Broken Pieces - Chapter 6

The next morning Marshall gently woke Chase.

"Hum, oh, I'm sorry I overslept again," said Chase, slowly rising and stretching.

"No, I just figured you wanted to try to get back to normal," said Marshall. "This is when you were waking before. I promised you I would wake up and walk with you."

"T-thanks Marshall," said Chase.

"Hey bro, we will get you back to better than normal in no time," laughed Marshall.

"So when did Everest leave?" asked Chase.

"Oh, um," stammered Marshall.

"What?" asked Chase.

"She, uh, didn't," whispered Marshall.

"Wha, oh, OH!" said Chase, realizing what Marshall was saying.

"W-we didn't d-do anything," stuttered Marshall. "We just slept, honest."

"It's ok," laughed Chase, "I wouldn't give you any grief about it. You might catch me soon."

"W-well let's walk shall we," said Marshall.

The two turned and began the patrol of the grounds and circled back past the pup houses. Everest lay on Marshall's pup pad now curled up with Marshall's teddy. The boys stopped and watched her for a moment. She was sucking on one of the teddy's ears.

"I think she might be dreaming of doing that to you," laughed Chase, turning and noticing that Marshall was now redder than his fire truck.

"Chase?" called Ryder over his pup tag. "Can you and Marshall come speak with me before you wake the pups?"

"On our way," said Chase.

"Y-you think he noticed?" asked Marshall.

"I don't know," said Chase. "I guess there's only one way to find out."

Marshall and Chase walked into the Lookout and rode the elevator up to the control room. They both stepped out and found Ryder standing at the panel. Ryder had turned around the moment the doors opened.

"Good morning pups," said Ryder. "How'd you sleep?"

"I slept very well," said Chase.

"Um, I-i slept good," said Marshall. "How did you sleep?"

"I slept good," said Ryder. "Pups, I wanted to speak to you Chase and Marshall, I want you to hear this as well."

"Ok," said both Marshall and Chase.

"Chase, I got a call from Animal Control," said Ryder. "They saw Rex, but they couldn't catch him. They still have the one dog but never saw the other, he may have left town."

"S-so what are you asking?"asked Chase.

"I'm not asking for anything," explained Ryder. "I just wanted you to be aware that at least Rex is still around town somewhere. You are getting better but I don't think you're ready to fight him again. I want all of you pups to watch out for him or any other strays that might be around town. I don't want anyone confronting these dogs alone. I'd really rather none of you confronted them at all."

"Ok," said Chase.

"But Ryder," said Marshall, realizing this wasn't about Everest sleeping over at all, "are we just supposed to hide here at the Lookout. I mean if we have to be stuck here for fear of being attacked, then Rex has won and we're prisoners in our own pup houses."

"You have a point Marshall," agreed Ryder. "No, I don't expect you pups to hide here. I only ask that if you go into town you go in groups of two or more.

"Ok, Ryder," said Chase. "I'll let the pups know that there is still a threat and we are not to leave the Lookout in groups of less than two or more."

"Ok, Chase," said Ryder. "I know you probably want to confront Rex. But I want all of you pups to be safe."

"Really Ryder," said Chase, "I don't want to confront him. I do want to see him come to justice, but I'm not ready to go pick a fight just to prove something."

"That's good to hear," said Ryder. "Now, go wake the pups while I pour your breakfast."

"Yes sir, Ryder, Sir," said Chase. They turned to leave.

"Oh, and Marshall?" said Ryder.

"Yes sir, Ryder?" answered Marshall.

"Yes, I noticed," laughed Ryder. "Please keep it PG, or at least close your door." With that Ryder turned and walked into the kitchen.

Chase turned to look at Marshall, who had returned to his new found shade of red.

Chase snickered at his friend knowing he would be careful of any activities he and Skye decided upon.

"Come Marshall," said Chase. "Let's go wake everyone up."

***

Later that afternoon Ryder, Rubble, and Rocky had just returned from Farmer Al and Farmer Yumi's Garby had got frisky and kicked a hole in a fence. Rocky had repaired the fence with Rubble's assistance. They were backing into their spots when Ryder's pup pad rang.

"Paw Patrol, What's your emergency?" asked Ryder.

"Ryder!" cried Mayor Goodway, "those mean dogs are back in town. They are over at the park and have Julia and Julius trapped on the playscape. Hurry quick!"

"No jobs too big, no pups too small," said Ryder, pressing the call button on his pup pad. "Paw Patrol, to the Lookout!"

"Ryder needs us," called the pups running for the elevator.

The pups ran into the elevator and braced for whichever wipeout Marshall pulled today.

Marshall came around the corner and seeing the others he took a deep breath and walked into the elevator. He sat near the wincing pups, his tail wagging.

Rocky was the first to open his eyes, "wow, Marshall, did something happen?"

"No, I'm trying to not be such a nuisance," said Marshall.

"Marshall, we love you," said Skye, "you are not a nuisance."

"Thanks," said Marshall, "but still, I want to be better."

The elevator rose and the pups jumped to their positions.

"Paw Patrol, ready for action Ryder, sir," said Chase.

"Pups, thanks for rushing," said Ryder, he paused and took a deep breath, "pups we have a real emergency. The dogs are back and now they are at the park scaring kids. They currently have Julia and Julius trapped in the playscape."

The pups all gasped and looked to Chase. Chase was obviously distressed but recovered. "We're ready to go Ryder," said Chase.

"Marshall," said Ryder, "I need you to respond and use your water cannons to chase off the dogs. Zuma, I need you to go and use your buoy launcher to chase them away if Marshall's water doesn't work. Paw Patrol is on a roll!"

"R-ryder sir," said Chase, "I know you are worried about me. I really want to help. I want to prove I'm not afraid of him."

"Chase," said Ryder, "you just got your stitches out. I don't want to risk you getting hurt again so soon."

"Yes sir Ryder, sir," whispered Chase, his ears drooping.

Skye stepped over, "Don't worry Chase. You'll be ready to take them down soon. They are just going to chase them off right now."

'I know," said Chase, "I just want to prove myself."

"There's nothing to prove," said Skye, kissing Chase's cheek.

***

Ryder, Marshall, and Zuma pulled up to see two dogs circling the playscape. Rex was taunting the other dog.

"Lenny," said Rex, "I bet I can make that little girl wet her pants before you can make the boy cry."

"In your dreams," called Lenny, barking and jumping at the edge of the playscape.

"Hey you two dudes," said Zuma, "Back off!"

Rex turned to look at the arriving Paw Patrol. "You pups never learn," laughed Rex, "I'll kick you tails worse than I did your stupid shepherd puppy."

"No today Rex," said Ryder.

"How about I tear your arm off and eat it," Rex said, he jumped toward Ryder.

"Water Cannon!" barked Marshall. As his cannons pops out he sprayed Rex knocking him off his feet. He continued spraying him, holding him to the ground with the stream.

"Lenny!" coughed Rex. "Tear that pup's head off!"

Lenny turned and jumped onto Marshall's truck. He reached for Marshall's head planning to bite down. Suddenly a buoy struck Lenny upside the head knocking him off the truck. He started to stand up. Zuma hit him in the head with two more buoys.

"Stay down dude," yelped Zuma. "I got plenty more where those came from!"

Lenny shook his head and started to stand again.

Zuma hit him with two more; the last one struck him between the eyes, knocking him out.

"I said stay down you mangy dog," barked Zuma.

Ryder ran over and locked paw cuffs on the dog. He called animal control to come get the dog.

Rex rolled away and started to run back toward Marshall. Zuma turned and fired two buoys at Rex.

"I've got plenty for you as well," laughed Zuma.

Rex turned and ran from the area.

"Great job pups," said Ryder. "As soon as animal control gets here and takes Lenny to the pound, we'll head back. At least it's only Rex now. Maybe he'll leave now."

"Ok Julia and Julius," said Marshall, "it's safe. You can come down now."

"Thank you so much Paw Patrol," said Mayor Goodway, as she ran over to her niece and nephew.

Animal control arrived and took Lenny. The pups and Ryder headed back to the Lookout.

Rex watch them drive away and followed at a distance.

"I'll make you pay for taking my hench pups," snarled Rex.