The Wounds We Heal

Chapter fifty: The Breakdown

"Then Ryder showed me the foundation for the Lookout." Katie explained, to round the story out. "And after that I would sometimes drop by to check in.. And we would sometimes work together on some things and then go for a break at Mr. Porter's."

"Nice. That's cool that you met Ryder when he was just starting The Lookout! I wonder where he got the materials though? The Lookout is big!" Snowflake commented, as Chase was rocking back and forth while laying on his back.

"He probably was given it." Chase guessed loosely, continuing to roll back and forth like he wasn't fully paying attention at all.

"True. Ummm? Something wrong, Chase? Did your legs fall asleep?" Snowflake replied, turning to the German Shepherd.

"No.." Chase replied, slowing for a second but continuing nonetheless. "Why?"

"You're rocking back and forth." the husky pup pointed out.

"Yeah.." the German Shepherd responded lightly, continuing still. "So?"

"I've just.. never seen you do that before," Snowflake replied.

"I think he's trying to do something." Katie mentioned, when kneeling down closer to Snowflake and watching Chase intently.

"Like what?" the husky asked Katie. And the girl just stood up while maintaining her gaze on the occupied pup.

"Chase, you ready to go to bed now?" Katie asked.

"Aww, right now?" Chase sighed, finally stopping his rolling to lay on his left side. And with his head twisted around to lay flat on the ground so he could look at them.

"Well, Katie did tell us a nighttime story," Snowflake reasoned. "Plus we did all those activities. You must be tired by now. Even just a little."

"What? No, I'm wide awake." Chase insisted, sitting up straight in a moment.

"Are you sure? You can't pull an all-nighter! We don't have THAT much energy!" Snowflake said.

"I've done one before.." Chase protested flatly, almost sounding indignant. Then laying back down to roll some more, he found himself on a second wind that allowed him to roll more rigorously than before.

Snowflake looked at Chase in confusion.

"So, why are you rolling around?" she asked.

"Umm... the fun of it?" Chase replied, still acting a bit distracted.

"I think I might know something that'll help." Katie said finally, as the lights dimmed. And with only having her subtle shadow to follow, he didn't quite catch her meaning till it happened. A hand with a rougher touch than before stopped him dead with the rubbing motion up and down his exposed chest. And because of how unexpected it was, it caught him off guard to the point of keeping him frozen.

Katie smiled as she kept the rubber brush going in the same rubbing motion which seemed to be all they needed for the moment. And she even lengthened her brushing range a bit. However in an attempt to fight it, Chase's paw came up over her wrist. But then he stopped again as though forgetting what he was doing. His eyes had barely started to sag when he jerked himself awake.

"No.. I'm.. not ready to go to sleep yet.." he fumbled, trying to roll off his back to make her stop. But she was able to keep him there by moving the brushing motion over him in a way to lay him back again.

"Ooooh. Looks relaxing. May I give it a try?" Snowflake said, before lying on her back too.

'Yes! Something that will work!' she thought.