Authors Note:

This fic will contain gore, violence, uncomfortable situations involving fictional minors, and deal with heavy subjects. I advise you to head the M tag. Thank you.

It's quiet. Despite the ever present pounding in her ears. It's quiet. Everything is a blur. It's almost dawn. The sun is creeping over the horizon but the chains on her wrists seem to tighten as the days pass.

On the floor, just below her. With golden fur now matted with fresh crimson. Eyes that have faded from this realm. A still, finally unmoving body lay. It wasn't her fault. She didn't want to do it. But there was no other choice. No other option but a jagged piece of brick connecting right through one of the most vulnerable parts of the body.

It began on a hot Saturday afternoon. At least, she thought it did. Bingo was enjoying her eleventh birthday party, being pushed high on the swing by her dear friend Lila. Nearby all of the parents were having a blast too. And her older sister was playing a rough game of tag with some friends who were already at the park. Her eyes see gold fur standing in front of her as her feet rise.

Chucky had ran right into her fast downward swing. It knocked him and he cried, but in the end he was alright. Janelle always did a good job of cheering him up. Petting his head, helping him get up and coddling him. That's how Bingo liked to be comforted. But it wasn't Janelle's turn to bring the kids. It was Pat's.

Bingo doesn't quite understand it. Her mum and dad told her that sometimes parents need to go their separate ways for a little while. Pat was still their next door neighbor, but she only saw Lucky and Chucky a few times out of the month. It made her feel bad for them.

Bluey says it's alright. That their parents are very much in love and want to be with each other forever. But sometimes, Bingo wonders.

"Cmon mate pull yourself up."

Pat hadn't seemed as cheerful. It's clear he still loves his children but not the same as Janelle. And Bingo can see in Chucky's face that Pat is the last person he wants to see.

"I'm sorry! Are you okay?"

Lila feels to blame. Chucky gets up. He's a bit bruised and whimpering but is otherwise alright.

"I want to go home." He cries out and runs away from them.

"Wait! Chucky!" Bingo calls and Pat holds out his arm.

"Don't worry kiddo," he pats her back, "he'll tough it out, just let him be for awhile."

Bingo's tail droops in shame. But something feels… weird. Pat's hand is lingering on her shoulder and he's staring at her for what feels like an eternity. Something in her instinct tells her it's not normal. It's weird. Why was he staring at her?

"Cmon Bingo, let's tell him cake is ready." Lila grabs her arm to tug her away from him. She wasn't wrong, Chilli is bringing out the cake now. Bingo looks back at Pat. He's still staring.

——

There's commotion outside. Red and blue flashing through the dark neighborhood. Two Heeler noses poking through the curtains.

They hear their parents shuffling around downstairs and talking.

"Bluey," Bingo whispers, "did something bad happen?" Bingo is innocent to most things. She likes to ignore some bad things in the world. That's stuff she can worry about when she gets older, right?

Bluey has that grimace on her face. The one that tells Bingo she's thinking.

"I think so- oh look."

Janelle is in the yard with her arms crossed as Lucky and Chucky walk to her car. Pat is on his stairs holding his eyes and it seems as if he's sobbing. Bingo feels awful for him. She doesn't know what's going on, and can tell that Lucky and Chucky feel the same as they hold each others hands and get into the car.

Bluey closes the curtains and she pulls back to look at her.

"What is it?"

"Lets play a game bingo."

And that was that. Like always. They'd play games to distract from something like this. But she can tell Bluey just doesn't want her to feel sad. They play for awhile. Until they're both asleep and ready for bed.

Their parents still tuck them in, and she loves it even if they don't get story time as often.

"Dad." Bingo calls to him before they go.

"Yeah mate?"

"Will Lucky's dad be okay?"

Bandit winces. He grits his teeth and looks away from her as he speaks.

"Yeah… yeah he'll be fine."

Bingo frowns. He's lying. She can tell.

——

They don't see Lucky or Chucky after that. Bluey says that they're fine and enjoying a trip overseas. But that trip has lasted a lot longer than Bingo thinks it should have. It's been three months! And she hasn't even seen Pat mow his lawn yet.

The shrubs are overgrown and even the laundry he's left on the line looks like it's been taken as home by the local wildlife.

"Mum." She's helping her mother clean their fish pond. A sweet ritual they've done for years now. "Should we check on Pat?"

"Mm." Chilli gets a worried look on her face. She glances over at their fence. "I don't think it's a good idea to see him right now Bingo."

"Is Lucky's mom ever going to come back?"

Chilli sighs and looks down at her sweet child. Bingo knows she's innocent and ignorant to some things, but she hates that look her mom gives her for it.

"It's not our place to talk about them Bingo, it's better if you don't judge her okay? I'll tell you the whole thing one day but… it's been rough for them, they all need time." She promises.

"Okay mama."

But what does she mean. What was so rough? Bingo understood some time apart was necessary. But she took their kids out of the country! Bingo can tell it's not just a rough patch.

—-

Maybe it wasn't her brightest idea. But Bingo just wanted to make sure he was okay. That's all.

She made him cookies. They were a bit burnt but her drawing would make up for it. It was of him and his wife and their kids. She had gotten good at drawing as they grew. Her and Bluey both loved to do it.

She knocks on the door and her fur stands on end when rain starts to fall heavily to the earth. Maybe it was a sign. The clouds rumble and the door opens.

Oh yeah. He looked bad. Eyes sunken in. His muzzle is getting white too. Like he'd already aged fourth years ahead in just a few months.

"Bingo?"

She smiles, then winces. His breath *reaks*. She doesn't comment and wags her tail in delight.

"Hey Lucky's dad!" She squeaks when a crack of lightening cries through the sky.

He looks around outside. He holds his door in thought a second before stepping inside.

"Cmon in, it's looks awful out there.. weird."

Bingo nods. She's been in his home plenty of times before. She loved it. All the decorations and photos everywhere. And Janelle kept their home spotless.

But there's no Janelle now. And the home is a bit… worse for wear. The floor is a bit sticky in some parts and there's a weird odor coming from the kitchen. Bags of trash are piled a bit in the corner of the kitchen and she sits at his dining table.

"How are you?" She asks. "I made you some cookies and uh.. a picture."

"Oh."

Why did he look nervous? Was there a reason? Maybe he just needed some company? Or maybe it was the state of his living.

He looks at it and pauses. She didn't know how he'd react. But it's not negative.

"Your art has gotten really good."

Her tail wags. "You should see Bluey's, hers is amazing!"

"I bet so." He bites into a cookie. "These are good." But he doesn't take a second bite. "Thanks for coming to see me kiddo… you're really great."

"I know you're probably sad because your family isn't here."

Pat makes an 'ah' noise but doesn't really comment. He just… stares at her. That stare that made her feel uneasy. But.. maybe she was just being insensitive. Maybe it was in her head.

"Oh no… I'm fine they just… they're on long holiday is all."

"Hm…." She purses her lips. Bingo doesn't want to be nosey, but she does want to ask anyways. "Are you and your wife still in love?"

"I love her." He says it pained. "And my boys, I love them very much."

"Why didn't you go with them?"

"How about I get us some milk.. these cookies are so good they need it."

"Okay."

Bingo knew she stepped on a boundary. Bluey had been teaching her people's limits lately and she's done her best to not pry but. But Pat deserved to be happy too! She just doesn't understand….

The wind picks up outside and the house is shaking. Her tail tucks. She hates the rain.

"Are you ok in there?"

"Yeah," he calls back and it takes some more minutes but he returns with two glasses of milk. One for her and one for himself.

"Go on and take one, they're really good."

He takes up another to dip in his milk. Bingo wags again. He does like them!

Bingo does just the same. They are pretty good! She's glad that she's gotten better at baking too! She eats and drinks the milk without a care in the world. And then… her head starts getting fuzzy.

"Mm." She holds it and looks up at Pat. That stare. That stare! Her fur stands on end.

But soon… the world is black.

Pat stares at the passed out red heeler on his floor. The storm is awful outside. His phone rings.

"Hello?" A pause. "No, haven't seen her… yeah no worries, I'll keep an eye out Bandit."