(A/N: I do not own Paw Patrol, enjoy!)
Back to Heartland
Everyone at the Lookout could hear Augie's happy howls as Skye approached and came outside to see what was going on. Skye delicately set Augie down in the grass before landing her copter.
"That was the most pawsomest thing ever" Augie yipped giddily as he ran over the other pups.
"I can't remember the last time I had a passenger so happy to be flying with me," Skye giggled.
"Your timing is perfect" Ryder said, "because we all need to take a break and have some dinner. Any you've all been such good pups that Katie is bringing steak over."
A happy chorus of howls erupted from all the pups as they saw Mr. Porter drive up in his van and Katie hop out. "Hi Katie, I feel like we haven't seen you in forever!" Everest yipped excitedly, "we have so much to catch up on."
"I'm glad to see all of you too" Katie said with a smile, "and who is this handsome young pup?"
"This is Augie" Cinder softly replied, "he is an arson investigation pup from Heartland. They came to figure out who started the forest fire." Augie puffed out his chest with pride and no one could tell it but he was slightly blushing under his jet black fur.
"I'm so happy to meet you Augie" Katie replied, "I hope you figure out who started the fire."
"We can talk about that later," Ryder cut in.
"Did you really bring steaks, Katie?" Rubble asked hopefully.
"We did," Mr. Porter replied with a smile, "Come help us carry everything inside pups."
"Why don't we eat outside?" Marshall proposed, "it is such a nice evening."
"That is a great idea Marshall" Ryder replied, "Rocky, go get one of the tables please."
"On it Ryder" Rocky barked before running to his pup house, barking it into his truck and then driving to go get the table.
All the rest of the pups ran to get the rest of the things that they would need from the kitchen. Rocky returned with the wooden picnic table and set it down in the grass before parking his truck. The rest of the pups returned with the plates and utensils for the humans.
Ryder, Katie, and Mr. Porter served up the steaks along with all the sides. The pups all waited patiently, tails wagging feverishly, for everyone to be served. "Ok pups, dog in" Ryder said with a smile.
After dinner, the stuffed pups and people were sitting under the stars, taking some time to think and clear their heads while enjoying the view.
"At the risk of ruining the evening by talking about work" Claire opened the door to the conversation, "we still don't know why the arsonist tried to frame Marshall and Mayor Humdinger."
"I may have an idea," Cinder softly said from where she lay on her back next to Marshall and Everest. The three of them were laying with their heads together and their bodies stretched out in different directions like a compass.
"What is it, Cinder?" Claire asked.
"If you think about it, what has changed over the course of our investigation?" Cinder softly asked.
"Well, we started with not much information" Darrell replied, "but then we found one of the activation devices. And with the fire at the hotel, we were able to stop it from becoming uncontrollable before it spread to nearby buildings or claimed more lives."
"And how was the arsonist picking targets?" Cinder softly queried.
"It seemed like targets were selected at random," Augie replied, "we couldn't figure out a pattern."
"So what if this represents a new pattern, one where the arsonist is targeting us?" Cinder softly hypothesized.
"But how does framing Marshall hurt us?" Claire asked.
"Think about how that would affect me" Cinder softly asked, "suppose Marshall was successfully framed for this fire. Then you have a famous fire pup, the first paramedic pup in the world, who also happens to be the brother of the first fire pup captain, arrested for arson. Think about what that would do to the public perception of us; it would destroy both of us. Not only that, it would cause me pain. The end goal would look something like discrediting me and getting me off the case, maybe even out of the department."
"Isn't that a bit far fetched?" Darrell asked, "not saying you are wrong, but how would that stop the investigation?"
"First step" Cinder softly replied, "followed by something similar to get each of us off of the case."
"That still wouldn't stop the investigation," Claire pointed out, "they would just assign new investigators."
"And thus introducing the opportunity for information to be lost" Cinder softly concluded, "turning over a whole investigation team would be chaotic at best, now imagine it happening because each member of the team has been discredited in some way."
"I see your point," Darrell said as he leaned back, "it would buy the arsonist more time to run amok and perfect his techniques so he wouldn't get caught by the new investigators."
"But why you first?" Claire asked, "you are the newest investigator, and not even a permanent one at that."
"Two reasons," Cinder softly replied, "first, in a way I have been responsible for our biggest breakthroughs. Remember how I found the first device and then my presence kept the arsonist from retrieving it at the gas station?"
"Yes, we saw it on the security tapes" Augie replied.
"On top of that, I had command of the response to the hotel fire and I'm the one who figured out how to stop the fire in its tracks by shutting the valve. Additionally, I'm pretty sure that the flashover was triggered and not naturally occurring. It built too quickly from when I started running toward the gas shutoff, was too directional and confined to a relatively small area. And that was backed up by the burn pattern inside the lobby. If it had been natural, it would have gone out in more directions and caused more damage."
"Possibly" Claire said concernedly, "but what is the second reason?"
"I am easier to discredit indirectly," Cinder softly replied. "If the arsonist came after each of us directly, someone would figure out that we were being targeted. But by going after Marshall, the arsonist hurts me by hurting Marshall and also calls me into question without the risk of exposing the true plan."
"That might actually work" Chase chimed in from where he was laying on his back next to Skye. "It doesn't always take much to sow public doubt and guilty by association is an easy idea to plant."
"But who would question Cinder in the first place?" Augie asked.
"After her twin, who is just as impeccable and acclaimed, is arrested for arson, would you ask questions about Cinder?" Chase prodded.
"No, but I see what you mean," Augie replied sadly, "so how do we counter this without tipping our hand?"
"Step one" Cinder softly said, "is to publicly clear Marshall but not reveal that we know our arsonist also framed Mayor Humdinger framing Marshall."
"A press conference for that should be easy" Claire stated.
"Step two is to work out how the arsonist is going to come at us next if this is a new targeting pattern" Cinder finished.
"That will be harder," Augie said, "we do not have much to go on."
Darrell and Claire looked at each other, their eyes conveying the same thought, recognizing the same vulnerability.
"We can work that out later," Cinder softly replied, "let's just enjoy the rest of the evening." Everyone returned to gazing at the stars and their own thoughts.
If you wait too long, you won't get your time alone, Cinder thought to Marshall with a knowing mental laugh.
Thanks for the reminder, and for the time Marshall thought back warmly. He nudged Everest to follow him and the two love-pups snuck away unnoticed, quiet as a mouse.
Now alone, Cinder squirmed her way over to be nearer to Augie. She tapped at him and motioned for him to follow her. Surprised, but curious, the Belgian Shepherd got up and followed the lithe Dalmatian.
"What's up Cinder?" Augie softly asked when he had caught up to her.
"I wanted to take a walk and didn't want to be alone" she softly answered.
"Where are Marshall and Everest?" Augie asked, looking around and not seeing them.
"Don't you want to walk with me?" Cinder softly teased.
"I didn't say that" Augie stammered, suddenly quite aware of the hole he had dug for himself without realizing it.
"I'm just teasing you" Cinder softly giggled, giving him a playful shove. "Isn't this beautiful?" she softly asked as they reached the edge and looked out over Adventure Bay.
"It is," Augie replied. But not the most beautiful sight he thought to himself. Lacking the courage to repeat that thought out loud, he instead asked "do you miss being here?"
"For never actually living here, Adventure Bay feels like home more than anywhere else" Cinder softly replied, "but it isn't just the place; being here with Marshy and Eve makes it feel like home."
"You are quite close with them," Augie softly noted.
"Marshall and I are so close that we can cast one shadow anytime we want" Cinder softly laughed, "and Everest is just perfect, for him and for me."
"I wish I had something like that," Augie said wistfully.
"Aren't you close with Jan and June?" Cinder softly asked.
"To an extent" Augie replied, "we all live together and yeah we are close, but I'm still the oldest and have to look out for them."
"Being a good brother" Cinder softly noted with a warm smile.
"Trying to be," Augie replied, "but sometimes it feels like they don't want that."
"Sometimes they probably just want your love and attention, and not your protectiveness" Cinder softly ventured. "Girls don't always need a problem solved for them, sometimes they just want an ear rant to or shoulder to cry on, not big bad brother swooping in to save the day."
"I never thought of it that way," Augie admitted.
"That is because you are a big brother" Cinder softly teased, "Marshall and I went through a phase like that when we were pups. It definitely was not our best time of sharing thoughts."
"I still can't fathom what that is like," Augie admitted.
"It has upsides and downsides," Cinder softly admitted. "No one can ever come between us because of it, and we are never fully cut off from each other. Even when we had been apart for a long period of time, I still could feel when Marshall was hurting and vice versa. I just had no idea why or that it was even Marshall. And we have no secrets from each other, even if we wanted to try and keep them.
"But the greatest upside is that we can fathom how deep our unconditional love for each other is, and that love can never be questioned. And I know that Marshall will always have my back. I think that is what I'm going to miss the most when I come back to Heartland is that ever-present support and backup."
"I've got your back" Augie replied before realizing that this might be one of those moments Cinder alluded to earlier.
Cinder turned and softly smiled at him, "I know Augie, and I appreciate that, but it isn't the same. But we will see what the future holds. Hopefully, it won't come to anything too drastic in catching this arsonist."
"He doesn't stand a chance against us," Augie said firmly and full of conviction. In the back of his mind, he wondered if Cinder meant anything when she said 'we will see what the future holds'. "When are you coming back?"
"I'm coming back with you guys" Cinder softly replied, "I have a job to do."
"We have a job to do," Augie softly corrected.
Cinder flashed him a bright smile before a yawn escaped her muzzle. Tentatively, she probed at Marshall's mind and felt only a warm contented glow. "I should be getting to bed," she softly said. "Thank you for the walk and chat" Cinder softly continued as she turned towards Marshall's pup house.
"You are welcome," Augie replied earnestly, "sweet dreams, see you in the morning."
"Sweet dreams Augie" Cinder softly cooed before she disappeared into the red and white pup house.
Augie watched the door for a moment, lost in his thoughts before he turned to head back inside.
Cinder paused just inside the door to let her eyes adjust. A smile spread across her muzzle as she took in the sight before her. Marshall and Everest were laying on their sides, facing each other. Everest had all four paws wrapped around Marshall's middle in a hug, her head buried in his chest. Marshall's head was resting on top of Everest's and his paws wrapped around her protectively.
"You have much to protect dear brother" Cinder softly whispered as tenderly gave each of them a loving lick on the cheek before laying down next to Marshall, her back pressed against his.
Just say the word and I'll come back with you Marshall sleepily thought.
That won't be necessary Cinder replied in her mind soothingly.
Marshall sent Cinder a mental picture of a certain pup encased in shiny armor with a sword in his jaws in reply, to which she did not dignify with a response.
I love you Cin Marshall playfully added.
Sometimes I wonder Cinder thought back teasingly. Sweet dreams Marshy.
Sweet dreams dear sister.
Outside, all the pups and people and pups filtered to their rest except two. "What is bothering you Chase?" Skye softly whispered.
"Just lost in thought," Chase whispered back.
"So nothing is wrong at all?" Skye gently pressed.
"Well, I didn't say that," Chase replied with a sigh. Content with that admission for the moment, Skye laid quietly while she waited for Chase to open up. After a few more minutes, Chase rolled to his side to look at Skye and she did the same.
"Skye, I'm sorry" Chase softly said, "I'm sorry that I almost ran you over with my cruiser. I'm sorry that I was an arrogant grouchy pill during the glacier rescue, I'm sorry that I've been so distant and distracted since both of those rescues."
"I forgive you Chase" Skye softly replied, giving him a light kiss on the nose. "But do you forgive yourself?"
"I…I think so" Chase softly replied before a sigh escaped him. "I don't know why I felt the way that I did though."
"Because you care Chase" Skye replied without hesitation, "you care about your job and doing it well. You care about keeping Adventure Bay safe. You care about settling the best example for the rest of us. And you care about us." Skye paused to gaze into the vulnerable brown eyes looking back at her. "Just remember that we love you for who you are, the pup inside, not just the fearless police pup outside."
"But I'm not a fearless police pup" Chase replied, "I…"
Skye silenced his reply by putting a paw over his muzzle. "We know that Chase, we all have our fears. But we are here for you to help you overcome those fears. And you can always confide in me" Skye snuggled her way into Chase's paws and rested her head against his chest. "I'm here for you, ready to protect you, always" she softly breathed.
Chase was about to protest but then a stray thought crossed his mind. What if Skye wasn't talking about physical protection, but protecting him from his own mind, from the traitorous thoughts and feelings that he always fought to suppress? Suddenly, Chase felt a peace that he had not felt in a long time as that realization made its way through his brain. He squeezed Skye tighter to him, suddenly acutely aware of how much more he'd had to be thankful for.
"Chase" Skye whispered softly after several long minutes of holding each other, "take me to bed or lose me forever" she lightly teased.
Chase smiled as scooped Skye up on his back as he stood and carried her into his pup house to cuddle the night away.
The next morning, a shadow was scanning the news for any updates on how his plan had progressed. He had ascertained that an arson team had been dispatched from Heartland and was investigating Adventure Bay's overrated fire pup for the forest fire. The shadow smiled, he was quite proud of this plan and was slightly annoyed that he could not have stayed and watched it play out in person. But he needed to move forward with his other plans and was relegated to depending on the news stations for updates.
"And now we go to Adventure Bay where there is a press conference in front of City Hall regarding the forest fire that started two days ago. Rumors have been circulating that Marshall, the fire pup of the Paw Patrol, was actually responsible for starting the fire. An arson investigation was immediately opened by the county fire marshal into these disturbing allegations."
The shadow's smile broadened, this was exactly what he had been waiting for. He watched as that fop of a politician, Mayor Goodway, introduced the lead investigator. The shadow hissed when he saw who it was. This could be very good or very bad depending on her next words.
"Good morning Citizens of Adventure Bay, while our investigation into the forest fire that started near Adventure Mountain is not complete, there have been some rumors floating around that we need to address" Claire stated.
The shadow wrung his hands together expectantly, this was the moment of truth.
"The biggest rumor is of course that Marshall of the Paw Patrol started the fire. Regardless of how you feel about the rumor, it was our duty to investigate it thoroughly in order to ensure the safety of Adventure Bay."
The shadow was on the edge of his chair, anxiously awaiting her next words.
"We have combed through every piece of evidence and painstakingly put the puzzle together, culminating in an unprecedented test to validate our results. I stand before you today, to let you know that Marshall did not start the fire."
As audible cheers erupted from the crowd on screen, the shadow flung a half-full can across the room. The can smashed into a wall, spilling its remaining contents on the ground. But the shadow was distracted by the turn the press conference was taking as Claire was now taking questions.
"Do you have a new suspect in the case?" one reporter asked.
"In order to protect the investigation, I'm going to answer that question somewhat obliquely. We are chasing down every single lead that the evidence is giving us in order to ascertain the true culprit. But a common thread is emerging."
"But if you don't have a new suspect, how can you be sure this isn't just a clever cover up?" Another reporter asked. The shadow hissed in triumph, he couldn't have hoped for a better question.
"Again, without going into any details that could compromise the investigation, that test I mentioned earlier proved that the evidence against Marshall was not how it appeared on the surface."
"Are you saying someone tried to frame Marshall?" a third reporter asked.
"Yes, that is exactly what I am saying" Claire replied. "But we will find the party actually responsible."
The press conference continued but the shadow was no longer listening. His plan to indirectly destroy that pesky Dalmatian Fire Captain Cinder had failed to achieve the desired results and now it was time for some direct action. As the shadow reviewed his plans for upcoming events, a new plan entered his head and a sinister smile spread across his lips.
"I wish we had more time to spend here" Augie said wistfully to Chase as Claire and Darrell finished loading the SUV.
"You can come visit anytime you want Augie" Chase replied with a wag of his tail. "Then I'll actually have time to teach you how to drive our vehicles."
"I can't wait for that," Augie replied happily.
"Time to go" Claire called as she hopped into the front passenger seat of the SUV, "now where is Cinder?" A faint song floated over the breeze.
"Are you sure you will be ok?" Everest anxiously asked the female Dalmatian.
"I'll be fine," Cinder softly reassured her, "and I promise to be careful."
"Yeah, I know what that actually means" Everest grumped with a meaningful look at Marshall.
"What?" Marshall asked in surprise, "I've always kept my promise to be careful."
"Yeah, but there is a qualifier to that careful" Everest replied with a knowing shake of her head. "I'm not saying you don't mean it," Everest continued lovingly, "but please come home to us safely." Everest wrapped her paws around the female Dalmatian and proceeded to hug the stuffing out of her. Cinder didn't complain, the love flowing from Everest was too pure to fight. Everest eventually released Cinder and stepped to the side, leaving Marshall and Cinder facing each other.
"I suppose you are going to tell me to be safe and come home too?" Cinder softly teased.
"Everest already said what needed to be said" Marshall softly replied, making Cinder cock her head to the side in slight confusion.
"If you hear a voice in the middle of the night, saying it'll be alright, it will be me…" Marshall softly sang.
Cinder leaped forward, startling Everest, and buried her head in Marshall's neck, her paws snaking around the back side of his neck and squeezing herself as tight as she could to her twin.
"If you feel a paw guiding you along when the path seems wrong, it will be me…"
Cinder started softly sobbing, every pent up emotion she was feeling released as tears.
"There is no mountain that I can't climb, for you I'd swim through the rivers of time. As you go your way and I go mine, a light will shine, and it will be me…"
"No more Marshy" Cinder softly whispered, "I don't think I can take it…"
Marshall nodded and just hummed the melody, squeezing his twin just as tight as she was squeezing him. Everest joined in the hug from behind Cinder, crushing Cinder between them. But Cinder didn't care and squeezed even tighter as Marshall began singing again.
"There is no mountain that I can't climb, for you I'd swim through the rivers of time. As you go your way and I go mine, a light will shine, and it will be me…it will be me…it will be me."
Cinder gave Marshall one final squeeze before releasing him. Marshall's paws slid up to Cinder's face and delicately wiped the tears from her eyes.
"I promise I'll come back to you, to both of you" Cinder softly whispered, her eyes still bright and moist.
"I know you will," Marshall softly replied, leaning down and kissing Cinder on the forehead between her eyes. Without another word, Cinder slipped from Marshall's paws and walked out of the pup house. Everest shot Marshall a questioning look.
"Out of all the times we've sung to and with each other, the only time we've sung that song was when I left to become the fire pup of the Paw Patrol and we didn't know if we would ever see each other again" Marshall softly spoke to Everest, a tear in his own eye. "A reminder that even when we step out into the unknown, we are always with each other, always and forever."
Everest's eyes widened in understanding as she enfolded Marshall in a hug of her own. "She'll come home to us, she promised." Everest softly reminded him. Marshall nodded and the two of them released each other and followed Cinder outside.
Cinder was just finishing saying goodbye to everyone as Marshall and Everest joined the group. Cinder gave them one last hug before jumping up in the back of the SUV with Augie.
"Are you ok?" Augie asked, seeing the brightness in Cinder's eyes.
"That depends on your definition" Cinder softly replied, wiping her eyes with her paw one last time. "I don't want to leave, but at the same time I have to leave."
Augie didn't quite understand that feeling, so he stayed quiet as Cinder turned to look out the window as Marshall, Everest and Adventure Bay shrinking behind them.
A/N Song Credits: verse one and chorus adapted from "It Will Be Me" by Melissa Etheridge
A/N: Soecial thanks to 18 For the idea for this chapter.