The Smart And The Sassy - Paw Patrol

Chapter 5: Building Tension

Katie quickly retrieves Gasket's bowl and retreats to the lobby, giving me a last worried look towards me before leaving. Gasket and I watch as Ryder paces in the room.

"Rocky," Ryder starts, making my head heavy. "When I gave you permission to use the basement for your workings, Did I say that there are a few parts in which you could have a limited amount?"

I could only wonder what he is leading to. "Yes Ryder sir," I speak in a low, quiet tone.

"You do recognize the part I laid next to you?" He stops to look at me.

I glance at it and realize that it went to the robot I made for a prank. I haven't made progress on it for a while. It hits me that this is one of the pieces I may have skimmed too much of. I continue to look down as Ryder continues.

"Rocky, parts I limit are parts that come in short supply," Ryder says in a reasoning, authoritative tone. He looks around the room, giving everything a glance, and sighs. "I'll let it slide, the aftermath is only a mess." Ryder's anger turns to a more soft reasoning tone as walks to my side. "But, we need to see to something when we get back. We were lucky it was only a mess." I look back up at him with a confused expression. "The pups are coming soon and they're going to explain some things, alright?" Ryder reassures as he sits on the bed.

"Ok," I acknowledge. Ryder pats my head and gets back on his feet. He leaves the room, and shuts the door behind him, leaving me and Gasket alone again. A feeling of peace resounds as I realize that probably could've gone worse.

"So, what was that all about?" Gasket asks, looking curiously from her bed. It was embarrassing to know she listened to all that, it was even more so to try and answer her.

"I used too much of something I shouldn't have," I reply, facing away.

"What for?" She asks the inevitable question.

"A small thing, don't worry about it," I say as Katie opens the door, rolling in a tv.

"I figured you two didn't want to just sit here for a week so I brought something to pass the time," Katie says as she hooks up and turns on the tv. When she finishes she looks out the window and back at me. "What was that about?" She asks.

"I used too much of something, don't worry about it," I reassure.

"Alright." She grabs the remote and walks between us. She gives me a quick, worried glance before speaking. "What would you two like to watch."

I look to Gasket first who seems to ponder for a bit.
"Nothing comes to mind." She looks over at me and I shrug.

Katie looks between us and places the remote by my side.
"Well Rocky, since Gasket can't use either of her paws, I'll leave the remote to you."

She looks between me and Gasket and leaves the room. I look over to Gasket and we catch each other's glance. We both quickly look away as another awkward silence sits in.
I continue to look away until Gasket breaks the silence.

"I wish these casts weren't as itchy." Gasket scratches at the and she continues. "I can't wait to get out of these things, these things will make it impossible to use my.... bike...

I see her shed a tear as she sits up in her bed, having slight trouble with her two casts which stretch from her paws to just below her knees. The hair on her head is visibly unkempt.
"All of this over a stupid trick." She pouts as another tear escapes.

"You alright?" I ask. Gasket gives me a long look and sighs, "Yeah, I'm alright."

She lays back in her bed and speaks again. "I'm going to take a nap, I'm still a little tired."