In Nome, Jenna waited outside the local hospital looking in through a window. There had been a recent surge of new cases from an illness which had grown into an epidemic spreading around these past few days. To make matters worse, a lot of children had caught the disease and unfortunately, Rosy was one of them. As she noticed Rosy, she saw other children were coughing pretty bad and Rosy didn't look too good. She barked to get her attention and fortunately for her, Rosy must have heard her cause she turned to notice Jenna waiting outside.
"Jenna?", Rosy asked happily.
After pressing her face to the window, Rosy called her name again and headed to the front door of the building. Jenna followed along as well from the outside.
"Hi, girl.", Rosy said as she opened the door.
As Rosy made it down the stairs and into the snow, Jenna felt happy to see her girl just as Rosy was happy to see her. They circled a bit, but Rosy then paused and began to cough hard. Jenna looked at her worried and a small whine escaped her throat as she tried to comfort Rosy by nuzzling her snout against Rosy's elbow. Rosy noticed and petted her to return the gesture, but then Rosy's father showed up with her black coat.
"Rosy! Rosy, come on. You're going to catch your death out here.", he told Rosy as he wrapped her coat around her.
"Okay dad.", Rosy said with a hoarse voice.
"Come on, honey.", he father said lovingly as he led her back to the door, "The doctor's waiting.
They went back inside and Jenna wanted to go as well, but Rosy's father closed the door before she could get inside so she dashed to the same window and placed her forepaws on the sill hoping to see Rosy. What greeted her was the sight of coughing children, but no sign of Rosy among them. Quickly, Jenna got down and headed to the next window only to see more sick children, but still no Rosy. Getting worried, she went to the next window which would show an exam room where she did find Rosy, but her moment of joy dispersed almost instantly as she noticed the doctor observing Rosy. The way the doctor was feeling Rosy's throat told Jenna that Rosy's health wasn't good. Jenna had never seen her owner in such a condition and her face seemed frozen in a concerned expression on top of the cold weather outside. Would Rosy be okay? She didn't know unaware that not far away from her, company was arriving.
/
"You feeling okay?", Cole asked as Balto and him passed more buildings.
"Kind of.", Balto said glancing around nervously.
"Hey, it's like saying hello.", Cole told him, "It's actually pretty simple."
Cole was getting over the heartfelt story he had told Balto and even though he knew it wasn't true in his world, somehow in this one it was. He then recalled what he and Balto had planned and tried putting the bad feeling behind him so he could focus. After a few more buildings, they came to the one lit building that hadn't gone out and went over before a scent caught Cole's nose which he recalled smelling when he talked to Jenna earlier that day.
"There she is.", he said as he noticed Jenna standing on a windowsill close by.
Before Balto approached Jenna, he noticed his reflection in an icy puddle nearby where he noticed a spiky bundle of fur on his head. He tried to flatten it out using his forepaw, but it only sprang back up into position. He rubbed harder, but the result just repeated itself.
"Balto, can I try something?", Cole asked.
Cole dipped his paw into the water feeling he was putting a fur mitten into it and the icy water sent a chilly feeling as he rubbed his paw over Balto's head making the patch of fur flat which stayed flat for a moment or two before springing back into place once more. Cole shrugged, but didn't look disappointed.
"It'll have to do.", he admitted, "Besides, you look great to me."
That was when a sound caught Cole's ears. The sound of coughing which was something he certainly didn't want to hear. He went to a window not near Jenna so as not to get her attention and what he saw inside made him wish he hadn't looked as the memory of the rhyme flashed in his mind.
"A town in need will pay a great toll.", he repeated quietly to himself.
Seeing the sick children coughing and wheezing in hospital beds made him worried sick and wonder if this was the usual amount of patients or not. Still, Balto had a date to catch and hopefully helping Balto will put the disturbing view out of his mind as he got down and gave Balto a nod as if to tell him encourage him as he came over and he approached Jenna after going back to Balto's side when they were behind Jenna.
/
"Jenna?", Balto called to her.
Jenna turned and was a little surprised to see Balto, but she didn't remain silent.
"Balto, hi.", she said softly.
Jenna then noticed Cole who was looking a bit down.
"Togo? What's wrong with you?"
Cole quickly straightened up.
"Um, long story.", he answered thinking fast, "You okay Ms. Jenna? You look worried."
"Why so formal?", Jenna asked temporarily forgetting her woe, "Just call me Jenna."
Cole tried hard not to smile, but nodded as if he understood. Then he changed the subject.
"So, what brings you here, hmm?"
Jenna's expression melted back into worry as she went back to the window and Balto followed alongside Cole who looked in seeing Rosy get examined. The doctor pulled a thermometer out of her mouth as she clutched her throat in pain while still coughing.
"Rosy's in there.", Jenna said as Balto got a view.
"In the hospital why?", he asked.
Cole knew why, but how could he explain it to Balto and Jenna?
"I've seen symptoms like this many times in my life.", he said gaining Balto and Jenna's attention, "Does Rosy have a fever and a bad cough?"
If Jenna didn't look worried before, she certainly did so now.
"I think so. Balto, Togo, what's wrong with her?"
Cole could see Balto was as clueless as Jenna was, but he looked a bit concerned.
"Come on, let's find out."
Cole went around back with Jenna and Balto right behind him to where the hospital's boiler room only to find a door closed off with a lock attached to a chain.
"Dang, locked door.", Cole grumbled.
"No worries.", Balto said going up to the door, "I have the keys to the city."
Cole looked a bit confused, but said nothing as Balto reared up to the top of the door, used his claw to remove each hinge from the door, and pushed the door open. Cole then turned to Jenna.
"Well, ladies first.", he said gesturing with his paw.
/
Before Jenna headed in, she noticed Balto and Cole's huge paws and was a bit surprised by how big and alike they were.
"Balto, Togo.", she said taken a little aback.
Cole felt a bit embarrassed as Balto was by the way he was smiling and chuckling as he entered the room first.
"Big paws kind of run in our families.", Cole clarified as he entered after Balto while not taking his eyes off Jenna.
"At least, uh, one side of our families.", Balto added.
Cole felt the sudden warmth that helped ward off the chill from outside, but he didn't have time to enjoy it cause he then noticed a dark crawl space underneath the hospital floor Balto enter and he went after Jenna feeling a bit scared, but he knew he had to be brave. Underneath the floor looked dreary, but Cole didn't want to be left behind and went in after them.
"It's so gloomy down here.", Jenna spoke quietly, "Not that I'm scared or anything."
She was so distracted by her surroundings that when she turned her head back, she nearly walked into a spider web causing her to pause and gasp in surprise and disgust.
"Gloomy?", Balto asked before flicking the web away with his tail, "You kidding'? It's the most beautiful spot in the world."
Cole raised an eyebrow. What was Balto getting at?
"Dogs travel for years just to be right here.", Balto continued.
He went underneath a hanging tarp and lifted his tail to allow Jenna and Cole through which they did, but Jenna got a bit of fabric caught on her nose.
"Here?", she asked, "I can't see why."
Balto removed the cloth from her nose using his paw before talking.
"That's cause you're looking at the bowl half empty."
Cole then saw a shaft of light coming in through a vent shaft above their heads and Balto walk over to a dirt mound beneath it and push some colorful glass bottles right under the light.
"See this? It's the polar ice caps."
"Balto, those are broken bottles.", Jenna said with a shadow of a doubt, "And they're not half empty, they're all empty."
Balto just looked up to the light source which was a small lamp, smiling with anticipation.
"The sun.", he whispered.
Cole could see Jenna was beginning to think Balto was messing with her.
"Balto."
"And . . . to the north.", Balto said making a final adjustment to the bottles.
/
He stepped out of the way, and much to everyone's amazement, the light shone through the glass of the bottles and created a myriad of rainbow colors that illuminated a radiant glow against the wall.
"The Northern Lights.", Jenna said captivated by the enchanting display as she took a closer look, "Oh, Balto, you're right. It's beautiful."
"Yeah.", Balto whispered, "Beautif-"
He was cut off cause he noticed the light he created had spread out into a larger view. He turned to see Cole holding the tag on his collar at a position where it reflected more light around. It may not have been part of his plan, but Balto was grateful for the extra support. Cole saw Balto and Jenna look each other's way and his heart skipped a beat. Now was Balto's moment as he and Jenna's noses got closer, and closer, almost touching, but then there came footsteps from above and the light went out. Balto and Jenna joined Cole at the vent for a better view.
"Good night Rosy.", the doctor said.
"I'm so cold.", Rosy shivered in a weakened voice.
"Well, I have another blanket for you right here.", the doctor instructed, "You stay warm and get some rest."
Rosy's father followed the doctor into another room while Rosy coughed hard again and away from the vent shaft they were watching from. Luckily, there was another one not far away from them so they went over to that one just as the doctor and Rosy's father entered.
"Doctor, how is she?", Rosy's father asked clearly worried.
"Exhausted from coughing.", the doctor answered, "And her fever's getting worse."
Cole felt dread grip him again as Balto's ears drooped and Jenna gasped while they continued to listen.
"Looks like diphtheria.", the doctor added before reaching into a cabinet labeled "Diphtheria Anti-toxin" that was empty. Sighing in disappointment, he reached for a different spot and pulled out bottle he didn't want.
"She's the eighteenth case this week.", the doctor sighed in despair as he set the bottle on his desk and slumping into his chair, "And I'm out of anti-toxin."
Cole managed to see Jenna hurry off clearly overwhelmed by the dire news and possibly the thought of Rosy dying which only worsened his dread. Balto noticed too and hurried after her with Cole right on his heels.
"Jenna?", he called after her, "Jenna, I'm sorry."
/
They managed to catch up to her in the boiler room where she had paused though Balto was still trying to apologize.
"I-I didn't mean to upset you.", he said regretfully, "I shouldn't have taken you down there."
"No, I'm glad you did.", Jenna said to him showing she was grateful despite her worry.
Cole felt like he should say something, but a loud crash from outside the door made them all turn to see Steele caught under some wooden planks and holding a string of sausage links in his mouth.
"Steele.", Jenna said quietly, surprised by his sudden appearance.
Cole frowned as Steele got to his feet and strutted towards the door.
"Oh great, not this jerk again.", he muttered under his breath, "If he tries making a move on Jenna even once, I will hurt him."
"Well, well.", Steele said snidely as he entered the room, "What's wrong with this picture?"
"Maybe oh I don't know . . . you?", Cole answered harshly.
Steele paused and shot Cole a cold sneer as if to tell him to pipe down before slapping on his smile again and approach Jenna.
"Jenna, join me for dinner.", he said before using the links like a lasso and rope Jenna around her neck before pulling her closer, "You start on one end, I start on the other. Then when we meet in the middle-"
"Didn't your musher ever teach you that kind of behavior is considered rude and offensive in the presence of a lady?", Cole snapped cutting Steele off.
Steele shot Cole an icy sneer, but then Jenna tickled his chin with her tail which made him pause and smile thinking he finally got her attention. While he wasn't looking Jenna gave Balto and Cole a notion which made them turn to the boiler and guess what Jenna had in mind which made them both smile with conniving smirks.
"Gee, Steele, I have to admit your offer is very tempting.", Jenna lied clearly feeding Steele's ego.
"It is?", Steele chuckled approvingly unaware that his behind was led dangerously close to the boiler.
"But these days, I prefer my meat . . .cooked.", Jenna said softly to get the final inch in.
Cole and Balto watched in satisfaction as Steele's tush touched the boiler and started smoking. Steele then sniffed a couple times while his smile turned to one of discomfort and confusion while Balto and Cole watched satisfied. Then Steele let out a howl of pain as he jumped in the air which told Cole it was time to bail.
"And now we have to run.", Cole stated.
Balto, Jenna and Cole bolted out the door with Steele now enraged for the pain and humiliation. As they ran out, Cole slammed the door hard enough into Steele's face hoping it would slow him down and it did for about two seconds as Steele crashed through the door and landed on all three of them.
"Man, you need to lose some weight.", Cole said to Steele snarky, "You're heavy."
"What's all that noise?"
They all turned to see a beam of light appear from around a corner not far off.
"I think it's over there.", another voice called.
Cole recognized it as Rosy's father and knew he and Balto had to get out and fast! They did with Jenna joining leaving Steele who looked most worried of all. Cole looked over his shoulder and saw the light was near Steele when he had a thought.
"Balto, Jenna, when I tell you, I want you to jump.", he instructed.
"What?", Balto and Jenna asked in unification.
"Trust me.", Cole said before looking over his shoulder to see Steele fling the sausages their way, "Now!"
They all jumped just in time for the sausages to slide harmlessly into the snow and get buried while they hit the dirt and kept running not looking back once.
"Whew, that was a close one.", Cole thought to himself.
Steele had seen this and despite his innocent stance and expression, underneath it all, he was seething. He didn't get blamed when the light came onto him, but he prayed Balto would.
