Second Chance (PAW Patrol AU)

Chapter One

Chase and Skye had happily adopted Rocky and welcomed him into their home. Rocky was trying his best to adapt to the fire house style of living. He was very happy to have a real home with loving parents, but deep down he still wondered if this was too good to be true.

*** Dreamscape ***

Rocky was running...

"You worthless, irresponsible, little brat!" Voices echoed all around as Rocky ran from the pain chasing him.

Every time his parents caught up to him, they would say they were so sorry until they got within arms reach. Then the belt would appear again with those horrible words yelled at him over and over.

"What have I done?" cried Rocky. "Please don't hit me any more!"

Then, worse words he never wanted to hear. "You're trash! No one will ever love you!"

*** End of Dream ***

Rocky woke up screaming. "Please don't!" He was in his room at the fire station. He was covered in sweat and tears streaked down his face. The bed was twin sized with green and white sheets. The walls were bare but Rocky had been told he could put up anything he liked.

The light came on and there stood Chase and Skye.

"Honey?" said Skye.

"Are you okay, buddy?" asked Chase.

Rocky just pulled the sheet up to his chin and stared, not totally understanding if this was part of the dream or not. "Please don't hurt me," he whispered. "No more..."

Chase sat on the edge of the bed and motioned for Skye to step out. She nodded, holding back a sob as she stepped out, shutting the door behind her.

"Rocky," Chase breathed. He set his hand on the bed, but Rocky shifted, curling into himself. "You're home, you're safe. I'll never let anything happen to you, as long as I have a breath in my body." Rocky lowered the sheet, but still said nothing, only looking down at his hands. "I'm here for you as well as all the guys here. We love you and want to help you get through this."

'Love you?' thought Rocky. "No one loves me, I'm trash," he said under his breath.

Chase stood and moved closer to his newly adopted son, slowly as to not spook him. He understood the pain Rocky must be going through; he had seen it on the streets too many times. "Rocky, those are words of your past," said Chase softly. "We aren't your past, we hope to be your future."

"Is any of this real?" Rocky finally said.

Chase looked at him questioningly. "Any of what?" Chase asked. "Our love, this home we brought you to?"

Rocky shook his head. "How can you love me? I'm just trash off the street."

Chase moved closer towards the hurt boy. "No. You're not trash" he said."You are a wonderful, bright young man. You are worth so much more than you know."

"But how? I can't help but think this is only until you grow tired of me," Rocky whispered, his voice cracking.

Chase couldn't say anything as the tears rolled down his face. He reached and pulled Rocky into a tight hug. He could feel the fear and resistance within Rocky slowly melt away. "I'm so sorry I was not able to protect you from your past," said Chase "But I promise you, we love you as if you were our own child and I want to be able to prove that to you."

"I really appreciate it," said Rocky. "But how long will it last? Before you-" He looked up at Chase with wonder in his eyes, the fear of being left behind still there. "Before you get mad..."