Chapter eighteen: Crisis Averted!

"At least we were able to stop him from getting pneumonia." Katie remarked thankfully. "Or he would've been sick a LOT longer, and it could've been a whole lot worse."

"Yeah! Soo glad we caught it in time!!" Marshall agreed happily. Katie then shifted Chase to the side, toward the edge of the table; so she could access the scruff of his neck.

"Ok, hold still now, Chase." She said gently. "You'll feel just a little pinch, and then it'll be all over." Chase drew in a small breath in preparation, and when the needle went in he tensed; unable to stop a constricted grunt from forcing its way out of him.

"Done." Katie finished, pulling the needle out and setting it down in the table next to him. Chase shook, throwing himself a little off balance and he stepped a paw out to catch himself. Katie quickly placed a hand to his back and encouraged him to lay down, keeping her hand on him as he set his head on his paws.

"He'll be a little woozy for a few minutes, but otherwise he'll be fine." She said, looking to Ryder. "Be sure to run him around a little today, to get the vaccination fully circulated throughout his body. And if he begins to experience any strange symptoms like persist dizziness, light-headedness, nausea or vomiting; just bring him in as quickly as you can."

"You got it. Thanks, Katie." Ryder beamed, placing a hand on Chase's head. After a short while, Chase walked his paws up to a sitting position and shook his head.

"Feeling better, Chase?" Katie asked tenderly.

"Yeah, I think so." He hopped down, feeling a bit unstable for a brief moment; which finally subsided a moment later. "I'm good." He said finally, looking up at them; his eyes brightening up again.

"Good." Ryder beamed. "Ready to go home now?"

"Yeah." Chase nodded.

"Ok then." The boy smiled, as it was all he could do at the moment. "Let's get going pups." He said finally gesturing toward the door. With that the pups filed out the door toward their vehicles; leaving him and Katie in the room alone. The two kids watched them go, before Ryder turned to meet her gaze with a satisfied grin.

"Thanks so much for helping out with Chase while he was sick." Ryder said.

"No problem." The girl smiled, putting a hand up to him graciously. "Always happy to help. I was as worried about him as you were, for a while there." Ryder heaved a heavily-weighted sigh of relief; as though getting rid of any nagging doubts left behind. The strings of concern and worry snapping like twigs and dropping away from him. He finally felt like he could breath again.

"Just.. remember that this wasn't your fault." Katie reminded him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Chase is a tough pup, but you can't protect him, or any of the pups, from everything... You just have to be ready to handle it in the best way you can."

"I know." Ryder nodded lightly. Katie pulled him in for a comforting hug; which succeeded immensely, filling the boy's heart to overflowing of reassurance. When they broke apart again, they smiled at one another and Ryder headed out to join his pups.

XXXX

"Go long!!" Zuma called to Ryder from the other side of the yard.

"Yeah! Throw it far!!" Chase cried, with the Chocolate Lab by his side.

"Ok, here it goes! Huah!" The boy threw the frisbee as hard as he possibly could. And the two pups ran, howling and barking, after it. Chase ended up catching it; but no sooner had he caught it in mid-air, did he get accidentally tackled by Zuma leaping up after the toy as well. The Chocolate Lab and German Shepard landed in a mangled heap, with Chase still holding the frisbee tightly in his mouth. The two giggled as they untangled themselves and Chase brought the frisbee back to Ryder; panting a bit heavily, as he set the toy down and sitting in front of the boy.

"You still feeling ok, Chase?" Ryder asked calmly, kneeling down to his pup for a better look.

"-Yeah." The pup breathed, still catching his breath. "-I think so."

"Maybe you should take a break, Chase." Marshall advised, showing his EMT side once again. "You've been at this for hours. Come have a drink of water." Chase obeyed and willingly took a drink without further objections. Chase took as seat next to the Dalmatian, as Ryder headed off to continuing playing with Zuma. Chase's breaths, by now, had calmed substantially as he watched them play.

"I'm really glad you're feeling better again." Marshall spoke up finally, breaking the silence between them. "We've all kinda missed you on our missions."

"Yeah,.. me too." Chase sighed.

"Really?" Marshall asked, looking over at his friend in surprise.

"Well sure." Chase replied, shrugging. "I mean, I know I wasn't the only one suffering.." Chase trailed off this statement, while looking the Dalmatian in the eyes.

"You mean you-" Chase just nodded. "Woah..." Marshall breathed in amazement. "You sure you don't read minds?" He questioned after a moment, shooting his friend a humorously sarcastic look. The two pups giggled together, as Chase nudged him playfully.

"I have ways." The pup replied amusingly. "I am a police pup and super spy, you know." Marshall rolled his eyes humorously, knowing how much fun Chase had with both those jobs; and how good he was at them. "I know it killed you to see me like that." Chase went on slowly. "I know it probably wasn't easy to watch. And I'm sorry for scaring you guys."

"No, no, no, Chase. Don't you ever apologize!" Marshall cried, scooching over to his best friend to wrap his paw around him. "Getting sick wasn't your fault, or your plan. And it hit you kinda hard. I can't imagine how hard it was to endure. I can only imagine the pain you had to deal with. I mean.. you never cry in front of us! And at some points your were a total train wreck!" Chase cocked his head the side, lowering it a bit; embarrassment showing across his face.

"Yeah." He sighed simply. "But I have to admit I did panic a little when I wasn't getting any better that night."

"When we found you bawling your eyes out, begging for it to stop?" Marshall deadpanned. Chase nudged him again, at the slight grin on the Dalmatian's face.

"Yeah." He said, trying to keep from smiling slightly himself. "I can't imagine having it again. Ugh." Chase shuttered at the thought, shivers running up and down his spine; almost able to feel the pain in his entire body once more, but only for a brief moment.

"Don't worry, Chase." Marshall encouraged, squeezing his friend tightly. "We're gonna try and make sure that that doesn't happen again." Chase leaned his head in, to press it against Marshall's cheek lovingly; feeling nothing but love for his best friend.

"So Chase, What do you think was the worst part of being sick?" Rocky asked, curiously, as he and the other pups wandered over to them.

"I don't know." Chase admitted. "It was all pretty terrible. Feeling cold and hot at the same time, the headaches, the muscle pain, the cough, and upset stomach. All of it."

"Well hopefully that won't happen again." Rubble stated optimistically.

"Let's hope, Rubble." The police pup replied positively.

"And thank goodness you didn't get numonia." Skye said, attempting to repeat the name of the condition he almost got.

"It's pneumonia.." Marshall corrected tenderly. "And yeah." Just the same, Skye came up to jump at him in a hug; as the other pups joined her once more, for another adorable group hug. Ryder smiled, and took out his pup-pad to snap a quick photo of this beautiful moment; one he wanted to remember for years to come.

"And I'm glad you're finally feeling better too, Chase." The boy said, kneeling down to one knee; and gesturing for him to come to him with his arms outstretched. Chase willingly came to him and stood up on his back paws to hug Ryder; resting his chin on the boy's shoulder.

"Thank you for being there for me, Ryder." Chase whispered into his ear.

"Anytime, Chase." The boy relied, as they broke apart again. Chase snuggled under his chin, laying his ears back to do so, as he laid his cheek on Ryder's chest lovingly. The PAW Patrol leader reached his hand around Chase's neck, to scratch the side that was facing the pups; the pup wagging his tail pleasurefully in doing so.

"Well, it's getting late." Ryder said after a while. "We should all go get some sleep." The pups nodded and scattered to head to their pup house's. "Chase, where are you going?" Ryder asked, turning around to see the pup heading for the Lookout. The German Shepard stopped and turned around with a smile.

"I think we should all go sleep on the pup beds in the Lookout to celebrate." The pup said. The other pups looked from one another and smiled, then glanced up at Ryder. The boy also had to think for a moment before adopting a smile of his own.

"Okay." He shrugged simply. "I guess that sounds like fun." The pups howling jubilantly as they all ran for the Lookout; with Ryder laughing all the way as he followed. The sun winked one last time, as it sunk into the horizon the sky turning all shades of vibrant colors while daylight faded. It was as though the whole world was celebrating with them, the victory was won... and they couldn't be happier as they all settled down for sleep... together.

~More Than A Cold~

There's the last chapter! Hope you have enjoyed it and thank you soo much for those that did!! Can't wait to get started on more PP stories(which, in fact, I have;)). This story in particular was extremely fun to write!! And I can't wait to write more!! Thx!!!