A/N: So I'd like to go ahead and let my readers know that you all probably won't get an update from this story until December. I've got a little bit going on right now with other hobbies and my job starting mandatory overtime.

I don't own anything here except for OCs

CH21

Lightning lit up the wet grounds of the Lookout, Skye didn't even flinch at the booming thunder that came shortly after. She stared miserably out into the raining darkness through her cracked door, slumped on the floor of her pup house.

She wasn't concerned for her safety when the wind picked up, ignoring Jake's warning to come to the Lobby. She just wanted to be by herself no matter the consequences, confined to her pup house as if it was her own personal prison.

All of the hate, Ryder's absence, and that damn flash drive from yesterday seemingly held her down in a slump like a massive weight on her back. She still couldn't believe it, the fact they were all just experiments. Her head still hadn't fully processed that revelation and she wanted to believe it was a twisted lie and that whole night was just a dream, that would be nice.

She tiredly watched the rain drench the grass beyond her pup house, thinking back to the call she got on her pup tag an hour ago.

"…Hello?"

"You…" The voice of a distressed woman spoke. "You killed my husband."

"I…" Skye's voice fell weak, wondering in horror of how this lady got the call ID of her tag. "I'm sorry, it…"

"Sorry' won't bring him back you little B--!"

Skye hung up on the lady before she could finish uttering that word, she didn't care if it was disrespectful to do so. The tears began to fall uncontrollably down her cheeks before she snatched her tag off and threw it against the wall of her house. She fell down in her bed in a sobbing fit, no one had ever called her that.

Now she was devoid of any joy and hope, the stormy atmosphere added to the gloom.

I… I don't think I can ever go on a rescue or mission ever again. She shut her eyes in a feint attempt to stop the new stream of tears as the thought flooded her with sorrow. I just can't… I can't show my face to these people anymore… I don't know what I'll do.

Taking a pained breath, she slowly pulled herself on all fours. She needed a walk, even in a storm. She crawled under her door and out into the darkness.

Skye shivered, the rain was colder than she expected as it drenched her disheveled fur in seconds. It felt good to her though, as if it washed away some of her grief.

Her paws sank in the ground as she walked, the topsoil now over saturated. She wasn't going anywhere specific and she eventually found herself in the small forest block near the Lookout as she paced aimlessly. A small set of headlights coming down the road caught her attention.

She recognized the sound of the engine as Chase's police cruiser. He's a little late isn't he?

Jake told them that they needed to be in the lobby or in their pup houses by eight tonight and it was almost an hour past. Noticing his pup house was gone the entire day, she wondered what he was actually up to since it didn't take the whole day to drop food off to the Ruff Ruff Pack.

Skye just assumed he had his reasons and creeped deeper into the tree line, the sound of his cruiser transforming into his pup house echoing behind her.

The wet leaves provided somewhat of a cushion for her paws against the sharp sticks and jutting roots of the forest floor, and the rain slowed slightly do to the treetops.

Another flash of lightning lit up the fields and woods of the area, followed by thunder that started out as a low rumble before it gradually grew deafening. Skye wasn't in the most safest of places right now but she didn't care, she didn't seem to care about anything at the moment.

Her eyes moved to the horizon which was barely lit by the sparse light pollution from the plaza's street lights. It provided a surprisingly peaceful view, allowing some of her buried thoughts out.

"…What if I was to just disappear?" She asked herself, almost inaudible.

The thought came to her this morning and stabbed at her heart. She didn't want to do that to her friends and she didn't know where she would go, but she knew she couldn't stay here. Not being able to go out would make her a burden to the PAW Patrol.

Skye?

She thought she heard her name but brushed it off as a tree limb being bent by the wind. She'd be a reliability, Adventure Bay hated her, this was for the best. She couldn't stop the tears at the thought of having to scavenge for trash and leftovers.

"SKYE?"

It was unmistakable now as Chase firmly said her name. She hesitantly turned to meet the gaze of the concerned police pup, the rain dripping down her face concealing her tears. Chase didn't need to see them, the look in her eyes told him how she felt.

"What are you doing out here in the cold rain?" Chase asked as lightly as he could.

"What are YOU doing out here?" She countered weakly.

"I looked in your pup house but you weren't there and I followed your tracks to the woods." Chase answered.

Skye looked away, not sure if she should say what's on her mind. "I… I don't…" She huffed and stopped herself.

"Why don't we go back to your pup house and talk, I've got a surprise waiting for your there anyway." Chase offered with a reassuring nod.

She felt a bit of light inside her as a smile began to creep on her muzzle. "…Okay."

"Mmm." Her eyes almost rolled to the back of her head when she took a bite of the pink icing donut. "Wow this really hit the spot, thanks Chase."

"Don't mention it, I had to bring you back something from the cafe, plus a little something from Farmer Yumi."

Another donut sat in a box in front of her with a pile of strawberries next to it. She was thankful Chase brought these as it did brighten her mood some.

"Feels bad to leave the rest out, I owe them." Chase said as he solemnly looked towards the Lookout.

"I know Rubble wouldn't be too happy if he found out you gave all that good food to the Ruff Ruff Pack while he has to eat dry kibble." Skye joked.

Chase laughed in response, though his amused smirk faded away into a more serious expression.

"So… why were you out in the storm?" He asked.

Skye lowered her head slightly, trying to figure out exactly how to answer. It took her almost a minute but she decided it was best to tell him what was on her mind, even if it would hurt Chase.

"I've had these thoughts…" Skye paused, fighting back tears. "About, I don't know… disappearing."

Chase watched with a saddened expression as his friend began to sniffle when the last word left her muzzle. His longtime friend before him curled up in a whimpering mess, the sound hurt his soul and he struggled to process it. It shed light on the grief she was going through.

Chase's ears lowered. "You… want to run away? Leave the PAW Patrol?" His voice slightly trembling.

Her head simply nodded as her face was buried in her bed covers. Chase couldn't answer, he didn't want her to leave but he couldn't think of a solution.

"I got a call an hour ago…" Skye sobbed. "It was from his wife… the trucker."

Chase listened as his heart sank.

"She… she called me a…" Skye couldn't finish that without breaking down completely.

Anger began to surge through the pup and he began to growl lightly, he took a deep breath and allowed to fade away.

"Skye, I'm sorry." He began sincerely. "But you can't just run away… you can't think like that."

"Then what am I supposed to do than!?" Skye whined loudly in hopeless exasperation. "I can't, I just can't go on mission's anymore now that everyone's against me!"

Chase saw her collapse on her bed again. That was it, he moved over to her in an instant and hopped on her back, embracing her in a dog hug.

"You're wrong, Skye." Chase stated firmly. Her sobbing and trembling began to slow, his hug was doing the trick.

"I talked to Farmer Yumi and Mr. Porter today, they don't hate you."

Her crying dissipated to a whimper, she opened her teary eyes and stared straight ahead at her wall. Hopelessness still filled her gaze.

Chase got off her. "And you still have me, and the PAW Patrol. We'll always be here for you."

"I… I don't know Chase, I just…"

"And as for missions, you can just take an observation roll and be our eyes way up where people can't see you, we've got spy equipment for that." Chase reasoned. "You'll just do that until our current heat dies down."

Skye closed her eyes as she thought about his proposal. It wasn't the worst idea and it definitely sounded better than what her mind came up with earlier, but those stinging words from the phone call still replayed in her head. She eventually made up her mind.

"That… sounds good, if Jake's alright with it."

Chase's tail began to wag and his eyes lit up. "Yeah! I'm sure he'll let us!"

Skye seemed to contract his contagious smile and felt like a weight was lifted off her.

"Thanks, Chase."

"Hey don't mention it Skye, you'll always be one of us." Chase reassured.

Skye felt sleep starting to pull at her, she hadn't had much sleep since she woke up from the accident. She yawned and pushed the rest of her food away and curled up on her bed.

"Thanks again for everything Chase… but I'm a little burnt out." She squeaked before she yawned again.

"I bet, when was the last time you slept?" Chase asked.

"Honestly, since I was out from the crash."

"Whoa really? That's not healthy." Chase said with a new look of concern.

Skye rolled over and looked away from him, pulling the covers over herself. "Kind of hard to when you think everyone hates you… or that you're just an experiment."

Chase stayed silent as he observed her, not having a response to that. He regretted not talking to her last night as he was too caught up in the new developments. Glancing back outside, he prepared to ask her something else.

"Do you mind if I stay here for the night?"

There was a brief pause before she responded.

"In here? With me?" She sounded perplexed and rolled back over to meet his pleading look. Ryder never let them share pup houses and the only time they slept close to each other was a sleepover in the Lookout or at the Jake's cabin.

"The inside of my pup house is drenched, and I don't feel like being interrogated by Jake." He reasoned.

Skye still gazed over at him with a funny look, even though her mind was already made up. She didn't want to sleep alone though Chase's request took her by surprise.

"Sure, for the night."

"Yes!" Chase exclaimed with a closed paw shortly before he went over to the foot of her bed. Before he could hop on, Skye slammed her pillow on the center of her bed. Chase met her stern gaze with a confused look as she narrowed her eyes.

"Stay on your side, I don't want your boy germs on my sleeping spot." She jabbed.

Chase chuckled in response. "Good, it means I don't have to catch any of YOUR girl germs." He jabbed back.

"Oh please," Skye rolled her eyes. "Girls don't spread germs like you guys do." She shot back with a wry grin.

Chase hopped on the bed and rolled his eyes. "Says the one he smells like wet dog."

"You do too!"

The two continued their playful bickering for a few more minutes before they settled down in their spots, saying their good nights. Despite all that has happened around Adventure Bay, the two seemed to drift off pretty quickly after their little talk. Even though Skye felt a hint of disappointment that she might not take on a direct roll in future rescues, she felt for once since the labs that everything was going to be okay.