(A/N: I do not own Paw Patrol, enjoy!)
Blood and Scars
The wind flowed through Skye's ears as she flew. This was one of the few times she wished that Ryder had built a transformation system into her copter, like he had in the air patroller, so she could jet to where she needed to go. But that would make things harder for her patient.
Skye glanced back at the litter attached to the side of her copter. Tracker was strapped in tight, along with his gear, almost dead to the world around him. One end of his stethoscope was over his sensitive ears, listening for any changes in his patient's condition. The other end was held in his paw, pressed against the patient's chest; against Marshall's chest.
Skye pushed that thought from her mind. She knew if she lingered on the fact that it was Marshall she was MEDEVACing, she would break down crying and probably crash. So she turned her focus back to flying as fast as she could.
Tracker was in a similar, if slightly less emotional, state. The little Chihuahua was totally focused on monitoring his patient. Without any external injuries, and the only external evidence being the large black spot on his chest, all Tracker could do was use his most outstanding skill to try and understand what Marshall's body was doing. Marshall's heart was still pumping, but it was starting to sound like a pump that was running out of fluid to pump. And with every beat, Tracker could hear blood being pumped into Marshall's chest. The excess fluid was making it hard for his lungs to keep breathing and moving air into his blood stream. In response, his heart was trying to pump harder. His body was literally killing him with each beat of his heart.
Tracker didn't want a world without Marshall as his friend and mentor. While Tracker was not as close to Marshall as Chase or Everest, Marshall still had a special place in Tracker's heart. It was Marshall who looked out for him when he joined the team and taught him the basics of being a rescue pup, Marshall who helped him adjust to his sensitive hearing in noisy environments, Marshall who stood up for him the time when some random pups teased him about his ears, Marshall who taught him how to be an EMT, Marshall who taught him Pup-Fu, Marshall who had the greatest impact on his life of any team member other than Carlos. And now, all Tracker could do was listen to Marshall's heart beating him to death as they raced to the hospital, hoping he would stay alive long enough to make it to the operating table.
Everest watched the white and pink helicopter carrying Marshall shrink and disappear from sight. Then she slowly turned back to everyone else. "How is Texas doing?" she softly asked.
"All good" Zuma replied as he finished wrapping her thigh, "the wound is flushed, no sign of infection, and bandaged. I also checked the dislocated side and thewe is no indication of looseness in the joint ow fuwthew iwwitation."
"Good" Everest replied, turning to look into Texas's brown eyes. "You need to take it easy for a few days but then you should be back to normal."
"Thank you" Texas said, she was slightly distracted and unnerved by Marshall's collapse and wondered what was going on.
"Ok team, let's go home" Everest said as she turned to walk back to the snowcat train.
"Every teammate you care about anyway…"
Everest froze where she was. Texas frantically looked around and it appeared that no one else had heard the rapier-like jab. Zuma was the closest pup and he was still scurrying away. Maybe he had heard the Rhodesian Ridgeback thought as she tried to shrink back as far as she could as Everest slowly walked over, her eyes locked on the pup underneath Texas.
Chase was unflinching as he stared back. The two pups were close in size, with Everest being slightly taller but Chase more muscular. Texas wished she was anywhere else right at that moment.
Everest stopped, her nose almost touching Chase's nose. "Do not make the mistake of thinking you are the only pup here who cares for Marshall" Everest whispered, her icy blue eyes staring down Chase. "We are a team, all of us, and I don't know what beef has gotten into you this rescue but you better grill it up and eat it" Everest finished icily.
"Or what?" Chase whisper challenged back.
"There is no other option Chase" Everest whispered, "because I won't let our family be torn apart by anything, especially from within."
Chase flinched at her last statement, finally breaking eye contact with Everest and looking down at his paws. In turn, Everest turned and resumed walking back towards the snowcat train.
Texas let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding as Chase followed the husky.
"I'm sorry you had to witness that" Chase said softly, startling her.
"Oh, uh" Texas tripped over her tongue trying to say something.
"You couldn't avoid it" Chase said with a sad smile of understanding.
"I guess I'm confused" Texas said, "Marshall talked like you guys are all best friends and a family, always working together to save others."
"We are" Chase softly confirmed, "and Marshall is the glue that holds the family together, the heart and the soul. On top of that, he is practically indestructible. Which makes him actually sustaining a life threatening injury hard to process."
"You care a lot about him, don't you" Texas stated.
"He is my brother" Chase said simply, "Ryder, Marshall and I founded the Paw Patrol, we've been together through thick and thin and everything in-between."
"So if you are a family, and everyone loves Marshall, why are you mad at Everest?" Texas asked, "and what did she mean when she said 'Do not make the mistake of thinking you are the only pup here who cares for Marshall'?"
Chase paused before answering, "I'm upset with Everest because Marshall got hurt on a mission she was leading, because of orders she gave."
"Were her orders bad or wrong?" Texas asked.
"No" Chase admitted with a sigh, "and this rescue is Everest's area of expertise. I don't know if I would have done anything different, or better different anyway. As for what she said, let's just say I don't know if I have the same inner courage and strength to risk what she did or endure what she is enduring so stoically."
Texas let it go at that, with both pups contemplating what was said as they entered the snowcat train.
Everest climbed into the driver's seat slowly. While the mission was basically over, her heart was heavy with the burdens she bore. A sniffle escaped her, then another and another.
"Are you ok Everest?"
Everest wiped her eyes and turned to see Rocky pocking his head into the cockpit, looking at her. She didn't know how long he had been there, watching her. "I'm as alright as I can be Rocky" she said slightly shakily.
Rocky's amber eyes gazed back at her. Everest didn't know what he was thinking, there was so much swirling in the depths of his gaze. "You did great Everest" Rocky finally said, "and we are here for you, all of us."
"All of us?" Everest questioned.
"All of us" Rocky affirmed, "Chase is just being dramatic and difficult, but he will chill out when it is all over."
"I never said anything about Chase" Everest replied.
"You didn't have to" Rocky replied with a smile, "I know my brothers well enough to know what he is thinking. And I can't say that he won't be a pain in the tail, because I suspect he has been already, but he'll come around before too long."
"Thanks Rocky, I needed that" Everest whispered.
"My pleasure" Rocky replied with a smile, "did you want some company up here for the drive back?"
Everest thought about it for a moment before answering, "no, thank you though, I think I just want to be alone."
Rocky eyed her for a moment, "Let me know if you change your mind" he said, patting her gently on the shoulder before leaving her alone in the cab.
Everest fired up the snowcat and carefully negotiated her way back onto the trail. Once on the trail, it was practically muscle memory for her to guide them back towards Adventure Bay. Alone in the cockpit, an occasional tear fell down Everest's muzzle as she drove. She dialed the hospital to give them a heads up about their incoming patient as she drove.
"Adventure Bay Hospital, this is Skye, over" Skye hailed the hospital over the radio.
"We read you Skye" the control tower at the hospital responded immediately, "we are ready to receive your patient, you are cleared for immediate landing, over."
"Roger that" Skye replied thankfully. The Cockapoo flew her copter on a descending loop to burn off speed and altitude before alighting on the hospital helipad like a dainty butterfly.
The moment the rotors on Skye's copter stopped spinning, hospital trauma staff swarmed over the patient. Marshall was quickly transferred to a hospital gurney. Tracker was replaced with multiple ER Trauma nurses and left running alongside, filling the team in on everything he had heard in Marshall's chest. He finished just before they took Marshall through the doors of the operating room, leaving Tracker outside, alone. Tracker slowly walked back down the cold and empty hallway to the helipad.
Skye was sitting on the edge of the pad when Tracker emerged, the big double doors swinging shut behind him. Tracker walked up the steps and wrapped his paws around Skye. Skye returned the hug, squeezing Tracker tight.
"It's all in their hands now" Tracker said softly after a moment.
"We did our best" Skye replied, finally releasing him.
They couldn't just leave Skye's copter blocking the helipad so the two of them got ready to lift off. They strapped themselves in, then Skye lifted them into the air before flying towards the lookout.
Skye landed her white and pink copter gingerly off to the side. It was very strange coming back to the lookout because her grey and pink pup house was parked in it's normal spot. The white and pink copter that she was flying was a part of Everest's ultimate rescue snowcat train rig and didn't have anywhere outside to park or the ability to transform on its own. Skye shut down her copter before she and Tracker hopped out.
"So what now?" Tracker asked.
"I don't know" Skye replied, "I've never come back from an ultimate rescue without the others before."
"Then let's go to the hospital and wait for someone to come relieve us just in case there is any news on Marshall" Tracker suggested.
"Good idea" Skye replied, "do you mind driving?"
"Not at all" Tracker replied. The two pups walked over to Tracker's pup house and the Chihuahua jumped up into the cockpit, changing it into his jeep with a bark. Skye jumped up beside him and the two of them headed to the hospital.
At that very moment, Cinder found herself sitting on the train station platform in Adventure Bay all alone. The Dalmatian looked around hoping to see someone she knew.
Gasket was riding past the train station by herself when she saw the confused looking Dalmatian sitting there. Shoot, I can't let Marshall see me riding into town by myself Gasket though to herself so she made a hard turn and drove off the road into the bushes, shutting off her bike as she did so.
Cinder heard the squeal of the tires and turned just in time to see the pup on a motorbike disappear into the bushes. Without a second thought, Cinder took off to the scene of the accident.
Gasket sat as still as she could, barely breathing, hoping she had not been noticed.
Cinder skidded to a stop at the edge of the road. The motorcycle tracks were clear and it appeared that the rider had been in at least somewhat in control during the crash. Cinder slowly followed the tracks, alert for anything.
Gasket flopped over in the bushes near her bike. She could smell Marshall moving towards her which meant she was as good as caught. Her only hope now was to pretend she shad been thrown off but not hurt. Definitely not hurt, otherwise Marshall would insist on giving her a checkup.
Cinder found the bike almost immediately. "Anyone there?" she softly called.
Gasket's ears perked up, that was definitely not Marshall's voice, but a female pup's, which meant she could probably talk her way out of this. Gasket let out a fake groan.
Cinder heard a pup groan, turned and saw a grey Alaskan Malamute lying in the bushes. "Don't worry, help is here" she softly said as she bounded over. Cinder helped the other pups to stand up. "Are you alright? she softly asked.
"I think so" Gasket replied, "it's just a little tumble, I've been through far worse."
"I'm glad to hear you aren't hurt" Cinder softly replied as she helped the grey pup to stand up. "Can I get you water or anything?"
"No, I'll be fine" Gasket replied, "that will teach me to get distracted by a butterfly."
Cinder softly giggled, "it happens to all of us from time to time. Do you need any help getting your bike back on the road?"
"No, I've got it" Gasket replied, "I'm pretty good at off road riding when I'm paying attention."
"That is good to hear" Cinder softly said, "I'll leave you to it then, I've got someplace to be."
Gasket could have let it go at that but her curiosity got the better of her. "Where are you headed?" she asked.
"To the Lookout" Cinder softly replied.
"What a coincidence, I'm headed that way too" Gasket admitted before she could stop herself. Now why did you say that Gasket? she chided herself, you couldn't just let it go, could you?
"What a coincidence" Cinder softly replied.
"Tell you what, why don't I give you a ride over?" Gasket found herself saying. Are you insane? Gasket's mind screamed in her head.
"Oh no, I don't want to be a burden" Cinder softly replied.
"No, no, I insist, it is the least I can do for someone who came to check and make sure I was ok" Gasket found herself saying. What is wrong with me? Gasket's mind yelled.
"Well, thank you then" Cinder said softly. The two pups pushed Gasket's bike back up to the road. Gasket gave Cinder a spare helmet and they hopped on the malamute's bike. Cinder wrapped her paws around Gasket as they drove.
Gasket drove along the edge of town, so as not to be noticed, and the wind rushing over them prevented any real conversation. She stopped at the base of the hill that the lookout sat upon.
"Thank you so much" Cinder said softly as she dismounted and gave the helmet back.
"My pleasure" Gasket replied before starting to ride away
"I didn't catch your name" Cinder softly called out but Gasket did not hear her. "Oh well" Cinder softly said to herself as she walked up the hill
When she reached the top, she found that no one was there. They must not be back yet she thought to herself, I'll just go hang out in Marshall's pup house until they come back.
Cinder walked over to the red pup house and let herself inside. She took a deep breath, inhaling her brother's comforting scent, with hints of Everest's scent mixed in, which made her smile. Cinder laid down on the bed and buried her face in her brother's pillow, letting the scents that made this place feel like home envelop her.
Gasket had stopped in the trees not far away from the lookout. "What they heck are you doing?" she groused to herself, "you had a perfect chance to be unnoticed and instead you did the exact opposite, what has gotten into you?" But Gasket knew the answer deep down inside, even if she would never admit it to any living soul, much less herself. The grey Malamute waited a little longer, then decided it was time to head back to the desert. But before she left, she scratched an itch on her back against the tree, leaving behind a tiny tuft of grey fur. Then the tough biker pup hopped up on her bike and spead away.
Everest was fighting the urge to speed home. Skye and Tracker had reported in about dropping off Marshall and then a little later that he was still in surgery but they did not know how long that would take. Everest needed to be there when he came out of surgery and woke up. But the road couldn't take the physical abuse that her ultimate snowcat train rig would inflict if she put her paw to the metal and there wasn't enough shoulder space off to the side either. She could always just blaze her own trail, but that would be unnecessarily destructive. So she drove at the maximum allowable speed on the road for a non-emergency and tried to be patient.
Cinder heard the rumble of a large vehicle coming up the hill and stretched. She had been lightly dozing, unable to really fall asleep while she waited. Giving herself a shake, the Dalmatian ambled outside.
Everyone was getting off the ultimate snowcat train when Texas saw Marshall approach from what she guesses was his red pup house that looked suspiciously like a fire truck. "Chase" she said softly, pointing at the Dalmatian.
Chase's jaw dropped in surprise and he immediately walked over to his brother. "How did you beat us home?" He asked in surprise.
"You know me" Marshall replied with a smile, "fast as lightning and quiet as a mouse."
"But, but, but" Chase stammered incoherently.
"But you were bleeding into your chest" Texas stammered from on top of Chase, "Skye said you were in surgery not that long ago."
"It's just a flesh wound" Marshall replied with a smile. Then his smile disappeared. "I guess that answers the question of where Marshall is then" a soft female voice said gravely.
Texas was beyond confused at this point and had no idea what was going on.
"Hi Cinder" Everest said, walking past Chase and Texas to lovingly nuzzle the Dalmatian. Both pups let out a tired sigh, almost in sync with each other. "Texas," Everest continued after a few moments, "this is Cinder, Marshall's twin sister. Don't feel bad, almost no pup or person can tell them apart, especially if you don't know that there are two of them."
"Oh" Texas said, finally understanding. Chase smacked his paw against his nose in embarrassment.
"Cinder, this is Texas," Everest said as she turned back to the Dalmatian, "Marshall found and saved her in the crevasse earlier today on his way out."
"Pleased to meet you" Cinder said softly, "and sorry to rude but I believe we have somewhere to be."
"Yes, let's go" Everest said, turning to walk towards Marshall's pup house.
"Let me look at you first" Cinder softly said, placing a paw on Everest's shoulder and making her stop. Everest waited patiently while Cinder looked her over. "Good enough" Cinder said, wiping a smudge off of Everest's face with her paw.
"Chase, take Texas to the sick bay" Everest ordered, "Zuma, check her out. Unless Ryder objects, she should stay here the night under observation and we can see how she is doing in the morning. Ryder, take Alex home to Mr. Porter and then I'm sure you'll join us at the hospital. Rocky, can you park my rig please? Rubble, make sure everyone gets dinner."
All the pups acknowledged their tasking and got to work. Everest jumped into the cockpit of Marshall's pup house and turned it into his ambulance. Cinder then jumped up beside her. Everest's paw pushed down in the gas and the ambulance leaped forward and down the driveway.
As they drove, Everest filled Cinder on everything that had happened, finished with the exit from the crevasse. "So after Marshall was done playing hero" Everest said, eliciting a snicker from Cinder, "I gave him such a look."
Cinder softly laughed, "I bet he stopped immediately."
"He did" Everest confirmed with a smirk, "I made him stand still while I examined him. That was when I found a new spot on his chest and stomach, about the size of a watermelon."
"New spot?" Cinder softly inquired, "Dalmatians don't get new spots."
"He said the same thing" Everest replied, "when I touched it, I could tell he was in pain, and I saw that his gums were bluish, and I got this feeling that something was very wrong just before he collapsed."
"Internal bleeding into his chest" Cinder softly diagnosed, "it's a miracle he made it as long as he did."
Everest nodded, "so Skye MEDEVAC'd him and he is in surgery now."
"And when were you going to tell me?" Cinder softly asked.
"When you got here" Everest softly replied, "I didn't see a reason to make you worry more when all you got do was stay on the train."
"Fair point" Cinder softly acknowledged, "though I did miss you at the station."
"You didn't say which train you were catching" Everest reminded her, "my plan was to be there for every arrival until you showed up."
"Whoops," Cinder softly apologized, "thankfully, a nice malamute gave me a ride to the lookout."
"Oh,?" Everest asked, curious.
"Yeah," Cinder softly replied, "I ran over when she crashed near the station. No harm done and she gave me a ride."
"What was her name?" Everest asked, intrigued.
"She didn't say" Cinder softly replied, "she was grey, wore a leather jacket with no patches, plain helmet."
"Interesting, I wonder who that was" Everest replied. Gasket was the only motorcycle riding malamute that she knew of but that didn't sound like her beyond being grey.
"You mean there is someone in Adventure Bay who you don't know?" Cinder softly asked, flabbergasted.
"I never claimed to know everyone" Everest replied, "Marshall might know though, he is much more the social butterfly than me."
Presently, they arrived at the hospital. Everest parked the ambulance and the two of them headed inside where they were directed to the surgery waiting room. Inside, they found Skye and Tracker.
"Hi Cinder, good to see you!" Skye yipped happily, running up and giving the Dalmatian a hug.
"Hola, how are you Cinder?" Tracker greeted her.
"Tired" Cinder softly replied, "and anxious to unwind with my catastrophe of a brother."
"He should be out soon" Skye gently replied, "we'll stick around until he comes out of surgery, then up give the others the good news and leave you alone."
"Thanks Skye" Cinder softly replied. She loved spending time with Skye and the others, but right now she just wanted her family to herself.
At that moment, a surgeon walked in. His surgical gown was pretty thuroughly covered in blood but he was smiling. "You know Everest, this is not what I meant when I said I didn't want to see you as a patient again."
"Dr. Daniel!" Everest yipped happily, running over to him. He reached down to give her a quick rub behind the ears.
"So how is my best patient doing?" Dr. Daniel asked the Husky.
"I'm great" Everest replied with a smile, but then she became serious. "But the question of the evening is how is Marshall?"
"Do you want the good news or the bad news first?" Dr. Daniel asked.
"Good please" Everest replied as they all sat down on the waiting room couches.
"First off," Dr. Daniel said, "you perfectly nailed the diagnosis. Marshall was bleeding into his chest from a puncture wound on the underside of the left ventricle of his heart. Not a big hole by any means but enough that blood was leaking into his chest cavity with every heartbeat. I should probably be amazed at how long he was active as a paramedic with such a condition but I'm not. I don't think anything could stop Marshall from taking care of his patients."
"That would be correct," Everest replied with a smile.
"Anyway," Dr. Daniel continued, "I sewed the hole closed and drained all the blood out of his chest, which happened to be the cause of that giant spot on his chest, and replaced all the blood lost. He should recover quickly, two weeks of light duty ought to be enough."
"Ok, so what is the bad news?" Everest inquired.
"Good luck getting him to take it easy" Dr. Daniel replied with a smile, "even in his condition, he was a handful. He woke up in the middle of me sewing the hole closed to let me know I had dropped a stich; which I had but that that isn't the point. He really does need to take it easy this next week, no rescues or running or anything that will make his heart pump faster."
"Easy" Everest replied ruth a smile, "I have just the backup I need." Everest put a paw around Cinder, "this is Marshall's twin sister, Cinder, between the two of us, we'll keep him chilled and off missions."
"We know just the buttons on him to press" Cinder softly added with a grin.
"I hope so" Dr. Daniel replied, "because it won't be a good day if he tears his stitches out. But enough of that, let me take you to his recovery room. He will be along in a moment, they are just finishing cleaning him up."
Dr. Daniel led the four pups to Marshall's recovery room. No sooner had they arrived then Marshall was wheeled in. He was still sedated and had an IV fluid drip bag attached. But his fur was sparkling clean and the extra spot on his chest was gone.
"He should be out of it for awhile" Dr. Daniel said as the nurses finished getting Marshall situated, "but I have a feeling that he will wake up much sooner than normal."
"Probably" Everest and Cinder softly said in unison.
At that moment, Ryder came in. "What did I miss?" he asked, clearly out of breath.
"Ah, Ryder" Dr. Daniel said with a smile, "they just brought Marshall out. I'm sure these lovely pups," gesturing to Everest and Cinder, "will make sure he gets the rest he needs. Let's go talk outside." With that, Dr. Daniel led Ryder outside the recovery room.
"We'll go home and tell everyone he is going to be okay and make a full recovery" Tracker said.
"Sounds good" Everest replied, "we'll be here if you need us."
"But don't need us" Cinder softly giggled. With that, Skye and Tracker left as well, leaving Cinder and Everest alone with the still unconscious Marshall.
"Oh Marshall," Everest said softly as she jumped up next to him, "why did you have to be so brave?"
"It is his nature" Cinder softly said as she jumped up on the opposite side of her unconscious brother as Everest, "he literally cannot help himself when it comes to risking his life to save another."
"No he cannot" Everest softly agreed, "and I wouldn't have him any other way."
"Me neither" Cinder softly agreed. Both girls laid down on opposite sides of Marshall. Both of them stuck their heads under his, their own muzzles barely crossing. They were asleep in moments.
Ryder came in when he was done talking with Dr. Daniel and smiled when he saw his pups curled up together. "Sweet dreams Marshall," he softly said, coming over and kissing his fire pup on the top of this head. "Sweet dreams Cinder" he softly repeated as he did the same for the female Dalmatian. "Great job Everest, rest easy" he said to his mountain rescue pup before giving her a kiss as well.
Ryder yawned and sat down on the couch in the recovery room. He texted Jake to let him know what was going on and where Everest was. Then he messaged Katie; it had been a long two days and he could use her company. Then Ryder curled up in the corner of the couch to rest his own tired bones, the steady beeping of the heart rate monitor lulling him to sleep.
During the night at some point, Marshall's eyes fluttered open. He tired to move his limbs but found them very heavy so he let them lie where they were for the moment. Looking around, he recognized that he was in a hospital recovery room, dimly lit so he could sleep. Oh great, I am never going through live this down he thought to himself. He tried to turn his head to look around but found it blocked by somethings. Inhaling, he recognized Everest's and Cinder's scents and surmised that they were the large soft things pinning him down. Lifting his head slightly, he could see Ryder curled up with Katie on the couch, both fast asleep. Marshall smiled, closed his eyes, and promptly fell back asleep.
There were no windows in the recovery room, no way to tell what time it was other than the clock on the wall. But that didn't stop Marshall's body from waking at his normal early morning time. Marshall yawned and tried to stretch, but his limbs were fully pinned down. Which was good in hindsight he realized as he noticed he still had an IV in one foreleg. Everest and Cinder were still snuggled up with him, fast asleep. Marshall felt the gentle undercurrent of his sister's sleeping mind, but also something else lurking deep in the depths. Marshall gently pushed the unwelcome thought away, there would be time to properly deal with it later.
"Wakey wakey lazy bones" Marshall cooed. Two ears flicked in annoyance, much to Marshall's amusement.
"If I were you Marshy, I would lay off the 'wakey wakey lazy bones' since you are supposed to be unconscious still" Everest softly grumbled.
Two pairs of eyes snapped open in unison at the realization of who was talking.
"MARSHALL!" Everest and Cinder cried happily as they assaulted their charge with licks all over his face.
"Easy!" Marshall laughed, "you'll lick the fur off my face!"
"It would serve you right for scaring us like that" Everest replied with a loving smile.
"Yeah, my visit was supposed to be relaxing, not worrisome" Cinder softly chimed in.
"Sorry sis" Marshall apologized, "I'm sure it still can be."
"It will be" Cinder softly affirmed, rubbing her head against Marshall's and Everest's heads in tandem.
"Well, good to see you are awake Marshall" a new voice said.
"Dr. Daniel!" Marshall said happily. Ryder and Katie woke with a start and almost fell off the couch, much to everyone else's amusement.
"How are you feeling this morning?" Dr. Daniel asked as he reviewed the notes from the nurses overnight.
"Great" Marshall replied, "how soon can I get out of here?"
"Feeling that good are you?" Dr. Daniel said with a laugh.
"Ready to do it all over again" Marshall replied, earning him a defeated sigh from Everest.
"Well, I need you to not do that" Dr. Daniel said with a shake of his head, "you had puncture in your left ventricle, every heart beat was pumping some of your blood out of your blood stream and into your chest."
"So a little light surgery" Marshall surmised.
"A little bit more complicated than that," Dr. Daniel replied, "but yes, I sewed up the he hole. Do you remember telling me that I dropped a stich?"
"Nope" Marshall replied with a shake of his head, "did you?"
"Yes" Dr. Daniel admitted with a smile, "quite impressive that you noticed while under anesthesia. You'll be on light duty for a week and we'll then see how you are doing."
"That sounds a little short" Marshall remarked
"Do you think you could handle two weeks without a check up?" Dr. Daniel challenged.
"No" Marshall admitted sheepishly.
"My point exactly" Dr. Daniel laughed, "so we'll see you back in a week to make sure you are healing well and we will go from there."
"Sounds good Doc" Marshall said happily, "so when can I leave?"
"Got somewhere to be?" Dr. Daniel asked quizzically.
"I've got plenty of places where I can rest. I have no desire to be in hospital longer than absolutely necessary" Marshall replied.
"Ok, everything from overnight looks good so we can probably get you out of here fairly soon" Dr. Daniel replied.
"We brought the ambulance if that makes it easier" Everest added.
"It does" Dr. Daniel responded with a knowing smile.
"Oh goody" Everest said with a grin, "now I can repay Marshall for all the fun stretcher rides he gave me…"
"On second though, maybe I should stay here" Marshall said with a nervous laugh.
"Too late, we are taking you home whether you like it or not" Cinder softly retorted.
Dr. Daniel just laughed as he walked out, followed by Ryder, Katie, and a bouncy Everest.
"So, what actually brought you to visit us?" Marshall said, turning to look at Cinder.
"You, silly" Cinder replied softly, "I think you having heart surgery would warrant a visit."
"You can say whatever you want Cin" Marshall replied. But you can't fool me dearest sister Marshall though into Cinder's mind.
Have you been reading my mind again? Cinder thought back.
No more so than normal Marshall mentally replied, just because you are a better listener doesn't mean I'm bad at it. And you spend all your effort on hiding how you feel from others that you have nothing left to try and hid it in you mind.
I don't normally need to hide it in my mind Cinder thought.
You never need to hide it in your mind Marshall corrected her lovingly, pressing his head against Cinder's, because I will always be her for you and love you no matter what.
Even if I kill Everest and chop her up into pup treats? Cinder thought back darkly.
I would hope we can solve whatever issues you two have without something so dark and drastic Marshall thought with a laugh, but yes, I would still love you. Just don't make me eat the treats you make out of her.
The twins shared a mental laugh at the ridiculousness of the question, but Cinder could feel how sincere her twin's thoughts were, and what it would do to him, revealing how much he actually had considered such a possibility. But there was no mistaking how much he loved her as he kissed the top of her head.
Fine, I'm not just here because you are hurt Cinder mentally confessed, I'm here because I need both of you. But let's save that for when I actually have both of you.
Deal Marshall thought triumphantly as he squeezed Cinder tight. Cinder nuzzled into Marshall's chest while Marshall kept holding his twin snug in his paws.
They were eventually interpreted by a crash outside of the recovery room. Both Dalmatians raised their heads in time to see a familiar stretcher crash into a different wall.
"I'm not so sure about this" Marshall said nervously as Everest brought the stretcher from his ambulance into the room.
"Hush" Cinder giggled softly, "you know she is messing with you."
"Do I though?" Marshall replied, to which Cinder giggled even more.
"All set" Everest said cheerily, while wearing a slightly manical grin.
"I'm pretty sure I can walk" Marshall replied.
"No, no, no, we can't have that" Everest tutted with a shake of her head, "you must be chauffeured like the hero pup you are."
Marshall let out a defeated sigh as Dr. Daniel, Ryder, Katie and a nurse walked in. The nurse removed the IV from Marshall's forelimb and taped it up. Then Dr. Daniel reviewed Marshall's discharge instructions with everyone.
"Can I go back to being unconscious?" Marshall plaintively asked Dr. Daniel when he was done.
"Why are you asking me?" Dr. Daniel said with a laugh, "you are the one who decided to wake up. And I seem to recall you wanting to go home?"
"I do" Marshall replied, "I'm just concerned about making it there intact."
"I'm sure you'll be fine" Dr. Daniel replied, giving Everest a wink. "Off you go then." Dr. Daniel and the nurse held the stretcher steady as Marshall slowly crossed over and laid down again.
Everest carefully wheeled Marshall out, with Ryder, Katie and Cinder following.
"You sure she can handle it?" The nurse quietly asked Dr. Daniel.
"I'm sure" he replied with a smirk, "seems like fair payback for when Marshall was pushing her around in the very same stretcher."
The nurse blinked and then laughed as she put it together.
Marshall, with a look of pure chagrin, was loaded into the back of his own ambulance, after which Cinder and Everest hopped up into the cockpit. Katie rode with Ryder on the back of his ATV. As they drove back, Cinder rested her head on Everest's shoulder and closed her eyes. Everest noticed but said nothing.
All the other pups came running outside when they got back to the lookout, even Texas came out.
"What do you think you are doing?" Everest asked Marshall when she opened the back of the ambulance and saw him climbing off of the stretcher.
"I'm taking it easy," Marshall replied, "walking is good for me."
"Fine" Everest huffed, "but I won't leave your side."
"I wouldn't have it any other way" Marshall softly replied, giving her a kiss on the cheek. "As for all of you," Marshall said to the rest of the pups, "I don't need butlers, just friends. And not to be squished" Marshall added when he saw Chase start opening his mouth.
"Fine" Chase replied, "we'll do gentle hugs instead of a dog pile."
All the pups came over and hugged Marshall, happy that he was ok. "Should you be up?" Marshall asked Texas when she came over last.
"Zuma cleared me" she replied, "and I feel great."
"Great news" Marshall said happily.
"And I wanted to thank you for saving me and taking care of me" Texas continued shy, looking around at the ground instead of at Marshall or Everest. "I've never need to be saved before, but I'm happy that you, along with the others, willingly took care of me."
"My pleasure" Marshall said, giving Texas a hug. The Rhodesian Ridgeback's eyes shot open wide and she looked over at Everest, not sure what to expect.
Everest smiled back at her, "whenever you are in trouble, just yelp for help and we'll be there" she softly said before joining the hug.
Texas let out a happy sigh before being released by Marshall and Everest.
"Why don't you stay here for a few days?" Everest offered.
"I don't know" Texas said, she wasn't sure how she felt about that idea.
"Everyone needs to relax once in a while" Rocky said from behind Texas, startling her slightly.
"Just for a few days" Rubble implored.
"Ok, fine, you twisted my paw" Texas replied.
"Fowtunately, I can tweat that" Zuma said, making all of them laugh.
"Let's play tag!" Skye yipped happily.
"Have fun" Marshall said, "we are going to relax for a bit."
"Ok, let us know if you need anything Mi amigo" Tracker added.
While the rest of the pups started running around playing, Marshall slowly led Everest and Cinder to a quiet grove of trees by the cliff side. "Here we are" Marshall said before they settled down, snuggled up against each other.
"So, want to talk about it sis?" Marshall said without further preamble. Everest wondered what she had missed them already talking about.
Cinder softly sighed before beginning to speak. "Skipper made me take the week off" she softly whined.
"Why is that?" Marshall gently asked, "other than the standard 'you work too hard and never take time off'?"
"We have a serial arsonist loose in Heartland" Cinder softly revealed.
"That doesn't sound good" Everest said, slightly stunned.
"It isn't" Cinder softly admitted, "and he or she is getting more bold and destructive in the fires that they are setting. And caused fatalities with their latest fire" Cinder let out a soft cry, causing Marshall and Everest to hold her close.
"Your first fatalities as a Captain" Marshall softly whispered, and Cinder nodded.
"My first major response and people died" Cinder softly sobbed, burying her muzzle in Marshall's chest.
Marshall gently licked his twin comfortingly behind the ears while Everest hugged her as tight as she could. Everest had never known that kind of pain before, to have the lives of others hanging on her conscience. She did know both Marshall and Cinder had responded to fatal incidents before, but this was a whole new level.
Marshall let Cinder cry until her sobs turned to sniffles. "Did you start the fire?" he gently asked.
"What?" Cinder softly replied, confused.
"Did you start the fire?" Marshall gently repeated.
"Of course not" Cinder softly replied.
"Did you put those people in the building?" Marshall asked next.
"No" Cinder softly, but begrudgingly replied.
"So why is this your fault sis?" Marshall then asked. "I know you followed procedure and didn't make any mistakes."
"You're right, I did everything exactly how I should have" Cinder softly acquiesced, "but that wasn't good enough to save them."
"That happens" Marshall lovingly replied, "but that doesn't make it your fault that they died. Do you remember our first fatality?"
"Yes" Cinder softly sniffled.
"Wa there anything that you, or me, or mom or dad could have done?"
"No" Cinder softly replied.
"Absolutely not" Marshall softly confirmed, "and as puppies we accepted that because it made sense. But as we have grown older and more experienced, we are less likely to accept that rational reasoning. And that comes from our own hubris and faith in ourselves. But we can't save everyone, there will be those we cannot save, regardless of our abilities. God is the only one who can do that, period. All we can do is our best…"
"And forget the rest" Cinder softly finished, wiping her eyes with her paw. "But all of that being true doesn't make dealing with the feelings any easier."
"No it doesn't" Marshall softly conceded, "but the day we stop feeling and caring for those we try to save is the day we have lost ourselves."
"True" Cinder softly replied. The three of the continued laying there in contemplative silence for a bit. Beneath the quiet, Cinder was fighting a battle in her own mind with herself and her feelings. Marshall mostly watched, helping her when she needed support. Finally, Cinder let out a soft sigh when she was finally at peace with herself again.
Everest was slightly aware of what was going on. She felt like she could almost feel the turmoil in Cinder and the eventual peace washing over her. Everest wished that she could see and feel Marshall and Cinder the way that they saw and felt each other, for nothing in this world could separate them from each other. Maybe one day she thought to herself wistfully.
But a question burned inside Everest to the point that she finally asked it, "can I ask about that first death?"
"There isn't much to tell" Marshall softly replied, his eyes glazing over in memory.
"We were small puppies still," Cinder softly continued as her eyes glazed over as well, "mom and dad had just started taking us on fire and rescue calls."
"We responded to a multiple vehicle accident on a highway" Marshall softly continued, "but accident is insufficient to describe what we found."
"A big tractor trailer dump truck carrying rocks had flipped over and turned sideways," Cinder softly explained, "and then a following semi had struck it right in the middle."
"And the driver was killed?" Everest softly supposed.
"Actually no" Marshall softly replied, "he suffered some injuries and was airlifted to a hospital. But as we started to clear the wreckage, we found a small car had been crushed between the two trucks. Both fortunately and unfortunately, only one person was in the car."
Everest gasped, horrified at the thought.
"There was nothing anyone could have done" Cinder softly said, "and no one tests that kind of scenario, not live anyway. It is such an unlikely scenario that vehicles are not designed or rated to survive that kind of crash."
"We were less than a year old" Marshall softly remembered.
"Wow" Everest softly breathed.
"Yeah, it was an awakening" Cinder softly confirmed, "but I think we handled that the best. We had each other, we had mom and dad, and they walked us through the process."
"Not that it is ever the same" Marshall softly noted.
"No, they are all unique" Cinder softly agreed, "and they all leave scars."
The three of them were quiet for a few more minutes before Cinder stretched, gently pushing her way out of the snuggle. "I don't know about you two, I'm starving" she softly declared.
"Let's get some food then" Marshall replied.
"Spaghetti and giant meatballs at Mr. Porter's?" Everest suggested.
"Sounds delicious" Cinder softly agreed and the three pups got up and slowly walked back towards the lookout.
"By the way, you need to talk to Chase" Everest said casually.
"Of course I do" Marshall laughed, already suspecting his brother had put his paw in his muzzle.
A/N: Special thanks to PawPatrolAllStars for the time and talent of his character Texas.
A/N: to JB, thanks for your review (replying here as it was a guest review). In the previous chapter, Ryder was with Chase, Tracker and Rubble. They took the wrong split unknowingly and didn't make it back until the very end. At the end, Ryder was putting Alex in the Ultimate snowcat train when Marshall collapsed and continued to let Everest take charge because she could handle it. I hope that answers your question; let me know if it doesn't.