Hospital: an institution providing medical and surgical treatment and nursing care for sick or injured people. Whether they were victims or criminals, doctors are trained to save their lives.

As he stared at Dusty, the man who tried to kill him and his dad, Rocky couldn't help but wonder whether that system was fair.

Was it fair for criminals to get medical treatment? Was it fair for their lives to be saved when they attempt, or succeed, to take someone's life?

The more he thought about it, though, the more he understood.

Criminals, like victims, are human. Everyone had their imperfections. Dusty had lost his child, something no parent should ever have to go through. He was the victim.

He was also the suspect.

As he lay there in critical condition, Rocky sighed, feeling bad for him. "I bet if he could see his daughter one last time," he said aloud, "he wouldn't have done anything."

"You're probably right," a voice said behind him. Rocky turned to see Chase, his arm in a sling. Happy, he gave him a hug and a kiss on the head. "How are ya buddy?"

"I've been better." Chase nodded. Rocky turned back to Dusty. "Is he gonna live?"

Chase sighed. "I don't know. If he does, he'll have to suffer the consequences." This time, Rocky nodded. "Come on, let's go meet the others at the hotel."

~~~

It was very late at night when they finally arrived. Rocky yawned as he sat in a chair. Their room wasn't ready yet, much to everyone's displeasure. "You can sleep until we've got a room, honey," Skye told him. "I'll wake you up." Without a word, Rocky drifted off.

Chase found Marshall and Zuma by the breakfast bar, dipping coffee. Marshall handed him a cup. "How's your arm?"

"I'll live," Chase responded, taking a sip.

"What about Dusty?" Zuma asked. Chase just shrugged. "That bad, huh?"

"He was shot by a sniper. Anyone else would've been dead hours ago."

"Have you and Rocky talked about what happened in there?" Marshall asked. "I don't want either if you hiding the truth or worse, denying what happened."

"There's nothing to talk about," Chase interjected. "Dusty was about to fire, I pushed Rocky out of the way, got grazed and the sniper fired. End of story."

As he said those words, the scene replayed in his mind over and over.

*Flashback*

Chase held Rocky tight, pulling him close. "I love you," he whispered. There was fear in Rocky eyes. Before he could respond, Chase pushed him out of the line of fire just as Dusty shot. "Agh!" Chase yelled, holding his arm. Luckily, it was just a graze wound.

Dusty cocked the gun once more, standing directly over Chase. "Say hello to Diane for me," he said. He raised the gun to Chase's head.

"Dad, no!" Rocky yelled.

A window shattered and Dusty collapsed to the ground, his stomach bleeding. Chase stood up and rushed to Rocky, forgetting about his arm. "It's okay, everything's going to be fine," he told him. He walked him away from Dusty's body, not wanting to expose him to what could potentially be scarring.

Rocky cried quietly into his chest. "You could've- he could've-"

"It's over now," Chase whispered. Officers swarmed in along with EMT's. They escorted them out, climbing into an ambulance.

*End Flashback*

"Chase, what happened in there is traumatic for anyone. It's something you have to talk about," Marshall said.

"Isn't that what we're doing?"

"You're not showing any emotion though," Zuma said. "Any other person would've-"

"Look guys, it's the past. I've put it behind me." He gestures towards Rocky. "Rocky did too. Any other kid wouldn't have been able to fall asleep, let alone stay asleep. Look at him. Completely knocked out."

Marshall sighed. "I just don't want you guys to bottle this up, alright? When the time's right, you should both talk about this, together." Chase just nodded.

Soon enough, their rooms were ready. Chase woke Rocky up and, with Skye, they walked into their room for the night. Rocky laid down on one bed, stripped off his shirt and shoes and almost immediately fell asleep. "You're safe now, buddy," Chase whispered.

He and Skye turned out the lights and climbed into the adjacent bed. Chase held Skye from behind as they both drifted off to sleep.

~~~

A few days later, Rocky was back at school. Chase's arm was out of the sling, but not yet fully healed thanks to his stubbornness. The firehouse was cleaned up, the window replaced as it it had never happened.

But Chase remembered.

Every time he walked by the living room, he could hear the gunshot. He always half-expected to see Dusty standing there, waiting for him. But it was all in his mind. I've been away too long, he thought. What am I going to do?

"Chase?" Marshall asked aloud. He had seen him standing in the middle of the room for a few minutes, staring at the floor. "Chase, snap out of it!"

"Huh? Oh, hey Marshall. I thought you were on a call."

"Was. Just got back." He set his pack down, looking at his dazed friend. "Something on your mind?"

Chase shook his head. "Bah, it's nothing."

"Oh, it's something. You just don't wanna talk about it." Chase didn't say anything. Marshall looked at his watch, then smiled. "Come on, let's take a walk through the woods, like we used to."

"The woods? Haven't been there since we were kids." Chase frowned, knowing exactly what Marshall was trying to do. "But I don't want to talk."

"You don't have to. It's just a walk. Clear your mind a bit." Marshall started towards his room. "Let me get changed, then we can head out, alright?"

"Fine by me," Chase nodded. No talking, just walking.

~~~

True to his word, they hiked together through the woods. The river had flooded a bit since the last rainstorm. The trees were barren and looked lifeless. It was cold, not winter cold, but close. The first snow wouldn't hit for weeks but, even so, nature was already showing signs.

Chase could see his own breath as they walked. He was surprised Marshall hadn't tried to strike up a conversation while they were alone. Maybe he had and he couldn't remember.

The air was so fresh that when they reached the tallest hill, he took a deep breath and sighed with a small smile. "We did it," he whispered.

"Yep," Marshall breathed. "We did." From this point, they could see all of Adventure Bay. From Mr. Porters to City Hall. It was truly breathtaking.

It also made it easier for Chase to think. "Marshall?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm ready." Marshall smiled, knowing his plan had worked. They sat down, for the ground was not too wet. Chase told Marshall of his worries and thoughts. Of his fears and nightmares.

He feared that someday, Rocky's parents would get out, or break out, and find him, try to take him back. He feared that Dusty would try to grin him and kill them both.

As Marshall listened, he smiled more and more. Chase noticed this and angrily snapped at him "Is my misery amusing you?"

"No, calm down. It's just, I realized something while you were talking."

"What?"

"You sound just like any other parent concerned about their kid." Chase's eyes widened and he too smiled. "That's good, because it shows you care a lot about Rocky."

"I do, but what am I going to do? Moving is out of the question. Rocky just got settled, he's making friends and loves it here. I take him away from all that, he goes back to the shy little kid he was when we first met him."

"Chase, I'm going to tell you what I know Ryder told you at some point. 'Do what's best for the team.' Don't just think about Rocky, think about Skye. What does she want? What does she think?"

"I think she loves Rocky as much as I do and would do anything for him."

"Talk to her. And talk to the prison. You're an officer, do what you need to do to make sure those low life's stay there." Chase chuckled. "Do what you need to do. You know we'll all support you. As far as your fears go, you know that's all the past. It's hard to forget, but you're going to have to find a way."

"Rocky did," Chase smiled. "Guess he's tougher than me."

"He got it from you. Don't let him lose it." They both smiled at each other.

Chase's phone began ringing. He pulled it out and looked at the caller ID. "Hey Ryder. What's up?" He could hear something going on in the background but couldn't quite place it.

"Chase, I'm calling about Rocky. He's had a panic attack. He's calm now, Scott's with him." Ryder turned back towards the two boys. Rocky was hyperventilating as Scott sat next to him. The nurse handed him a cup of water, telling him to sip slowly. "Might help if you come down."

"I'm on my way," Chase said. He turned off his phone and sighed. "Rocky had a panic attack."

"Is he okay?" Marshall asked.

"He's calmed down, but I'm going to go pick him up. I bet it had to do with Dusty."

"Chase, just remember one thing: he's been through hell and back, this is just another trigger. He's young, this isn't just going to brush off his shoulder like it does for us."

Chase sighed again as they headed back towards the car. "We're all going to need therapy, I swear," he said.

"Doesn't sound like a bad idea," Marshall said as they continued down.

~~~

"You okay?" Scott asked Rocky, though he couldn't hear him. All he could hear and see was the gunman standing over Chase. "Rocky, can you hear me?"

The nurse, Katie, came in and handed Rocky a cup of water. She smiled sadly and walked into Ryder's office just as he hung up. "He's really shaken up."

"Yeah," Ryder said. "Wouldn't you be? He watched his Dad almost get shot, heard multiple gunshots, not to mention the years of abuse he had." He sighed. "I'm surprised he didn't have a panic attack earlier."

"Is he coming down?"

"Yeah, Chase is coming." He watched how Scott interacted with Rocky, keeping him company and trying to get him to talk. "I'm sending Scott with him."

"Why? There's nothing wrong with him."

"They connect. Maybe he can get Rocky and Chase to both talk."

Katie rolled her eyes. "You and your crazy ideas. I gotta get back to my office. Those two students who fought both have bloody noses. I'll send them down soon enough."

"Great," Ryder said. "Not a day goes by without someone getting hurt here." He shook his head.

~~~

Chase approached Ryder's office. A few students had come up to greet him and he did so gladly. They missed having him around. As he walked in, he saw Rocky and Scott sitting side by side. Rocky had tears streaming down his face while Scott had his arm wrapped around his shoulders. "Rocky," Scott whispered. "Your Dad is here."

Chase walked up and kneeled in front of him. "Hey buddy, how are you feeling?"

After a few seconds of silence, Rocky looked up and said "Please don't hate me..."

"I would never, ever, hate you, Rocky."

"I just - I saw - He came and-" Rocky started shaking again. Chase got up and pulled him close.

"Shh, whatever you saw wasn't real, alright? You're safe now. We're going to go home and relax, okay? Sound good?" Rocky didn't say anything. Chase turned to Ryder. "Is he good to go?"

"Yeah, and, if you wouldn't mind, I'd like to send Scott with you too. They seem to connect and I thought it might help."

"I'll help any way I can," Scott said.

"He's welcome. We'll just call your parents once we get there." Once they had their things, the three of them joined Marshall in his car and drove back to the firehouse.