned, taking the burner code and turning it to something that suited them all. "We're always here for each other."

Claire helped John into the car after school was over, placing his crutches in the backseat. "Should we stop by the vet?" She asked, already knowing the answer.

He nodded, pulling at his leather jacket as she got into the car beside him. "I wanna bring her home."

She bit her lip, knowing that Chance was like an extension of John. "She can't come home for a couple days." She reached for his hand, holding him as best she could while driving. "But… now you know how I feel when you're in the hospital."

He squeezed her hand, closing his eyes to let himself become immersed in her. "Can you stay with me tonight?" He asked, his thumb running over the back of her hand.

She smiled, lifting his hand to her lips and kissing his skin. "Always."

John sat on the tile beside Chance's kennel, scratching her ears as she rested. He hummed in his throat, kissing his pet's head as she opened her unfocused blue eyes. "I'm sorry, Chancie…" He whispered, running his hand over the bandages on her shoulder. "Please forgive me…"

Chance wiggled toward him, her tail lazily whapping against the bed the vet had given her. She pushed her nose under his hand, licking his fingers as if she were saying "I'm okay, dad."

Clarissa opened the door to the recovery kennels, smiling as she saw John sitting on the floor next to Chance. "Hey there, Pumpkin." She soothed, kneeling down beside him as he dropped his head. "What's wrong?" She asked, placing her fingertips under his chin and tipping his head up to see his tears. "Oh… Baby…" She whipped his tears away, pulling something from her purse and drying his cheeks. "I was going to save this for your birthday, but…" She placed the red fabric in his hand, pushing his hair back. "Happy early birthday."

He unfolded the bandanna, smiling as he saw that she'd obviously spent a few weeks trying to get it to look aged like his old one. "Thanks, Mom." He leaned forward, adjusting his leg as the cast tried to prevent him from hugging her.

She kissed his head, noticing that he needed another haircut. "I don't want to see any blood on this one though." She stated, rubbing her hand over his back.

"Yes Ma'am…" He whispered, scratching Chance's head as she began to snore in her own pit bull way. "Thank you…"