Hospital: an institution providing medical and surgical treatment and nursing care for sick or injured people. Whether they were victims or criminals, doctors are trained to save their lives.
As he stared at Dusty, the man who tried to kill him and his dad, Rocky couldn't help but wonder whether that system was fair.
Was it fair for criminals to get medical treatment? Was it fair for their lives to be saved when they attempt, or succeed, to take someone's life?
The more he thought about it, though, the more he understood.
Criminals, like victims, are human. Everyone had their imperfections. Dusty had lost his child, something no parent should ever have to go through. He was the victim.
He was also the suspect.
As he lay there in critical condition, Rocky sighed, feeling bad for him. "I bet if he could see his daughter one last time," he said aloud, "he wouldn't have done anything."
"You're probably right," a voice said behind him. Rocky turned to see Chase, his arm in a sling. Happy, he gave him a hug and a kiss on the head. "How are ya buddy?"
"I've been better." Chase nodded. Rocky turned back to Dusty. "Is he gonna live?"
Chase sighed. "I don't know. If he does, he'll have to suffer the consequences." This time, Rocky nodded. "Come on, let's go meet the others at the hotel."
~~~
It was very late at night when they finally arrived. Rocky yawned as he sat in a chair. Their room wasn't ready yet, much to everyone's displeasure. "You can sleep until we've got a room, honey," Skye told him. "I'll wake you up." Without a word, Rocky drifted off.
Chase found Marshall and Zuma by the breakfast bar, dipping coffee. Marshall handed him a cup. "How's your arm?"
"I'll live," Chase responded, taking a sip.
"What about Dusty?" Zuma asked. Chase just shrugged. "That bad, huh?"
"He was shot by a sniper. Anyone else would've been dead hours ago."
"Have you and Rocky talked about what happened in there?" Marshall asked. "I don't want either if you hiding the truth or worse, denying what happened."
"There's nothing to talk about," Chase interjected. "Dusty was about to fire, I pushed Rocky out of the way, got grazed and the sniper fired. End of story."
As he said those words, the scene replayed in his mind over and over.
*Flashback*
Chase held Rocky tight, pulling him close. "I love you," he whispered. There was fear in Rocky eyes. Before he could respond, Chase pushed him out of the line of fire just as Dusty shot. "Agh!" Chase yelled, holding his arm. Luckily, it was just a graze wound.
Dusty cocked the gun once more, standing directly over Chase. "Say hello to Diane for me," he said. He raised the gun to Chase's head.
"Dad, no!" Rocky yelled.
A window shattered and Dusty collapsed to the ground, his stomach bleeding. Chase stood up and rushed to Rocky, forgetting about his arm. "It's okay, everything's going to be fine," he told him. He walked him away from Dusty's body, not wanting to expose him to what could potentially be scarring.
Rocky cried quietly into his chest. "You could've- he could've-"
"It's over now," Chase whispered. Officers swarmed in along with EMT's. They escorted them out, climbing into an ambulance.
YOU ARE READING
Second Chance (PAW Patrol AU)
Fanfic*A story collaboration between myself and @MarshalB* Rocky has been abused by the ones that are supposed to love him unconditionally - his own parents. A series of events leads to his placement in foster care. There, he meets Officer Chase who, afte...
