Chapter 2: Glimmer of Hope
1 Week Earlier
Marshall and Everest had developed strong feelings for each other, they both never admitted it and tried hiding them. Tonight however they just couldn't hide those feelings anymore no matter how hard they tried, Marshall had been called to Jake's Mountain late at night, by Everest when Jake injured his ankle on a rescue
Marshall pulled up outside Jake's cabin, and got out of his EMT truck then knocked on the door
"Hello? Everest? Jake? Anyone here?" Marshall asked as the door opened
"Marshall!" Everest smiled upon seeing him "I'm so happy you came, Jake says his ankle is really sore" she said staring into his eyes
Marshall blushed "Um Everest? are we going in?" he giggled
Everest blinked several times "Hm?" she said gazing upon Marshall
"Jake? his ankle? where is he?" Marshall laughed
"Oh! Yeah! Silly me! Sorry come in" Everest blushed leading Marshall into the living room then into Jake's bed room "Hey Jake, Marshall's here"
"Awesome! Marshall good to see you man, I had a horrible day" Jake sighed as Marshall jumped up on his bed "It's a total bummer, hurting my ankle like this"
"Could be worse" Everest giggled "At least it's not in Winter"
"Ah yes! That's true" Jake smiled then looked at Marshall "So Marshall my man, how does it look?"
"Ruff! X-Ray screen!" Marshall barked then lowered his screen over Jake's ankle "Jake you've broken it, it's not a big break so it should heal fast, I'll bandage it. Ruff! Bandage!" he gently wrapped Jake's ankle with the bandage "Now stay off that foot"
"Dude I can't even walk" Jake yawned as Marshall pulled a blanket over him "Thanks Marshall, it feels much better but I totally think I'm getting some shut eye, since it's late you're welcome to stay here tonight"
Marshall looked at him "Cool thanks Jake" he smiled turning around to see Everest blushing
Jake giggled "Everest show Marshall the spare room"
"Sure Jake, this way Marshall" Everest said as they walked out of Jake's room "It's right there" she pointed to a door next to Jake's room
Marshall tripped over a mat on the floor and fell into Everest causing her to fall over, he landed on her stomach "Did I ever tell you how beautiful you are?" he blurted out then blushed a deep red looking in her eyes
"Nope, but you have now" Everest laughed as Marshall continued to look into her eyes "Marshall? You ok?"
"Yep I'm fine, I just never noticed how blue your eyes were before" Marshall then leaned forward and planted a kiss directly on her lips
Everest's eyes went wide
Marshall quickly pulled away and got off her "I'm sorry!" he blushed walking backwards into the spare room
Everest got up and smiled at him "You kissed me" she said causing Marshall to blush even more
"I-er-ah.. um -yeah..." Marshall muttered then looked up at her "E-everest... I-I think.. I-love you.."
"Wow! Marshall I was waiting for you to admit it!" Everest grinned walking into the spare room and closed the door behind her and locked it
Marshall looked confused "What are-are- you doing?" he asked nervously
"Marshall, there's something you should know" Everest said approaching him with a spark in her eye
"What-is it?" Marshall asked backing away only to bump into the bed leg
Everest giggled at him "Relax Marshall, but I don't think.. I KNOW I love you I always have" she walked up to him and forced him on his back, exposing his white belly
"Really? Because I always have as well! When we first met, you made me feel complete, I just never admitted it before" Marshall said as Everest began licking his belly, he giggled and moaned at the same time "E-verest! stop... you're making me.."
Everest stopped and looked into his eyes "I'm making you what Marshall?"
Marshall gulped then pulled her onto him and started laying kisses on her neck and cheeks, she kissed him back then pressed her lips against his, he closed his eyes accepting the kiss
About 10 minutes after intense making out Marshall spoke
"D-o you want to take it further?" Marshall asked still on his back looking up into her eyes
Everest paused and looked down at him "Oh Marshall! I would love to!"
Before Everest could say anything else she was gently forced off Marshall, who mounted her not before kissing her neck several times
Back in the Present
Katie walked back into the main area of her Clinic, she had a note pad in her hand
"How is he?" Ryder asked as she approached him
"Ryder, pups" Katie sat down on the ground, Ryder sat besides her "I have same bad news"
"He's not dead is he?" Chase asked but Katie shook her head
"Marshall's in a serious condition, I've cleaned his wounds best I could, but a wound on his side which extends to his belly is deep and infected, also one of his hind legs is broken it looks like one of those dogs bit into his leg instantly breaking the bone, it will heal though, I had to stitch one of his ears as well I'm pretty sure he'll be deaf in that ear" Katie said reading notes "Truth is Ryder, his body has taken a lot of damage and I-I'm.. not..." she paused looking into Ryder's eyes
"Don't you dare say it! Marshall's strong he will get through this" Ryder yelled at Katie "Don't you say he won't make it!" he burst into tears and without warning hugged Katie
"Oh Ryder, I believe he'll make it" Katie hugged him back tightly then kissed his cheek "I was going to say, I'm not sure when or if he'll wake up or recover" she said holding him
Everest had tears flooding down her cheeks "He has to wake up, I can't do this alone"
"His body as sustained so much damage Everest, even if he wakes up it wouldn't be for long" Katie said letting go off Ryder
"Can I go in his room? I want to be there when he wakes up" Everest looked up at Katie who knelt down
"Everest, I don't even know when he will wake up" Katie said looking at her paw, and grabbed a bandage and wrapped her paw "But alright you can go in"
Everest licked Katie's cheek "Thanks Katie" she said walking into the back of Katie's Clinic, then into the room Marshall was in, then jumped on his bed "Please M-Marshall, you got to live, don't leave us...I need you...your pups will need you. Jut stay with me, I know you're strong, you can do it...survive for me and your pups, please wake up" she lifted the sheets a little, seeing that his white belly was bandaged heavily, the right side of his stomach was bandaged, and looked like blood was leaking from it, his shoulder, and both forelegs were bandaged, including one of his ears, and his left hind leg was in a bright blue cast. Everest put the sheets over him again, closed her eyes tears escaping her closed lids
Just then, she felt something touch her leg, she opened her eyes and saw Marshall's paw on her leg. She looked at Marshall's face to see Marshall looking at her with teary eyes "Ev-Ev-Everest? D-Don't c-c-cr-cry." he said weakly through his oxygen mask
"Marshall!" Everest gently hugged him "Please stay awake, I don't want to lose you"
"I-I.." Marshall was hushed by Everest
"Sh don't try and speak, I have to tell you something" Everest said sitting down besides him on his bed "Marshall, this isn't the best time to tell you this but..."
Marshall struggled to keep his eyes open
"Hey! Please stay awake, you need to hear this" Everest said gently licking his forehead
Marshall looked up at her and nodded
"Marshall, oh my love, my dalmatian, my everything, listen to me, you can fight this, you got to do it for me and for our pups" Everest said looking down at him in his eyes, he looked surprised
"W-w..." Marshall tried to speak but Everest placed her paw on his lips
"It's true, Marshall I'm pregnant I was going to tell you when we were in the woods but.. but.. but.." Everest laid her head gently against his chest and cried
Marshall placed his bandaged paws around her and hugged her
"Marshall you got to fight, I just can't lose you" Everest's head was forced up by Marshall "I love you to much to lose you"
"E-everest" Marshall spoke weakly "I-I-I'm.. going to be a-a-a fath-er?" he asked
Everest nodded tears falling down her cheeks "Yes! Yes Marshall you're going to be a daddy, that's why you can't give up, I need you"
Marshall smiled weakly before falling unconscious
"Marshall?" Everest hugged him "Don't give up on us! Please" she laid down besides him
Chase's sadness suddenly turned to anger, he wiped the tears from his eyes
"I want every last one of those dogs dead!" Chase growled making everyone look at him "They all deserve to die for what they did to Marshall!"
"Chase" Ryder looked over at him
Zuma stood up and sat besides Chase "Chase is totally wight, they have to die! I'll help you dude"
"Us too" Rocky and Rubble said at the same time
"But Chase you saw what they did to Marshall" Skye said worried "They could kill all of us"
Chase stood to his paws "I'll take that chance... Marshall, my best friend I promise I will get revenge for you buddy! In return you have to live!" He shouted then howled loudly
To be continued