CHAPTER 6: TAKING THE FEELINGS

In Washington, the sun was slowly rising in the sky. Chase was lying on the bed, holding the front legs under his chin. He had wake for an hour, but in fact he hadn't slept that night, he had spent the time thinking. And of course the thing ... or better, the pup who he thought was Marshall.

Chase was by nature very protective of others, but with Marshall was different, Chase felt it was his duty to protect him. There was an episode a few years back, and that time Chase showed all his brotherly love for Marshall.

Flashback

It happened two years ago. In Adventure Bay on that day there were many dark clouds, Marshall was walking quietly in the park, after spending a bit of time playing in the chute he decided to return to the lookout. But as he was about to get away he heard a voice behind him.

"Hey you, idiot!"

Marshall's eyes widened and he turned slowly. A few meters from him was a Doberman of four years.

"Very well. Hello Marsh-fall" said the Doberman laughing.

"L-Lightning? What do you want?" asked Marshall began to back away.

"Why? I can't stay with my favorite toy?" asked Lightning approaching.

The dalmatian began to shake, the last time that Marshall had met that dog he had come home with a dislocated leg, scratches on the body and a black eye.

"P-please, don't hurt me again" implored Marshall starting to cry.

"Oh poor pup, the small Dalmatian is crying. You're so pathetic Marsh-fall" Lightning darted about Marshall and knocked him to the ground.

"No! Please don't hurt me!" shouted Marshall closed his eyes.

"Don't worry, it will be a quick thing" Lightning was ready to hit the Dalmatian.

"Lightning!"

The Doberman looked up and before he knew it, he was pushed away from the Dalmatian. Marshall opened his eyes, before him there was Chase, ready to protect him.

Lightning stood up "Well look who it is, Chase. You came to save your little friend?" he asked, laughing.

Chase growled "Leave him alone"

Lightning came up showing teeth "Or what? What will you do? I'm bigger than you, stronger than you. I'm the leader of this city. You are... nothing" said Lightning.

"Chase ... I don't want anything happen to you because of me" said Marshall.

"I will not surrender, I will stay by your side" said Chase with a smile, Marshall stopped crying and smiled.

"Eww, look, you two seem like two poor lovers..." Lightning was silent and then he smiled. "But perhaps you aren't only friends, aren't you?" asked the Doberman.

Chase could not see him, but Marshall was blushing and he didn't know why.

"You're right, we're not friends, we are brothers. And I always help my brother if he needs me" said Chase growling.

"Your brother? He is a loser! He is not even able to walk without tripping over something, he's not a dog, he's a freak of nature!" shouted Lightning.

Chase turned, Marshall was crying silently, his tears streaming down his cheeks. At that moment it started to rain.

Marshall looked at Chase "C-Chase ... I'm sorry to be... to be..."

If there was one thing that Chase couldn't see was someone who humiliates his brother. Chase turned growling and ran toward Lightning, then jumped on him and the two began to fight: scratches, bites, kicks.

After 5 minutes of fighting Lightning was on the ground, his body covered in scratches and bites. Chase was turning around him, he had a deep scratch on his thigh and a bite on the right paw. Lightning slowly stood, but because of the pain he could hardly stand, Marshall was upset, he had never seen Chase so angry

"Listen to me, pathetic buffoon, this is OUR town now. If I see you again I send you to SHOVELING COAL IN HELL!" screamed Chase hitting the dog on the face.

Lightning started running.

Chase approached Marshall smiling "Are you okay?"

Marshall after a few seconds embraced the German shepherd and he started crying. Chase put his paw behind the back of his friend

"Shhh, don't worry, you're safe" he said in a calm voice.

"I'm sorry ... I'm so sorry, I ... I'm an idiot, I'm a failure..." shouted Marshall crying.

"Marshall look at me. LOOK AT ME"

Marshall looked into his eyes.

"You are my best friend, you're my brother, I couldn't live without you by my side. And I'll stay with you forever, I promise" said Chase smiling.

They embraced again as the rain bathed their fur.

End of flashback

Chase sighed at the memory of that episode.

"I promised him that I would always be with him forever. And now... "

At that moment Meredith entered in the room. "Hi Chase, I see you're awake, do you sleep well?" she asked.

"Yes, well enough" answered Chase, though in fact he had not slept at all.

"Well, your breakfast is ready, can you wake Scarlet for me?" asked Meredith .

"Sure"

Meredith left the room while Chase approached Scarlet.

"Scarlet ..." whispered Chase "Scarlet wake up ... Sc..."

Scralet turned quickly and with the right paw struck Chase on the nose causing him to fall from the armchair

"Ouch!" shouted Chase, putting a paw on the nose. "My nose"

Scarlet looked at him casually "Oh sorry, I thought you were another instead are you. Well, so no problem"

It was obvious that she was angry about what had happened the previous night.

Chase stood up ignoring the pain "Come with me ..." said Chase approaching the door

"Where are we going?" asked Scarlet.

"Meredith has prepared our breakfast. You almost broke my nose" groaned Chase.

Scarlet rolled her eyes "Males are such babies"

The two reached the living room, on the floor there were two silver bowls with dog food and two crystal bowls with water. The two pups started to eat, after a few minutes came Meredith.

"Chase, there is one important thing that I have to tell you" said Meredith.

Chase looked at her "Sure, tell me as well"

"I did a little research on internet, I know you're a member of the Paw Patrol and that you live at Adventure Bay"

Chase perked up. During all this time he had thought only to Marshall, forgetting that he had a home and friends who were looking for him .

"Yes, it's true" said Chase.

"But why didn't you say?" asked Meredith.

"Well, I know it sounds absurd... but there were other things in my mind and I forgot to tell you" said Chase.

"Well don't worry, we will take you back home" said Meredith, smiling.

Chase looked at her and began to wag his tail "Really? Would you do this for me?"

"Sure, we're friends now, right Scarlet?"

Scarlet nodded and smiled.

"Thanks ... I don't know what to say"

Meredith smiled "You don't have to say anything. Now ... where did I put the phone?" The girl began to look for her phone.

"I guess what you were thinking was Marshall" said Scarlet.

Chase blushed. "Look, I think we got off on the wrong foot" said Chase.

"Well, I think we did too" said Scarlet

"Okayl, I wanted to tell you..." Chase was interrupted

"But I would appreciate your apology"

The German shepherd's eyes widened "Apology? Who said anything about an apology? I just wanted..." Chase was interrupted again

"Please, just don't talk anymore, okay? It's only gonna upset me" said Scarlet.

Chase sighed. After a few seconds of silence Scarlet started talking

"You care much for Marshall right?" she asked.

Chase didn't answer.

"You know, there's nothing wrong with love. If your feelings are true, then no one can judge you"

Chase looked at her "Why do you think I'm in love with Marshall? I mean ... is absolutely strange and... it's impossible" said Chase, closing his eyes.

"Do you looked at me well?" asked Scarlet

"What?" Chase was confused.

"Not to brag, but I'm beautiful and rich" Scarlet paused briefly.

"Every day when I walk in the city streets all, and I mean all the male dogs begin to howl, wagging their tail and drool at the thought that one of them could be my partner. But all this is unbearable. You ... you're the first male dog with I spoke without any problems, the first one that I accepted as a friend and the first that showed respect for me"

Chase listened attentively

"I thought that fate had brought me to you. You are beautiful, brave, kind ... you are the ideal mate... but this is not your identity, your heart belongs to someone else, Marshall. And doesn't matter if he is a male ... because love is the most precious thing that exists in this world"

Chase looked Scarlet as she walked away.

"Well Chase, I organized everything necessary, I called George, he will bring us to Adventure Bay. Finally, you can go back to your family" said Meredith enthusiastically.

Chase looked at her. "It is fantastic. Excuse me... I have to do something"

Chase walked away from Meredith and returned to his room. Then he sat down in the bed and began to think.

So it's true ... I'm in love with Marshall. I miss him so much. I miss his smile, his attitudes clumsy and his eyes as blue as the summer sky. Marshall I will return home...I will return to you... I promise.

Marshall was sitting outside his puphouse. While he was deep in thought came to him Skye and Everest.

"Hi Marshall, are you okay?" asked Everest.

"In your opinion? Chase has been missing for three days and we didn't know where he is!" shouted Marshall.

Skye and Everest took a step back

"I'm sorry it's just ... I miss Chase" said Marshall as tears filled his eyes.

"Are you sure you're okay? Lately you've been acting so weird" said Skye approaching him.

"I'm confused" confessed the Dalmatian.

"Why? What is bothering you?" asked Everest but Marshall didn't answer.

"Come on, we're your friends, we can help" said Skye.

Marshall sighed, he needed to talk to someone. "Here... me and Chase are great friends ... but lately things have changed ... and I still think of him, I still wish that he next to me and... I don't understand why all this is happening" said Marshall.

"I understand. I always thought that you and Chase were much more than friends, love does things really funny" said Skye.

Marshall looked at her "Love? Do you think... do you think I love Chase?! Are you crazy?!" asked Marshall, frowning.

"Marshall, you don't have to get angry, there's nothing wrong with that. And I want you to know that you have our support" said Everest.

"You are crazy!" Marshall began to run toward the cliff.

"We were not very helpful" said Everest.

"Come with me, we have to call Ryder" Skye and Everest entered in the lookout

Marshall was sitting near the edge of the cliff. "And if they are right. And if I were really in love with Chase. If this is true I don't want to see his face, he will hate me forever... but I... I can't live without him"

"Marshall are you okay?"

The Dalmatian turned and saw Ryder approaching.

"Yes I'm fine, I think"

Ryder sat next to his pup. The two sat in silence for a few minutes

"Marshall, is there anything you want to tell me?" asked Ryder.

Marshall began to be nervous "Uhm no... why do you ask?" he asked, laughing nervously.

"You're acting strange. I know you're worried about Chase, but if you need someone to talk, I am here. You can trust me" said Ryder.

Marshall knew it was time to talk, it was time to tell the truth, he had to be honest with Ryder, but also with himself.

"I think ... I think I l-love Chase" Marshall covered his head and waited for the reaction of his owner.

"Okay" said Ryder.

Marshall raised one of his paws "What?" he asked.

"Well, maybe you're in love with Chase but maybe it isn't a bad thing"

"But Ryder, this is contrary to nature, well... I'm a male and I should be attracted to females. What's wrong with me?" Marshall began to cry.

Ryder put him on his knees and hugged him "There's nothing wrong with you, you're perfect. And the love you feel for Chase is a fantastic thing. Don't be ashamed of your feelings"

Marshall smiled "So ... you're not angry"

"Angry? I hope you're kidding. I'm very happy, my pups are growing" said Ryder patting Marshall on the head.

"Do you think Chase will hate me because of my love for him?" asked the Dalmatian worried.

"Chase will always be by your side and that will never change. And you know it"

Marshall smiled. "Thanks Ryder, you're the best. You know... I was thinking of making a small gift for Chase when he finally will return home"

Ryder smiled. "Is an excellent idea. What did you think?" asked the boy.

"Maybe I could paint him a picture. Will you help me?" asked hopefully Marshall.

"Sure, everything for my pups"

Marshall smiled, then he turned and looked at the sea.

Please Chase comes home... I need you.

A / N: Wow, this chapter is the longest I've written so far, I hope you enjoy the chapter. I just wanted to thank Marshall and Fuzzy (Brian) that with his valuable contributions helped me with some important ideas for this chapter and for the upcoming.