I know you guys don't want this story to end, but here I am with the ending. But...
WARNING: Before you read this chapter, I must warn you that you are most likely going to experience a lot of emotions and cry. If you want an ending that doesn't make you cry, then stick with chapter 14's ending, which is why I wrote it the way I did. I've gone back and forth about posting this, but it's my original ending, and I'm going to stick with it. I hope you understand.
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This is your chance to walk away, to not cry, and to not hate me as a writer.
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This is your last chance to walk away.
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If you're still reading this, then you can't say I didn't warn you lol. This is your final, last chance to walk away and have chapter 14 remain as the ending to this story.
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Still here? Okay. You've been warned. Here we go:
The days turned into weeks, the weeks into months, and the months into years. We laughed, we played, we loved, and through it all, I knew that I had helped create this for Steve. Catherine's hoodie was kept in a safe place. I think it was a reminder to them and to me that this was how it helped them get back together. I think they also hid it so I wouldn't chew on it. I wish they'd know that I would never do that. I knew how important it was to both of them.
Ethan got older, but I was still his number one dog, and he was still my best boy. He was 10 now. Fetch was more interesting because he'd hit the ball with a stick first, and it went farther than when he threw it. I loved it.
"Eddie!" Steve yelled loudly. I looked at him, startled. How long had he been shouting at me?
"He's losing his hearing," Catherine said, looking at me. No, I wasn't. Was I?
Steve was looking at me, and I could tell he was afraid. I didn't want him to be afraid. I knew that one day I wouldn't be here with him anymore, and I knew he knew it too. I was closing in on about 13 or 14 years old after all. We still had time, though. I loved my family, and I would protect them as long as I was able to.
...
Walking got a little bit slower. My reaction time wasn't as quick anymore either. Getting up from the floor took more effort than usual, and sometimes I could take or leave food. I knew something was coming, but I always knew it would.
"What's wrong, Eddie?" Steve asked me one morning. I thumped my tail and smiled. I could still do that well enough. He bent to give me some loving, and I made my appreciative noise.
"You'll tell me when it's time, right?" he asked me. We looked at each other in the eyes. He could tell I was feeling tired. I did my best to hide it, though.
"Promise me you'll tell me when it's time," he said.
I promise, but we're not there yet.
...
We had one of those best days again. It was one of my favorites because we were all together and having the best time. Ethan and I ran into the waves while Steve and Catherine watched. I couldn't really run anymore (it was more of a trot), but I still enjoyed doing it.
"Come on, boy!" Ethan shouted. He waved a big stick in his hand, and I swam after him. I loved a good stick still. He giggled and laughed as I pulled him around on the end of the stick. Then Catherine came out with her board and got me on it. They all laughed at me as I panicked and jumped off when the wave tried to carry me away with the board. I knew it was called surfing, but it wasn't my thing. Catherine was good at it, though. She was teaching Ethan, who was really good at it. Steve and I watched from the beach as she got him surfing the smaller waves. He had a hand on my head, and I groaned appreciatively at his rubs.
"This is all you, Eddie," Steve said. "You helped me be brave enough for Catherine, whether you realized it or not. I'm so glad you found her hoodie that day. I'm glad you showed me that I could be brave."
I knew you had it in you, Steve.
"You still doing okay?" he asked. I twisted my head to look at him, and he was watching me carefully. I gave a wink, and he smiled and chuckled.
I'm doing okay for now, Steve.
He didn't say anything else, but I could still smell the fear on him. He could tell I wasn't myself today. I hadn't been quite myself for a bit now, which I knew he was figuring out. I didn't want to think about it, though. Today was a best day, and I wanted to keep it that way. I only had so many best days left, you know.
...
A while later, I heard Catherine and Steve talking one night after they'd seen my puddle. I felt so bad about that. I had never done that before. Steve had assured me it was okay, that he wasn't mad. I believed him, but I still felt bad.
I sat outside their den door, listening.
"He is crowding 14 years old, Catherine," Steve was saying. "He's done well for his age."
"I don't want to lose him," Catherine cried. I held back from rushing in to snuggle her. I knew to give it a minute.
"Cath, I don't want to either, but it's becoming a reality," Steve said, his voice wobbly.
"He's a huge part of our family..."
"And he always will be whether he's here or not," Steve finished for her. "The ones we love never truly leave us. You know that."
"I know," she replied. It was quiet for a bit, so I decided that was my cue to enter. I went up to snuggle between them, and they both held onto me tightly, giving me rubs and kisses. I liked their salty tasting faces. It was glorious. After they fell asleep, I went down to Ethan's room. I slept with him most of the time anyway. He made room for me in his sleep when I hopped on. I fell asleep with his arm around me.
...
Steve took me for a drive one day, just him and I. It was exciting. He let me sit in the front seat even though I sit there half the time anyway. Only Catherine gets to put me in the back. I always make Lou and Danno sit back there, and they complain about it, but I know they secretly love it. Steve had the window down, and I stuck my head out to get the wind in my ears. All the smells were glorious. He was laughing as I started wagging my tail, and it was hitting him in the face.
"You like that, don't you?" he asked me, scratching my butt. He was the only one that knew I also appreciated butt rubs just as much as head rubs.
I barked in return.
"I like it too," he said. I turned to look at him, and he was looking at me with that smile. I smiled back. I wished I could tell him that even when I'm gone one day, he'll be all right. I think he knew it, though. My boy was very smart.
...
Things got a little more difficult for me as the time went on. I couldn't really run or trot well anymore, and sometimes I was not interested in Fetch. After enough times of me ignoring food, Steve took me to the awful vet, and they told us that I was old and full of something they called cancer. They told us that I wouldn't have much time left.
"So, I just make him comfortable?" Steve asked the vet. I was giving the vet the Stink Eye. He never had good news for me. Never.
"Yes. When it's time, bring him back here unless he passes on his own," the vet answered.
"Okay," Steve nodded. He kept hugging himself and looking at me. I looked up at him from the stupid table they put me on, and I tried to convey that I was sorry for making him feel this pain. I never wanted to make him feel pain.
"Come on, buddy," he said, picking me up and carrying me out to the truck. I loved being carried, but I didn't love why I was being carried. I felt bad that I couldn't look after myself.
Steve leaked from his eyes a lot as he drove us home. I walked beside him once he helped me down from the truck, and we went slow. He talked to Catherine, who also began to leak from her eyes. She got down with me and held onto me tightly.
"I'm so sorry, Eddie," she said to me. "I'm so sorry you're sick."
It's not so bad with you guys caring for me, I wanted to tell her. The only person they didn't tell right away was Ethan. I think Steve wanted to protect him from something sad, but I knew he wouldn't be able to keep it from him forever.
...
One night, we were all lying in the grass outside looking at the sky. I could hear Steve telling Ethan about the stars, and Catherine was lovingly petting me all over while she listened. We had just had a visit with Danno, who had spent a little extra time giving me a treat and pats. I knew he knew. I could smell the sadness on him. I had watched "golf" today, and Lou commented on how I finally stopped chasing his white ball. Then he noticed I didn't really move, so he came to love me up and tell me what a good dog I was. Steve told him I was having some trouble, and Lou got down and gave me one of his white balls to entertain myself with.
"You don't have to chase it to enjoy it," he had told me. "Even though I know half the fun is in the chase." Bless him. He had certainly come a long way since we first met.
"Dad," Ethan said suddenly, bringing me back to the moment. "Is Eddie sick?"
I felt Catherine tense, and I could smell anxiety on Steve.
"He is, buddy," Steve agreed.
"But he's going to be here forever, right?"
"Ah, Ethan," Steve sighed. "Dogs don't age the way we do. They get older faster."
"So he's going to leave us?"
"One day, yes."
Ethan crawled over to me then and hugged me tightly. I licked his face in return.
"Don't go," he told me. I wished I could promise that, but I knew I couldn't.
"Ethan," Steve said, taking him into his arms then. "Eddie will always be with us even if he isn't here with us. You remember I said that about Nana?"
"Yes."
"So he'll be with Nana and Grandpa and Joe," Steve explained. "He will be waiting for us to be with him again, just like they are."
"Oh," Ethan said. "I understand, but I still don't want him to go."
"I don't either, buddy. I don't either," Steve agreed, sounding teary.
Catherine held onto me then, and I rested my head on her leg. I didn't like to cause such sadness, but I knew they had to talk about it. Talking about it would make them feel better. Keeping it inside would make things worse.
I felt Steve's foot rubbing me then, and I groaned and stuck my tongue out right before I blew loud wind from my rear, making them all laugh and have a happy moment again. As long as I was able to, I'd make them happy.
...
Over the next few weeks, Steve dedicated all of his time caring for me. We went for slower walks. He helped me eat. He let me win at Tug of War. Ethan played with me still but more gently. Catherine took me to the beach with her too, and I watched her surf. Then she'd just sit with me watching the water, and I'd lean into her, and she'd put her arm around me and tell me how much she loved me. I loved my ohana. They took care of me just like I took care of them.
When it got to the point I could barely get up, Steve made the call to everyone, and they all came one day to see me. CharlieBoy came with Danno, and even Grace came to give me kisses. Lou, Adam, Jerry, Tani, Junior, and Sophia came and spent the afternoon telling stories about us. Kamekona and Flippa came with treats. Noelani came too, and we had one last day together even though it was shared with everyone. If it wasn't so sad for all of them, it would have been a great time for me. I was getting a lot of attention. It was amazing. They told me how much they loved me and how I'd never be forgotten. They were all leaking at one point, but I knew they'd be okay. They had each other.
"When?" Danno asked Steve when everyone else had gone.
"There's no exact day or time. The vet just said soon," Steve answered. "And from the looks of things, it could be any day now." He was on the floor next to me, petting me all over. I loved it.
Danno didn't say anything else, but he did start to leak from his eyes a little bit. He thought no one noticed. He slid the treat into my mouth, and I managed to eat it because I didn't want to turn away what was potentially my last treat from him. The two of them just sat with me quietly, rubbing my ears and my head and my body. I was okay with that.
...
A few sleeps later, I could no longer get up on my own feet and hurt all over, and it became clear to me that my time here was coming to an end. I felt sad that I had to leave my family, my ohana.
"It's okay, pup," Joe's voice said. I looked to see him kneeling in front of me.
Joe? It's been a long time.
"I'm still here. I've always been here. Soon, you'll be home with me," Joe assured me. I liked that. If I couldn't be with Steve, then I'd love to be with Joe. We could watch over Steve together. Joe sat with me until Ethan found me. My best boy patted me anxiously and called for Steve, who came instantly. Catherine was right behind him. I looked up at my family, feeling terrible for not being able to make them feel better. It was my job after all.
"Is he okay, Dad?" Ethan asked. I could smell Steve's sadness in big waves. Catherine's too. I knew it was time. I looked at Steve, and he knew I was telling him that the time had come, just like he'd asked me to. He nodded, eyes growing wet.
"Ethan," Steve started. "Remember we talked about how Eddie will have to leave us one day? This...this is that day."
"No," Ethan started to leak water from his eyes. He held onto me tighter. "No, he's fine."
"Ethan," Catherine tried.
"He's fine!" Ethan shouted. I whined. I wanted to lick his face and make him feel better, but I was too tired. I felt Steve loosen Ethan's grip and pick me up and carry me to his truck. Ethan was crying and yelling in the house. Steve settled me in the backseat of the truck and made sure I was comfortable. Joe came to sit with me while we waited. I don't know what Catherine said to Ethan, but he eventually came to see me one last time. He was still leaking water down his cheeks.
"I love you, Eddie," he said, his voice thick with emotion. He hugged me tightly, and I thumped my tail in return. "I'm going to miss you so much. You are the best dog ever."
And you are my best boy, Ethan.
Ethan hugged me for a long time before Steve gently made him release me. Ethan stepped back to let Catherine see me next. She was leaking water too. I groaned as she petted and scratched my ears one last time. It still felt so good. Hers was always the best.
"You're such a good boy, Eddie," she whispered. "Such a good boy. I love you. Thank you for bringing me back to Steve. I'll never forget that. I'm glad I got to say goodbye, but this isn't goodbye, Eddie. It's just so long for now. I'll see you again. I know you know that."
I love you too, Catherine. I licked her nose, and she leaked water even worse than before. She backed away, putting her arms around Ethan, and I knew it would be the last time I saw them in this life. Steve gave them both a hug goodbye before closing my door and getting into the truck, and we drove away. He tried to be careful as he knew I was in pain. I knew where we were going, and I was ready.
...
It seemed like a long wait, but I think Steve was happy for it. I knew I was. Leaving Steve was probably the hardest thing I was ever going to do, but I knew he'd be okay. He had Catherine, and they'd help each other. They'd help Ethan. Joe kept telling me I'd be okay, and I knew I would be. When the vet called us in, Steve carried me to the table and set me down. I was really tired by this point and feeling a lot of pain. Steve smoothed his hand over me while the vet did whatever it was he was doing.
"Hey," Danno's voice said. Both Steve and I looked up to see him in the doorway.
"Danny," Steve said, surprised. "What are you doing here?"
"Catherine told me. What, did you think I was really going to let you do this alone?" Danno asked. He gave Steve a hug before he came to stand next to me, and he started petting me too. No treats today, but that was all right. I wasn't hungry.
"I, uh, I appreciate you coming down here," Steve said. His voice was so sad. He was leaking a bit of water too.
"I know how much Eddie means to you. He means a lot to all of us," Danno replied. Then he cupped my face with his hands and looked right into my eyes.
"Eddie, we're gonna miss you, buddy, and we love you and can't thank you enough for all that you did for us, but we know you're tired and you're ready to chase some rabbits in a field somewhere, and that's okay. It's all right," Danno said. He was getting a bit choked up himself. "Just don't forget us, okay?"
I wouldn't. I'd never forget any of them. They were my ohana.
"Do you need a minute?" the vet asked.
"Yea, if that's okay," Steve nodded. The vet left, but Danno just stepped back to give Steve room. Joe stood off to the side too. I wished I could tell Steve he was there. I think he'd appreciate it. Steve put his arms around me then and hugged me tightly.
"You're my good boy, Eddie. You helped me get Catherine back. Without you pushing her shirt in my face every chance you got, I would have let her go. I would never have Ethan. I owe you everything," he said thickly. "You're my best bud, and I'll never forget you."
You'll always be with me, Steve, and I'll always be with you. We both know that.
"Say hi to Pickles for us," Danno added. I made a noise of clear disdain in my throat, making them both give a half choked laugh in return. Of course he'd bring up the demon cat, but at least I got one last chuckle from them, even if they were both still leaking.
"Danny," Steve admonished, punching Danno's arm lightly.
"I'm sorry. I say stupid shit when I'm upset," Danno apologized as he pet me again. "He knows that."
I did know that. I was okay with laughter to help with pain. I never wanted them to stop laughing.
Steve kissed my head then, and rubbed my fur a little more before calling the vet back in.
"It's just a pinch, and then he won't feel a thing," the vet assured them. Danno stood with his hand on Steve's shoulder while Steve held onto me. I felt that pinch all right. I really didn't like shots. Then it got a little sleepier feeling in my head and body.
"Good boy, Eddie. You did good, buddy. I love you. Eddie, it'll be all right."
I know, Steve. With you, everything's always all right.
I closed my eyes, feeling it sink in, but I wasn't sad. I had fulfilled my purpose. I also had faith I'd see him again. I had known from the beginning that he'd love me, and I loved him, and that love would never end just because we were apart.
I, Eddie Good Dog McGarrett, had succeeded in my mission in getting Steve and Catherine back together, making Steve happy, and keeping my family safe. I know he'll be all right because after all, a dog knows a lot more than human's realize. When I heard Joe's voice telling me I was a good pup and that I'd be with him soon, I knew that it was okay to finally let go.
I can rest now.
...
The older man turned to see the dog come running towards him, and he smiled wide. Within seconds, the dog was on his hind legs in the man's arms, licking his face. Laughing, the man patted the dog and told him how nice it was to finally pet him too after all that time. Then, they both turned to look at the family of three in front of them in the yard, and the dog sat beside the man, who set his hand on the dog's head. For a moment, there was a light, and the father turned to see both of them, and they knew he could see them. The father's face broke into a smile, as if he had always known they'd be there watching over them, and he waved. The older man waved back, smiling too, and the dog barked. When the light faded, they stayed and watched their family, the McGarretts, knowing they'd always be there to protect them and that one day, they'd all be reunited once again.
The End
I've had this ending written since the beginning. I know it was super sad, and I cried the whole time I wrote it because I can still see my nine year old self waving goodbye to my dog and thinking she was coming back. She didn't come back. I didn't get to say goodbye, which still breaks my heart to this day, but I have hope she's watching out for me still. This ending just seemed to finish the story, and maybe you disagree, but that's okay. I did give lots of warning at the start that you'd be upset by it. The idea was to show that our loved ones are never truly gone, which was why I had Steve see Joe and Eddie at the end.
Songs that inspired the writing in this chapter: Hold the Light by Dierks Bentley, Time by Hans Zimmer, Final Moments by Joseph Trapanese, Between the Days (Still There) by Siddhartha Khosla, and I Knew I Was Here to Love Ethan by Rachel Portman.
I can't believe I went from a one shot to a 15 chapter story. Thank you to all who reviewed, followed, and favorited. It meant a lot to me that you stuck with me all the way, even if I did make you cry. I may write for Five-0 again in the future, but we'll see. Until next time!