A Recycling Pup and a Flying Pup

Chap. 17 : Flight to Barkinburg

The sun begins to rise over Adventure Bay as Chase pulls his vehicle up to the cliffside, his gaze flickering between the road and Skye sitting beside him. Her face is pale, her eyes searching his with a mixture of confusion and apprehension. Chase feels a pang of guilt, but he swallows it, focusing on his plan. He knows he doesn't have much time; the PAW Patrol will be searching for them soon. But his thoughts drift to Sweetie, his unlikely ally in Barkingburg, who promised to meet him here with a way out.

As they reach the cliffs, Chase brings the vehicle to a stop. The quiet rumble of a jet's engine fills the air, and within moments, Sweetie's sleek jet appears in the distance, casting a shadow as it circles in for a landing. Chase turns to Skye, who's now glancing nervously from the jet to him, her expression growing more uncertain with each passing second.

"Chase... what's going on? Why did you bring me all the way out here?" Her voice is steady, but he catches the tremor beneath it, the flicker of doubt in her eyes.

"Skye," Chase begins, his voice softer than before. "I need you to see how much I care about you. This isn't just some... crush or passing feeling. I want us to be together. I've always been there for you, haven't I? Always had your back, always put you first. Can't you see that?"

Skye hesitates, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Chase, I know you're my friend. And I do appreciate you, I really do. But this... this doesn't feel right. Ryder didn't send you to get me, did he?"

Chase's expression falters, but he quickly tries to regain control, pressing forward. "Ryder Sir wouldn't understand. He's too busy with everyone else, too caught up in his role as leader. But I-" He pauses, lowering his voice. "I can be everything you need, Skye. I can give you everything you deserve."

Skye leans back, crossing her paws in front of her, her gaze steady but wary. "Chase, I don't know what you're expecting me to say. This is all happening too fast, and... I'm worried about Rocky. And Ryder I mean. You said they were handling something, but where are they? Why haven't I seen them?"

Chase shifts, avoiding her gaze. "Ryder's... busy, like I said. He's got everything under control." He gestures toward the sky as Sweetie's jet lands nearby, her sleek figure emerging with a confident smirk as she approaches.

"Skye, um, Ryder told me to take you with Sweetie," Chase says quickly. "She's here to help us get somewhere safe. Somewhere we can be together without anyone interfering."

Skye's heart races, her eyes widening as she realizes the severity of what's happening. "Somewhere safe? Chase, what are you talking about? I don't need to be 'safe', I need to go back to the Lookout. I need to see Ryder."

Chase's face tightens, his frustration evident. "They don't care for you the way I do, Skye. You're only part of the team to them. I'm the one who truly understands you. I'm the one who's willing to go to these lengths just to prove it."

Skye opens her mouth to respond but realizes something strange, her pup-tag, her pup-tag isn't where it usually sits on her collar. Her heart skips a beat, and she glances sharply at Chase. "Chase... where's my pup-tag?"

Chase hesitates, avoiding her gaze. "You... you don't need it. I didn't want Ryder or anyone else distracting us. And they are busy."

The realization sends a cold shiver down Skye's spine. He had taken her pup-tag, cut her off from everyone she trusted. Her mind races, every instinct telling her to run, to find a way back to her team.

She steadies herself, forcing calm into her voice. "Chase... I'm your friend. And I do care about you, more than you realize. But this isn't how we should be handling things. Please, give me back my pup-tag and let's go back to the lookout. We can talk about this there."

Chase's face falls, desperation creeping into his eyes. "No, Skye. You'll just run back to Rocky the moment we're there. I mean, he will tell you more lies about me. He doesn't care about you like I do." His voice hardens. "I'm the one who's here, risking everything for you. Can't you see that?"

Sweetie clears her throat, watching them with interest. "Chase, darling, if you don't hurry, Ryder and the rest will be hot on your tail before you know it." She raises an eyebrow at Skye, her gaze condescending. "Look, sweetheart, Chase went through a lot to bring you out here. You could at least give him a chance to explain himself, hm?"

Skye ignores Sweetie, her gaze fixed on Chase. "She's our villain! What is this team-up?"
"She changed, Skye-"
"This isn't the way, Chase. If you care about me, if you really care... then you'll let me go. Don't you see? Tricking me, taking my pup-tag... this isn't love. This isn't the way to show you care."

For a brief moment, Chase's expression falters, his determination wavering. Her words seem to reach him, pulling at the parts of him that recognize what he's done, the boundaries he's crossed. But Sweetie's smirk and dismissive wave snap him back, and he straightens, turning to Skye with renewed intensity.

"I... I can't just let you go, Skye. Not after everything I've done. I don't expect you to understand now, but someday you will. Someday, you'll see why I did this. You'll see that I was right. And you will thank me."

Skye clenches her paws, frustration and fear bubbling up as she realizes just how far Chase has gone. She'd known him as her teammate, her best friend, her brother, her leader, but this side of him, a side driven by jealousy and obsession, was unfamiliar, frightening. She looks toward the cliffs, considering her options, searching for an escape.

Sweetie raises an eyebrow, clearly growing impatient. "Well, darlings, this has been very... touching. But if you're not coming willingly, Skye, we'll have to find another way to ensure you're 'cooperative.'" Sweetie's smirk twists as she exchanges a knowing look with Chase.

Chase hesitates, his gaze flickering with uncertainty, but Sweetie's words seem to bolster his resolve. He moves closer to Skye, his expression softening as he reaches out a paw. "Please, Skye. Just trust me. I'm doing this for us. All I want is a chance to show you that we belong together. Let's go to Barkinburg, this is what Ryder Sir asked me to do, and he will even join us there if you wish!"

Skye forces herself to stay calm, her mind racing. "Chase, I... I don't know what to say. This is... it's too much, too fast. And it doesn't feel right."

His expression tightens, his jaw set as he processes her hesitation. But before he can respond, Skye finally agrees.

"I trust you. Let's go there, and let's see what Ryder wants from us."