A Recycling Pup and a Flying Pup

Chap. 15 : Unexpected Escape

Chase steps closer to Skye's hospital bed, his gaze fixed, though his usual warmth seems shadowed by something else. Skye, already surprised to see him here instead of Rocky, watches him carefully.

"Chase?" she asks, trying to keep the curiosity out of her voice. "What's going on? Where's Ryder?"

Chase clears his throat, adopting an urgent tone. "Skye, Ryder needs you right now. He sent me to get you, and it's... well, it's serious." He moves closer, gently lifting her off the bed, cradling her securely before she can respond.

"Oh, uh, Chase? Aren't you going to talk to the doctor first?" she asks, glancing toward the door. "I mean, I can't just leave without-"

"Trust me," he says quickly, sidestepping her question as he opens the door quietly, casting a glance down the empty hallway. "We don't have time. Ryder said it's urgent, so we have to move now." His voice is firm, but Skye can sense a flicker of something she can't quite identify, determination mixed with something darker.

Despite her growing unease, Skye stays quiet, not wanting to disrupt what might be a genuine emergency. As they exit the hospital, Chase maneuvers past the staff and into the parking lot with practiced stealth, easing her into his police vehicle. Before she can ask anything more, he starts the engine and heads down the quiet streets of Adventure Bay.

The first few minutes pass in silence, with Skye glancing nervously out. Something about the situation feels... off. She turns to Chase, watching him as he stares intensely at the road.

"Chase?" she begins, hesitantly. "Why didn't Ryder come himself? He usually... he always makes sure to check in if I'm still recovering."

Chase keeps his eyes forward, his expression unreadable. "He's got his hands full with Rocky," he says, a slight edge to his voice. "They're handling something else. But don't worry, right now, I'm here, and I've got you."

Skye shifts uncomfortably in her seat, absorbing his words. "Rocky is... handling something with Ryder?" she asks, confusion lacing her tone.

Chase nods, his face tightening. "Yeah, probably... Rocky doesn't even seem interested in anything but his own problems, anyway." He glances at her briefly, his voice softening. "I mean, I've always been there for you, haven't I, Skye?"

"Chase, of course," Skye replies, unsure of what to make of his sudden tension. "You're my best friend. I know you care about me."

His gaze flicks back to her, and for a moment, there's an almost pleading look in his eyes. "But it's more than that, Skye. You must know by now, I... I love you. I'd do anything for you. Even tonight, I came because I had to make sure you were safe."

Her chest tightens as she processes his words, feeling a pang of unease settle deeper within her. "Chase... I... I'm grateful, but this isn't the time for this, is it? Shouldn't we be focusing on where we're going?"

He says nothing for a moment, the road stretching out in silence as the vehicle draws closer to the cliffs. "You don't understand. Rocky doesn't deserve you, Skye. He's always been distracted, always thinking about himself." His words are bitter, dripping with resentment. "He doesn't know you like I do. He can't give you what I can."

Skye's brows knit, and her voice hardens slightly. "Chase, I think you're getting this all wrong. Rocky... he's my friend too. You're making him sound like something he's not."

Chase grits his teeth, his jaw set as he glances at her. "I just think you deserve better. And I want to be the one to give you that." He turns his focus back to the road, accelerating as they approach the cliffside.

Skye feels a chill run down her spine, her mind flashing back to how uncharacteristic this all feels, the rushed exit, the absence of any other pups, and the way he's talking about Rocky. "Chase, please," she says carefully, trying to keep her voice steady. "I think you should take me back. Something about this... it doesn't feel right."

Chase's expression softens, almost hurt. "I thought you'd understand, Skye. I thought that if you just gave us this time together, you'd see how much I care. You'd see I'm the one you can trust."

Skye's heart pounds as she stares at him, her voice barely a whisper. "Chase, you're scaring me."

The weight of her words finally seems to break through his resolve. His gaze flickers with doubt, his paw tightening around the steering wheel. But before he can respond, a sound reaches his ears, the faint beeping of his communicator. He hesitates, his face tightening as he hears Ryder's voice faintly coming through.

"Chase, respond. Where are you?" Ryder's voice orders through the static.

For a moment, Chase's expression falters, and he glances down at the communicator, tension radiating through him. Skye watches him closely, seeing the internal struggle play out on his face.

As Ryder's voice grows louder through the communicator, Chase reluctantly slows the vehicle, his head hanging as the reality of his actions crashes down on him.