Chapter eighteen: The Pinnacle Of Controversy
"But Rubble would have driven by the downed lamp post. He may have gotten hurt, but he wasn't going to dig near it!" Ned commented.
"Chase still could have gotten hurt too! He got close to the lamp or could have been hit by a car!" Melody pointed out.
"Which is why I reported to Skye. Who knows how many fallen lamps there could have been?! The active wires are underground! We would have had to turn them off anyway. Plus, Ryder and Marshall were the closest, so they could have warned everyone or used their sirens," Snowflake replied through the pup tags. "But right now would be the best time to handle the situation!"
"Snowflake's right, we can be mad later." CiCi agreed. "Let's just stop this. Ryder, where's the shut off conduit?"
"Right over here.." the boy said, arriving at a lamp post nearest to them, and opening a hatch on the side he pulled the lever down, closing the hatch back up.
Then looking up, the lamp posts, whether standing or barely standing, flickered; then went out entirely.
"Ok, the power's off, it's safe to dig again." Ryder announced.
"I'm on it." Rubble replied, starting his rig up again.
"Chester is so gonna lose it, when he hears about this.." Skyler mentioned, shaking her head, as she headed back toward the PAW Patroller.
xxxx
Chase was flown down and lowered into Katie's arms.
"I think he's relieved of his duty for today." The cockapoo called down to her. "Rayla's orders are to get a check up and a break."
"Copy that, Skye.." Katie smiled up at the flying pup, as she brought up the harness. "Let's push the signs a little closer so drivers can see them better. The cones can stay where they are to keep the road blocked."
"Okay!" Brian said before he started to push the signs forward.
Katie stood watching the husky with Chase still in her arms. And when he had finished, they crossed the road safely after a car went by and headed into Katie's shop.
XXXX
"Wait, Rocky will have to help fix the wires. Where is he?" Snowflake said to Ryder. The boy simply took out his pup pad and swiped.
"Hey Rocky, we need you," he said.
xxxx
"On my way, Ryder," the mixed breed replied, slowing his vehicle to a stop. "Just getting the last side street cleared. I'll double back and be there in two wags of a pup's tail."
xxxx
Skyler just perked up with two tail wags then looked back as her tail continuing to wag.
"Wow, two wags? That's fast!" She said, making pups around her laugh, which brought a smile to her face.
"Actually, there's two downed posts; not just one. See?" Snowflake said to Ryder as she pointed to the other downed lamp post she had found earlier.
"That's ok.." Ryder said. "Can you use your heat vision to see if the cables are still attached? If they're not we can have Rayla drag the lamp post out of the way so we can clear the snow away for Rocky to fix it."
"Sure," Snowflake said before going over to the back of her vehicle, and used the right green screen to scan near the lamp post. Lines of orange appeared. Upon zooming in the screen, she saw her answer. The husky jumped off her vehicle and went over to check the lamp.
"Ryder, the lamp cables are still warm from when they were on. But one cable is warmer and might be giving off heat to the other cable that disconnected."
"So it's still connected." Ryder concluded, placing a thoughtful hand to his chin.
Then a horn honked and they turned around as Rocky pulled up once again.
"I'm here, Ryder, what'do you need?" The recycling pup asked.
"We need you to fix the lamp posts," the boy replied. "How close are we to getting them uncovered?" Turning to the PUP Pals, they saw that they were hard at work already around the bent lamp post.
"Nearly there.." Skyler reported then looked up. "But this thing kinda freaks me out a little bit. I get the feeling it keeps getting lower and lower to the ground."
"That's because.." Kylie observed, squinting at it.. then her eyes flashed wide.
"It is!" She cried.
"Jump clear!" Rayla called, as the post began to fall, jumping and sliding to get Tiny out of its way as the other pups scattered.
However, they were quite confused when they didn't hear the usually loud cacophony of clattering metal. And looking up, they finally realized the crane clamp that now had a hold of the post at the tip.
"Got it!" The bulldog howled excitedly.
"Nice job, Rubble. Nice save, Rayla." Snowflake exclaimed, thankfully.
"Thanks." Rubble and Rayla answered in unison.
"Is everyone ok?" Ryder asked.
"I am, thanks to Rayla," Tiny smiled, bumping paws with the golden lab. And a variety of confirmations resounded amongst the group.
"Good,.." Ryder sighed. "Don't want any more mishaps today. Great catch, Rubble."
"You know me, Ryder." Rubble smirked, as he pulled the lamp post upright to hold it in its rightful place. "I can dig it."
"Ok Rocky, you're up." Ryder announced, gesturing to the lamp post.
"I'm on it!" The gray pup responded, hopping down and trudging through the snow toward the base of the post.
Then a familiar ring brought Ryder's pup pad back out.
XXXX
"I'm telling you, I'm fine." Chase insisted, as Katie shone a light into each eye.
"Better to be safe rather than sorry," the girl told him. "And anyway you're still on concussion watch so a regular check-in is highly recommended."
Chase just groaned as Katie left briefly to put something away. And when she came back she placed an ice pack on his head, encouraging him to lay down so it wouldn't fall off so easily.
"How's your shoulder been?" She asked, grabbing a pillow and bringing it over.
"Fine,.." Chase replied, as she lifted his forepaws to set the pillow under them, elevating them slightly. Then had him lay his head on them again. "A little stiff and weak,.. but nothing I can't handle."
"Good,.. then I can take a look and see?" Katie figured coming over to place hands on both shoulders.
"Well I don't think you really need to but-ow!" Chase reacted only when she pressed her fingers into the joint and rotated them around.
"Still a little tender spot there, but looks good otherwise." Katie smiled, "You're looking good, Chase. I think you're almost back in shape, I'd say."
"If that were the case, I wouldn't be here." Chase grumbled.
"Oh don't be so hard on yourself, Chase." Katie encouraged him. "They just wanna make sure you're safe and healing well."
"Exactly! Plus I'll keep you company!" Brian said as he lay next to Chase.
"Ugh!" Chase groaned, and turned his head to lay the other way.
"What? At least you have friends to help. Better than lying down by yourself being bored. That's what happened to me when I got hurt. So. Many. Hours. Of. Puzzles!" Brian said before shuddering slightly.
"It makes no difference." Chase groaned, cocking an eye over to him, but keeping his head where it was. "Laying around is boring either way."
"But that's what'll help you get better." Katie reminded him.
"It's still boring.." Chase moaned, closing his eyes, despite not feeling tired enough to sleep.
"Hmmm.." Brian hummed before gently flicking Chase's tail as if it were a slinky. "Boing! Boing! Boing.."
Chase groaned, but held his tongue. However, he did start to make it hard for Brian to continue by moving his tail away from the touch each time.
"Hey, you said you were bored. You can at least be entertaining," Brian commented before looking around. "Katie, got any dog toys?"
"Just cat toys.." Katie shrugged. "They're Cali's"
Then the door opened and Chase hardly responded, until..
"That bad huh?" This voice got Chase to perk up so fast, he grunted when his head pounded a little.
"Billy!" The pup gasped, laying his head sideways on his paws, as the man approached and knelt down to be eye level with him on the counter. "What are you doing here?.."
"Ryder told me you were bored.." Billy replied, cocking his head over to try and match the angle of the German Shepherd's. "He said maybe you could use an alignment."
"No! Not that again!" Chase groaned. "Can we catch up first?"
"Sure.. if that'll make you feel better." The young man replied, straightening up to stand. Then taking Chase up into his arms, he caught the ice pack before it could fall and set it between the pup's paws.
"Don't worry, Katie, I got this one." He addressed the girl.
"Be my guest." Katie replied, resuming some cleanup work around the tub area. "Wanna come help, Brian?"
"Yes," Brian replied as he got up, and walked over to the girl next to the tub.
And as Brian wandered off to join Katie, Billy turned and found a spot on the wall where he could press his back against it and slide down to sit with Chase now positioned against his chest, facing toward him. Once settled, Chase set his head on the man's shoulder and Billy placed the ice pack back onto his head.
"I feel like I did the right thing.." Chase sighed, his gaze downcast and remaining so. "But at the same time like I messed up.."
"Why? Because you saved Rubble?" Billy asked. "And left your post wide open?"
"I left Katie and Brian with instructions on how to handle it.." Chase clarified. "But Rayla's mad at me now."
"I don't think she's really mad.." Billy shrugged. "I think she's just worried-mad.."
Chase took on an odd look and cocked his eyes back toward Billy.
"Isn't that the same thing?" The German Shepherd wondered.
"Not if you consider the feeling beneath the fur." the man replied simply. "If she were really mad there'd be no reason to be mad.. No one's just mad to be mad.. At least.. Not in response to something someone did. Those people are just maniacs."
"So I'm a maniac?" Chase implied, arching an eyebrow toward him.
"Are you?" Billy returned, shrugging slightly so not to displace the snug fit of their cuddle. "And if Rayla was worried about you for your safety.. doesn't that mean there's a valid reason why she's mad?"
"Ok, ok I get it." Chase groaned. "So I'm a different kind of maniac."
"Don't tell your brother that.." Billy deadpanned. "He'll accuse you of being both."
"Maniac is a maniac no matter how you slice it, Billy." Chase countered. "And I'm the worst one.."
"Well I didn't say that.." Billy shrugged again, and Chase could imagine his expression without even making eye contact. "I was just saying you've got another giant to slay.. But at least this time it's a giant we know.. so slay it already.. And leave it cowering in terror."
"You know it's not that simple.." Chase sighed heavily.
"But it could be.." Billy reminded him. "You try to make things so complicated.. Bruised or not, this noggin thinks too much.." and he tapped gently on the pup's head. "Stop overcompensating it and just do it.. That's what we always taught you."
"This is different." Chase asserted, his ears laying back flatter.
"Not really." Billy countered, and they sat there in silence for a moment, just enjoying the quiet company.
XXXX
"All fixed, you can let go now, Rubble." Rocky announced, lifting his welder's helmet up away from his face.
"Now just one more to go.." Rubble remarked, releasing the lamp post and backing off. "Once we completely unbury it.. Come on, pups!"
"Just be careful. But I think the cables should be cool now," Snowflake commented before walking near the second downed lamp post.
"So,.. is it safe?" Skyler emphasized for clarification.
"Yes. The cables aren't as hot or not hot at all," Snowflake responded to Skyler.
"Ok good, I'm calling it safe too. Let's dig, pups!" Skyler called over her shoulder.
"Nooo problem.." Rubble hummed.
"Ooohohoho!" Skyler shuddered as she was elevated on a pile of snow.
"I'm on top of the woooooorrld!" She howled, standing more erect like a victorious mountain hiker on the bucket of snow Rubble had just scooped her up on.
"Look out below!" The border collie leapt off the pile with all four legs sticking out toward the nearby snowbank and left her exact shape in it with her descent.
"Are you okay?" Melody asked as she walked over.
Skyler suddenly popped up in a puff of snow.
"Fantastic.. Or should I say snowtastic." The border collie joked, giggling.
"Ok, ok we get it, Sky." Tiny sighed, rolling his eyes humorously.
"Good. Now let's fix the lamp post," Snowflake said seriously.
But merely seconds after she said this, they heard the clattering of busy tools and looking over from their momentary daze, they saw Rocky hard at work.
"I'll have this lamp shining bright in a flash," the mixed breed announced.
"Great! But it's bent. You'll have to adjust it!" Snowflake stated.
"Or if you flipped it upside down, you could use it like a big metal spoon!" Ned commented before his two sisters just glared at him with confusion.
"Not if it's powered by electricity! Ow!" Melody corrected him.
"I meant without electricity," Ned clarified.
"What would you even use a lamp post spoon for? A big scoop of snow ice cream?! We can't even hold the lamp post with our paws!" Melody exclaimed, baffled that Ned was defending his unusual idea.
"Yeah that kinda sounds impossible." Skyler agreed, tilting her head toward the shrug of one shoulder. "Not sure we'd even be able to eat all that theoretical snow ice cream.. Especially if we need a spoon that big to eat it!"
"Thank you!" Snowflake and Melody exclaimed simultaneously.
"I was just joking," Ned said honestly.
"Though I wonder what the record is for biggest ice cream bowl-"
"Ned! Now isn't the time to think about food or experiments! We have a problem to fix!" Snowflake snapped.
"Take it easy, I know. No need to shout," Ned retorted.
'Then stop going off topic and focus on the situation!.. He's your brother.. no pushing.. calm down.. Remember what Everest said..' Snowflake screamed in her head before having to mentally calm herself down.
"Okay. Anyways, let's get this mess cleaned up!" Snowflake replied, trying to turn back to the task at hand.
"Already done with it.. Thanks for the claw, Rubble." Rocky smirked, leaning his head toward the bulldog in his rig, while his gray tail wagged.
"Hahaha! I get it! And you're welcome, Rocky." The construction pup replied, releasing the crane clamp on the fixed lamp post.
"Okay! So both lamp posts are fixed! Right?" Snowflake announced before turning to Rocky and Rubble for confirmation.
"Yup." The two pups confirmed.
"And all the cars have been unburied and fixed and parked out of the way." Rayla added.
"Now all that's left to do is plow the roads to completely open this back up to traffic." Ryder said.
Then Rocky sent them an anticipating grin, before taking off for his ultimate vehicle. And though he slipped on a patch of ice, he kept his footing and even used the sliding momentum to get him to his vehicle faster. He was able to hop up onto its hood and jump in through the sunroof to start the engine; honking the horn long and loud.
"Everyone clear the way!" Ryder announced as the pups scattered off the road in both directions as Rocky tread forward with the plow positioning itself to divert the snow from the roads and create a safe path through town once again.
"Now to call and let them know to remove the detour barriers." Ryder mentioned, sliding the screen to the intended contacts.
What is up you guys! We are back and holy crow was it a hilarious way to debut Billy; my OC from my own stories!
Some of you may recognize him from my Mission PAW story Pups Save A Missing Pup and the still unfinished sequel(need to work on that one again! :E) Ruff Patches. He's probably one of my favorite OCs for the PAW Patrol and I had SOOOO much fun with his conversation with Chase!
This came SO easily for me and I could NOT pass this up! Let me know if you enjoyed it as much as I did. These are one of those moments that surprises me, the writer. That's right.. Sometimes, believe it or not, I am surprised or impressed by my own work. And this Billy/Chase moment is DEFINITELY one of them.
Also can I just say, Ned has a mind of creativity so vast that an ocean doesn't even BEGIN to describe it. Like, it could not even be confined to an ocean cause it just blasts off to the universe of infinity! Lamp post spoon? What!? XD XD
Idk, maybe that's just me, but his imagination is wild!
Still, we hope you enjoyed this crazy ride and we'll see you next time! Thx!
