Chapter 17: Friend or Foe (Part 1)

On the way to the Ranger's Headquarters Rocky was left sitting by himself in the PAW Patroller, all of the pups apart from Everest who was with Pedz in her helicopter were sitting on the other seat across from Rocky.

Sighing, Natalie walks over and jumps next to him. "Are you ok?"

"Do I look ok!?" Rocky snaps at her, shaking his head he says, "I'm sorry Natalie I didn't mean to say that, it's j-just look at them." He says glances at the pups. "They all hate me."

"That is not true Rocky," Natalie puts her paw on his shoulder. "They do not hate you,"

"How do you know that?" Rocky asks looking out of the window.

Natalie removes her paw and says. "Remember I was trained by the FBI?" she asks, he nods. "I have what humans refer as the sixth sense, I can sense things other pups cannot. And I do know that deep down the pups do not hate you, take Marshall for example he is trying his best to help you although he is scared."

"But he doesn't have to be scared, I won't hurt him again." Rocky sighs, "And Chase, Everest they won't let me near him."

"They are being protective, you need to give them time. Trust is a powerful thing and needs to be earned." Natalie smiles at him. "I believe there is good in your heart, I do not believe you are bad, but hear this," She says in a soft voice, Rocky looks at her. "Should you try and harm Marshall in anyway, they will never forgive you. Whatever caused you to hurt him in the past you must fight it, as I said I believe your heart is good."

Rocky lowers his head, looking at his paws. "I don't know what made me hurt him, that's the thing Natalie I-I.. couldn't stop myself, I knew what I was doing but I couldn't stop, I would've killed him.."

"But you did not kill him, tell me did something happen in your past?" Natalie questions him.

"Awhile ago I tried to get over my fear of water, Marshall helped me and so did a pup named Max but they both failed." He sighs biting his bottom lip. "They couldn't help me, I'm still afraid of water."

"And what makes your afraid of it?"

Rocky shakes his head, "I don't know, it just scares me."

Natalie thinks for a few seconds, she glances at Marshall who's laying down. "Maybe you are blaming him for it."

"What! No! It's not his fault! It's mine!" He turns his head away, "I'm useless Natalie, scared of water and almost killed 2 of my team members."

The PAW Patroller comes to a sudden stop.

"Wyder? Why did we stop?" Zuma asks as Ryder points to the bridge which crosses Red River Canyon.

"We need to repair this bridge before we can cross it," Ryder turns around. "Pups come, that includes Rocky. I may need you."

"But Ryder, Rocky isn't-" Chase is cut off.

"I know Rocky isn't currently a member but may need him to help repair it, otherwise we can't get to Ranger HQ" Ryder explains getting out of the PAW Patroller.

The pups all follow him, including Silvera, Mark and Michael.

"There's a rope bridge not far from here, if it's not been damaged someone can go and see the other-side of the main bridge." Silvera suggests

"I'll do it," Rocky volunteers, but Ryder shakes his head. "Ryder I'm the only one who can access this bridge."

Ryder sighs, pushing a hand through his hair. "Alright Rocky, but since you're still hurt take Marshall with you."

"WHAT! Are you nuts!?" Chase yells jumping in front of Ryder.

"Chase, now isn't the time. Brad's and Kate's life depend on us crossing this bridge." Ryder turns to Rocky, "Can I trust you?"

Rocky nods, "Only if Marshall wants to."

Marshall walks over to Chase, "Don't worry I'll be fine, trust me."

"I trust you buddy, it's him I don't trust." Chase looks at Marshall. "If he tries to hurt you again, I'll kill him."

"I know you will." Marshall hugs Chase, "Lets go Rocky." he says to the mix-breed, both pups run off.

Ryder turns to Natalie, "Go with them please, but don't let them see you."

"You go it." Natalie says, following Rocky and Marshall but keeps in the bushes.

Silvera puts her hand on Ryder's shoulder, "Mate are you sure that was a smart idea?"

Ryder nods, "Besides I trust Natalie, she's a Spy after all."

Natalie was keeping to the shadows, Rocky nor Marshall knew she was following them.

They stopped at what appears to be the rope bridge.

"This doesn't look very safe." Rocky says examining it. "A strong breeze could make it collapse."

"I agree." Marshall replies, keeping his distance from Rocky, who looks like he's struggling to stand due to his currently injuries. "Want me to look at those for you?"

"What?" Rocky turns around looking at him, Marshall points to Rocky's wound on his side, the bandages are leaking blood. "Oh, nah I'm good." He half smiles.

"I really think i should change those bandages, your wounds could get infected." Marshall walks towards him.

Natalie arrives hiding behind a log, she sees Marshall walking towards Rocky. "This is not good," she says to herself and goes to jump over the log but her paw gets stuck in a hollow in the log. "Crap!"

Marshall continues to approach Rocky, although it scares him. "Please Rocky, let me help you."

"No! I said I'm fine!" Rocky's vision slightly blurry, he shakes his head. "I'm fine,"

"You don't look fine." Marshall says no standing right in front of him.

Rocky takes a step back, but flinches as pain erupts from his wound on his side. "ouch!" he yelps

"Pl-"

"I SAID I'M FINE! I DON'T NEED YOUR HELP! LEAVE ME ALONE!" Rocky yells raising his paw in the air to clutch his side wound, which is throbbing.

Marshall sees Rocky raise his paw and gets flash backs to when he tried to kill him, "R-Rocky... W-what are you doing?"

Chase, Skye, Zuma, and Rubble arrive just as Rocky brings his paw down, to them it looks as though he's trying to hurt Marshall again.

Marshall's eyes widen when Rocky's paw connect to his head, he's flung backwards landing on the ground unconscious, a scratch appears on the side of his face.

"MARSHALL!" Chase screams running over. "BASTARD! I'm going to kill you!" He yells to Rocky who's shocked.

Rocky clutches his side, staring at his the white fur in his paw. "I-I... didn't... I-I-I didn't..." He backs away and starts to run across the rope bridge, which sways causing Rocky to almost fall off it.

Chase gets to Marshall, tears in his eyes. "Please be ok, I swear I'll kill him! I'll kill Rocky for doing this to you again!" Anger takes over Chase's body, he gently lays Marshall down before yelling out to Rocky. "ROCKY! YOU ARE SO GOING TO PAY FOR THIS!"

To be continued

A/n: Hey hey! Ohh some action, I hope you enjoyed it.

Oh and, although it looks like Rocky hurt Marshall (again) it was an accident, but keep in mind the pups think he did it on purpose.