CHAPTER 13: HOSPITAL
A / N: Thanks guys, as always, for all your support.
Ryder and the pups were in the waiting room. They had arrived at the hospital about an hour ago, the doctors admitted Chase and Marshall, both were in serious condition, especially Chase, that had many injuries and had lost a lot of blood.
"Ryder, Chase and Marshall will be okay?" asked Rocky.
Ryder smiled slightly. "They are very strong, I'm sure that soon they'll be fine"
At that moment a doctor came up to them, he had black hair and blue eyes. Ryder stood up from his chair and met him
"Doctor Stevens, how are they?" asked Ryder worriedly.
"For the moment are stable, have suffered serious injuries but they are not life threatening" said the doctor.
Ryder and the pups breathed a sigh of relief.
"But it's better if we keep them here for a few days. Chase is still unconscious but he should wake up early. Marshall instead is awake, if you want to see him"
"Yes, thank you Doctor" said Ryder.
Dr. Stevens nodded his head and walked away.
"Come on pups"
Ryder and the pups made their way to a room where they were admitted to their friends. The room had blue walls, with a large window, there was a table, chairs and of course the two beds, next to one another. Chase was left in bed, still asleep. His paws and his face were bandaged, on the mouth there was a oxygen machine helped him breathe.
Beside him instead was Marshall, his injuries were less serious, but he had the paws bandaged and a couple of bandages on the body. Despite this he was awake and when he saw Ryder and the pups he perked
"Ryder" said Marshall smiling.
Ryder approached him. "Hi Marshall, how are you feeling?" he asked, stroking the head.
"Tired..." then he looked at Chase. "And sad"
"Don't worry, Chase will be fine, the doctor said that is stable" said Skye.
Marshall began to shed a few tears.
"Hey Marshall, why are you crying?" asked Ryder.
"Chase has saved me from Lightning two years ago, had it not been for him I don't know what would happen that day... Today Chase needed me, but I was not able to help him..."
No one noticed but Chase had opened his eyes and was listening, and slowly leaned toward the end of the bed, their beds were very close. Marshall had tears running down his cheeks
"I ... I ... I wanted to help him but I couldn't ... I am weak..."
Marshall closed his eyes as the tears continued to fall. But then he felt someone touching his paw. He opened his eyes and saw Chase holding his paw on him, the shepherd smiled slightly.
"You know, I hate to see you cry" said Chase.
Marshall smiled and wiped away tears. At that moment came a nurse "Sorry to disturb you, but visiting hours ended, Chase and Marshall needs to rest"
"We can't stay here with them?" asked Zuma.
"I'm sorry, but doctors need to do more tests. But you can go back in the afternoon"
"Well pups, let's go back to the lookout, soon it's time for lunch" said Ryder.
The pups greeted their friends and left the room.
"Don't worry, we will return to visit you soon, in the meantime, take your rest" said Ryder gently stroking the two pups.
When Ryder left the room some doctors made examinations at Marshall and Chase, including an MRI, blood tests, and a general control of their injuries. This tests took some hours.
"Well, the situation is good, you'll have to stay here two or three days but then you can go home" said Doctor. Stevens.
"Thank you, doctor"
He smiled and left the room. Marshall and Chase were sitting on their beds.
"So, how do you feel?" asked Marshall sitting on Chase's bed.
"Well, considering that I almost died I'm fine" said Chase.
"I'm sorry if I couldn't stop Lightning, it's just ..."
Chase put his paw over Marshall's mouth to keep him quiet. "You don't have to say anything. If it wasn't for you I would die" said Chase. Marshall smiled.
"Do you know what? Before our trip to the lake, before I disappeared, I had a dream" said Chase.
"What did you dream?" asked Marshall.
"It was a starry night, and I was kissing another pup. At first I thought it was Skye, but then I realized that the pup that I dreamed was you" said Chase.
"Interesting. I especially like the part of the kiss" said Marshall approaching him.
"I know"
Chase kissed him on the lips, the two shared that special moment and the pain caused by the wounds disappeared as if by magic.
"I see you're already better" said a voice.
The two separated and saw Ryder near the door with a tray in hand. They began to blush deeply.
"Ryder... you are here..." said Chase, laughing nervously.
"I... we... we was just ..." Marshall was interrupted.
"You need not apologize" Ryder approached them, on the tray there were two bowls with dog biscuits covered with honey.
"Honey biscuits" said Chase.
"Mmmm, look delicious, for who are these?" asked Marshall.
Chase and Ryder stared at him. "Uhm, I think they're for us" said Chase.
"Oh, right"
Ryder chuckled and placed the two bowls on the bed. "Mr. Porter has prepared these biscuits. It has been a long time since you've eaten these" said Ryder sitting on a chair.
The two began to eat "Yeah, the last time I ate biscuits with honey was when we saved the Queen Bee on the beacon of Capitan. Turbot " said Chase.
"Well, at least you've eaten them. A seagull stole my biscuit, do you remember?" asked Marshall.
"Absolutely, your face was really cute" said Chase.
Marshall began to eat his cookies when he saw that Ryder had a big book in hand.
"Ryder, what's that?" asked the Dalmatian.
"This is an album which houses your pictures. I have one for each pup but you were so connected that I decided to put your photos in one book" said Ryder.
"Wow, so that's what you search these days" said Chase.
"Yes, I found it in Marshall's puphouse"
Marshall blushed slightly. "Yes, when Chase is gone missing I took the album and I looked at some pictures, in a way it made me feel better" Chase rubbed his cheek.
"I thought I relive the moments you spent together is a great way to scroll the time while you are here in the hospital"
"It's a great idea" said Chase. Ryder opened the album.
On each page there was a picture that represented Chase and Marshall together.
"So, here it is when you met for the first time"
The two pups looked the photo. In the picture there was a small German shepherd who watched a small Dalmatian with matted hair in front of him. Chase and Marshall remembered that moment like it was yesterday.
Flashback
Chase sat on a pillow in his new home. It was incredible, Ryder, his new owner, had adopted him for a month. He would become the member of a rescue team, would help those who needed it, it was all great. Except for one small detail, he wouldn't be the only one.
"So Chase, are you ready to meet your new friend?" asked a young boy of 7 years.
Chase gave a fake smile "Of course, I... I can't wait" said the pup trying to look happy.
"Well, I'll get the new pup, see you later" said Ryder leaving the building.
Chase sighed "Why should I be happy? Here I have everything I need here, I have a house, a new owner. I not need be happy only because I have to know another pup. I'm here to work, not to make friends"
Chase was a pup lonely and did not believe that having friends was something important. In short, the first time he opened his eyes he was in a kennel, he never knew his parents who, according to him, had abandoned him. If your own parents don't want you, how can you trust someone who doesn't even your own blood?
Chase was so deep in thought that he didn't notice that the new guest had arrived. A young and cheerful Dalmatian came running in the building, but then stumbled on a rope and crashed into him. Chase did not even have time to realize what had happened. Ryder saw Marshall on Chase's back, the German shepherd groaned.
"Wow, it was... fun. Oh, I'm Marshall"
"Chase. Can you get off from my back?" asked Chase irritably.
"Yeah, sorry, I had not seen the rope" Marshall got out of Chase's back.
Chase looked up to watch his new team-mate, was a pup a little smaller than him and had a goofy smile on his face, but the thing that Chase noticed immediately were his blue eyes.
"Well pups, do you want me to bring something to eat?" asked Ryder.
"I don't, thank you sir" said Chase.
"Okay, and you Marshall?"
"Well, now that I think..."
Ryder chuckled "Okay, I'll be back with the food"
Marshall and Chase stared
"So, how long have you lived with Ryder?" asked Marshall.
"For a month, more or less" answered Chase.
"I'm super happy to be part of a rescue team" Marshall began to jump, but lost his balance and fell on the pillows.
Chase couldn't suppress a laugh. "Are you okay?"
"Sure, don't worry I'm used to" said Marshall.
After a few minutes Ryder came with a bowl of dog food. "Here Marshall, I hope you like"
"Mmm, looks delicious" Marshall began to eat.
Meanwhile, Chase was thinking. He doesn't look bad, he's nice... and fun.
Marshall took less than two minutes to eat. Chase looked at him and started laughing
"Why are you laughing?" asked Marshall confused.
"Well, you're a little dirty in the cheek" said Chase.
"Really?" Marshall began to rub his left cheek.
"No, the other cheek"
Chase came up to him and with his paw wiped his right cheek. Chase blushed slightly but did not understand why, even Marshall was blushing.
After a few seconds of awkward silence Marshall spoke
"So... do you want to be my friend?"
"Friend?"
"Yes. I don't have a lot of friends here, well... I don't have anyone. I have not even a family, my parents abandoned me" said Marshall, lowering his head.
"Really? Well ... my parents abandoned me, too" said Chase, Marshall looked at him
"And for the record, even I haven't friends here... then I will be very happy to be your friend" said Chase, wagging his tail.
"Really?" asked Marshall with his eyes twinkling.
"Sure" said Chase.
Marshall ran to him and hugged him. Chase was surprised at first but then returned the embrace.
End of flashback
"I remember that episode, that's where it all started" said Marshall looking at his mate.
"Meet you, was the best thing that could ever happen" said Chase.
Ryder smiled, a few pages later there was a picture where Chase and Marshall were embraced and were crying.
"Do you remember this?" asked Ryder.
"Yes, it is the first time we had a fight" said Chase.
"The first but not the last" added Marshall.
Flashback
Emergency. Ryder ran with his ATV, followed by Chase, Marshall, Skye and Rocky. A big fire had developed into a large country house. When the Paw Patrol arrived on the scene, the situation was already very serious, the barn was already engulfed in flames, fortunately the animals had already been rescued. The house next door to the barn was burning very quickly.
Ryder and the pups stopped their vehicles and watched the scene.
"The situation is very serious" said Chase.
"Wow, I hoped that my first mission was something important... but this is too much" added Rocky.
The gray pup had entered the team only for a week, he was eager to take part in his first mission, but the emergence of that day was much more serious than he expected.
"Okay pups, the situation is serious. Marshall, with your fire truck you will need to try to extinguish the flames. Chase, you must use your megaphone and cones to keep people away from the fire. Rocky, you have to help the owners of the farm to check on their animals and Skye, you have to control the situation from above" said Ryder.
The pups started working. Marshall used the pump of his truck to try to douse the flames. Chase ordered cones away from the house.
"Woof, megaphone. Attention is dangerous to approach, you must to stay away from the building" said Chase to the people present there that they began to retreat.
"Ryder, the fire is spreading, we need more water" said Marshall.
"We have a well, you could get water from there" suggested a man.
"Great idea, Rocky, can you search a large bucket in your truck?" asked Ryder.
"Of course, green means go" Rocky went to his vehicle and took a big metal bucket.
"Well, I need your cable Skye"
"Coming right up" Skye had lower cord from her helicopter. Ryder filled the water buckets and stuck to the cable
"Skye, now you have to empty the water over the house"
"Great idea"
Skye flew over the roof of the house and dropped water on the building. By the time the flames were slowly fading.
"Wait, where is Stacy?" asked a girl about five years, looking around.
"Oh no, she remained inside the house!" she shouted.
"Are there someone trapped inside the house?" asked Chase worried.
"Yes, Stacy... my doll" said the little girl crying.
"Doll? I'm sorry little girl, but we can't do anything for your doll"
"You can't save her? You are the Paw Patrol" said the little girl crying. Marshall had heard it all from a distance.
"I'm sorry, but we can't risk our lives for..." Chase didn't have time to continue.
"Where did you see Stacy last time?" asked Marshall.
"On the bed in my room, on the third floor" the girl replied.
"Why do you ask?" asked Chase.
"It's obvious. To go to recover her" said Marshall wearing an oxygen mask.
"Oh, okay... wait… WHAT?!" shouted Chase.
Marshall knew that Chase would never have allowed to enter the building to retrieve a toy, so without thinking twice he entered in the building.
"Marshall! What are you doing?!" screamed Chase.
But the Dalmatian had already entered in the house on fire. Marshall began to climb the stairs to the third floor. The flames had devoured the walls and the smoke did not help. Marshall looked around frantically, trying to find the little girl's room. After passing some doors entered a room, above the bed there was a doll in a pink dress and brown hair. Marshall went to the doll, fortunately was still intact, he took off his oxygen mask and grabbed the doll with the mouth.
Then he began to run toward the exit but a large wooden beam fell at the door.
"Oh no! I'm trapped!"
Suddenly he felt a strange smell. Sniffing carefully realized that this was no smoke, was gas, the house was going to explode, if he didn't go out immediately well, better not to think.
Marshall looked frantically around, luckily there was a window in the room. Meanwhile outside Chase began to be really worried.
"Why is he taking so long? What an idiot, risking his life for a stupid doll!" said Chase, scared and angry at the same time
"Marshall knows what he does, don't worry" said Ryder.
At that moment there was the sound of a shattered glass. Ryder and the pups looked at the window of the third floor, Marshall was on the edge of the window.
"Marshall, what are you doing?!" shouted Chase.
Marshall looked back and saw the fire which increased suddenly. Without thinking two times he jumped from the window for not burn alive, as he fell the third floor of the house exploded, fragments of any kind were falling everywhere.
"MARSHALL! Woof, net!" shouted Chase, his net opened and took Marshall just in time.
"Nice catch Chase" said Ryder.
"Thank you sir" Chase looked at Marshall and frowned.
"That is, safe and sound" said Marshall, handing the doll to the girl. The pup had many dark spots due to smoking.
"Thanks" said the little girl hugging him.
After an hour the flames had been tamed. Ryder and the pups returned to the lookout, Marshall entered in the building and sat down on a pillow. Soon came Chase.
"Hi Chase, do you want..."
"You're an idiot!" shouted Chase.
Rocky and Skye stared.
"What?!" asked Marshall.
"I said you're an idiot! Risk your life for a stupid doll! What were you thinking?!" shouted Chase.
"To do my job!" said Marshall, raising his voice.
"Your job?! You have to save and protect the people, not dolls!"
"But it is our work to help those who need it, even at the risk of our lives!" shouted Marshall.
"You could die!" cried Chase who launched on Marshall.
Marshall was on the ground, but soon moved Chase from his chest. Before long the two started to fight.
"Do you think I don't know the risks?!" shouted Marshall hitting Chase on the face.
"You're an idiot!" shouted Chase, pushing Marshall against the wall.
Ryder came running in the lookout.
"What's going on here?" he asked.
Marshall and Chase stopped fighting and drooped ears.
"Ryder sir, I ..." Chase was interrupted.
"Don't talk. Skye, Rocky, can you leave us alone?" asked Ryder.
The two nodded and left the room. "What are you doing?" asked Ryder frowning but keeping his voice calm.
"Marshall has almost died in that fire... all this just for a doll" said Chase.
"This is my job. This is my life, I choose when I endanger my life. You can't command me like I was a criminal who doesn't respect the law" said Marshall.
"You could die"
"I understand. Listen to me, what happened is not serious, but there are other ways to solve problems, fighting is useless. The best way to solve a problem with a friend is talking" said Ryder. "I leave you a few minutes alone, soon it's time to go to bed"
Chase and Marshall looked at each other, they had some minor injuries on the body. After a few seconds the two began to cry silently.
"I'm sorry... for having attacked you" said Chase.
"Sorry if I endangered my life that way... I..."
Without another word the two embraced, still crying. "You scared me, you're my brother and I don't want to lose you ... I can't lose you" said Chase.
Without they realized Ryder took a picture and smiled.
End of flashback
Marshall and Chase laughed at the memory of that episode. "Too many emotions, and all at once" said Marshall.
"Yeah, it was terrible, for a second I thought you were dead" added Chase eating the last cookie with honey.
"Well, it takes much more than a small fire to kill me"
Ryder chuckled and continued to browse the album. There was a picture where Chase and Marshall celebrated Halloween wearing their costumes, and another where Chase and Marshall were trapped under Chase's net, after they tried to capture the bat who slept in the city hall. Many photos, many memories, memories that the two pups would never forget.
Ryder closed the album "Well, it's late, I must return to the lookout, good night pups"
"Night Ryder" said Chase and Marshall.
Ryder left the room and turned off the lights. Marshall lay on the bed of his mate
"Can I sleep next to you?" asked the Dalmatian.
Chase smiled "Sure"
Chase and Marshall fell asleep within minutes, side by side. Ryder went quietly into the room and took a picture. "This will be perfect for the album" after saying this he left the hospital and returned home.
A / N: Wow, the longest chapter of this story, I hope you enjoyed it. Let me know what you think with a comment. Thank you all for your support.
Important news: I decided to change the rating of this story in M. So by the next chapter if you want to continue reading this story you'll have to go on the "M" section of the site. Thank you.