The Dogpatch Family || Firehouse Dog

The Mutt from Hell

Firehouse Dog Fanfic | The Dogpatch Family | The Mutt from Hell

Amber slumped into the seat inside the rig, her head leaning against the back. Pep and Lionel were sitting either side of her in the back of the truck while Joe and her father were sitting up front as usual – with Terence by their side this time, instead of her. Next to her, she felt the dog shift within the blanket around its body, his tongue hanging out slightly as Joe backed up into the garage. Slow continuous beeps indicated to Joe that nothing was in the way of his decent into the building, that's the only great thing about an annoying noise like that.

Lionel looked to the side as the section of the rig he sat in reached inside - he grinned when he noticed a familiar face sitting in one of the office chairs. There was a single desk and chair over to the side in the garage and that's exactly where this man sat. Zachary Hayden. He was about the same height as the Cap but more filled out since the last time they met. Instead of a fireman's uniform, he now wore a brown formal suit that looked as dull as a brush handle. The man leaned back in the wooden chair with a grin, watching them return from a job. "Hey, Zach!" Lionel called loudly, making sure his greeting could be heard over the annoying beeps.

Terence frowned when he noticed the man – making sure to keep gesturing to Joe in moving back at the same time. He didn't know this man – it must be one of the people he hasn't had a chance to meet yet. Only a couple of people who worked at Dogpatch before him were still around the area, maybe this was one of them? "Cap, we have company!" He yelled over to the boss, gesturing his head over to the side where the man now started to stand on his own two feet. The Cap poked his head out of the rig a few seconds after the call.

Connor climbed out of the rig with a frown evident on his lips before he turned his head around to see what who this 'company' was, "Zach?!" His tone filled with a pleasant surprise and a smile started to appear on his lips. He was a little suspicious, though, due to the fact that he hadn't seen the man since before his brother died. A churning feeling started to accumulate in his gut, something inside of him knew why Zach would be here – and it wasn't a good one. "Nice to see ya, welcome back."

Zach smiled in response, "Hey, Connor." Giving him a nod as he reattached a pager back to his hip. "It's great to see you too, and thanks." He held out his hand with the intention of shaking a friend's hand. But instead, the both of them decided on giving each other a man-hug with a pat on the back as a welcoming gesture.

As they pulled back from each other, Connor's suspicious nature came back, "We haven't seen you since..." A saddened look suddenly passed through each of their faces. Zach nodded with a small sad frown without the rest of the sentence not having to be said, he stuffed his hands into his jacket pockets.

"...since Uncle Marc's memorial." Amber's voice came from behind Connor as she finished the sentence. Her presence appeared in a way that told them she had been listening in, which wasn't too hard to do since the loudness of their voices filled the room easily. They turned towards her – seeing a blank look form on her face. The teenager opened the pale bar in the back of the rig where it stopped everyone from falling out. After letting Lionel and Pep out first, she climbed down herself, letting her feet touch the ground with a small thump. The dog stayed where he was, now lying down and just watched the scene continue in front of him.

Zach sighed, nodding – it had been too long, "Yeah, it's been a long time." He noted, "I've been meaning to come around for a while, but..." He didn't really know what to say. Despite the terrible secret that only him and one other person knew, he didn't want to get in the way of a family grieving for their brother, Uncle, and friend.

Connor glanced over to his daughter before looking back towards the new man in the room, "You gonna stay for dinner?" He asked his old teammate and friend.