Chase Runs Away

Alone Yet Surrounded

At Jake's cabin 6 pm

Chase wasn't sure how long he had napped, and the covered windows didn't even help give a clue. He could only assume, based on the scene he was witnessing, that it had to of been at least a few hours.

"This has to be a dream" Chase thinks to himself as he notices the pups presumably having a great time.

Even Skye, Everest and Marshall seemed to be enjoying themselves as they were watching some kind of movie together. The same pups that were at each other's throat just the night before.

"Are they actually friends again? They were just trying to kill each other and Marshall was clearly aggravated before! How could so much happen in such a short period of time. They just made up like that. How was that even possible?!" Chase thinks in astonishment as he watches the pups communicate as if times had never changed.

He looks into the kitchen and notices Jake cooking. He hadn't noticed the awakened Shepherd. Chase turns his attention back to the pups and listens in.

"Wait. So does that mean we have to eat liver food while we're here" Rubble says in disgust.

Everest laughs.

"Well, beggars can't be choosers. I didn't exactly plan for this" The Husky replies.

The other pups gag at the idea as they smell the liver being fixed in the kitchen.

Chase still couldn't believe how the pups were behaving. It was almost as if Chase's nap had solved their problems.

"I guess it's easier to fix a problem when you don't have a Shepherd in the way" Chase thinks as his eyes widen in realization. "Everest...was right. I let my feelings push me away from my family. My feelings made me risk my life to run away over something that small." It truly wasn't that serious of an event to warrant him almost losing his life. "And it was my feelings that lead to me thinking I no longer liked Skye and actually liked Everest, and that lead to me hurting Marshall" The Shepherd thought in sadness.

Chase couldn't believe it. He had been placing the blame of his pain and problems on everyone but himself, and to make matters worse, Everest tried to help him but he pushed her away too by being so concerned over Marshall and Skye. Of course he couldn't blame her for thinking Chase still had feelings for the Cockapoo. It was his fault.

Chase had felt unloved before but now he just felt...alone. He had caused so many problems and now the other pups were stuck in a snowed in cabin because of him. Chase curled up in a ball of shame. Soaking in self pity.

"It's all my fault" Chase says, accidentally thinking out loud.

The pups noticed the voice coming from behind them and they turned around. Chase immediately regretted not insuring he kept his thoughts inside. The pups were looking at him and the room went quiet, besides the TV.

Chase finally attempted to speak up but he paused due to the fact that he had no idea what to say.

"H-hey Chase" Everest says in an awkward tone.

Chase hated the current mood in the room but knew he couldn't do much about it.

"...hey, Everest" Chase says in a low and sheepish voice.

"Uhhhh, we were just watching a movie and hanging out. D-do you wanna join us?" The Husky offers with a cute smile.

Chase wanted nothing more then to just go back to the old times but he knew wholeheartedly that all he would feel is awkwardness if he sat with the pups.

"M-maybe later, I'm just gonna sit out for right now though. You guys have fun" Chase says with a forced smile.

Everest seemed disappointed at the Shepherd's response but figured it was best to leave him to himself.

"O-ok, just join if you ever feel up to it" She replies as the pups silently turn their attention back to the movie.

Chase was so angry with himself to the point where he wanted to scream.

"What is wrong with me?! What happened to me?!  Why am I acting like I'm talking to strangers or on a date. I've known these pups for years and I'm treating them like they're new to me" Chase says with bitterness towards his issues.

The Shepherd couldn't get out of this funk. He wanted to fix everything and let things go back to normal but he couldn't even talk to them. He felt like it was only him. Like his mind had self quarantined him from everyone else.

"It's not fair!" Chase thinks as he starts tearing up. "I was the victim of this whole thing but now I'm the one that's suffering from it. I've lost everyone. Even Everest" the Shepherd says as he starts whimpering.

The pups were unaware of the Shepherd's sadness but Jake had noticed Chase's whimpers. He slowly walks over to the distressed pup.

"Chase, dude are you alright?" Jake asks as he rubs the Shepherd's back.

Chase looks up to the man with tear-filled eyes and tries to conceal his sadness.

"Y-yeah Jake, I'm fine just...tired I guess" Chase says, knowing his lie wasn't believable.

Jake frowns at him, knowing there's something very wrong with him.

"Chase, I saw you crying dude. There's clearly something wrong. You know you can talk to me, right? Dude to pup." Jake says as he looks the Shepherd in his eyes.

As reluctant as Chase was, he knew there was no point in pushing away the last person trying to help him. His best bet was to explain and hope for the best. He sighs.

"Ok Jake. I...pushed everyone away. I let my feelings get the best of me and it costed me my friends and my family. I feel hated and alone and... it just hurts" Chase explains as his tears start forming again.

Jake didn't quite no how to respond to that. This was never something he associated with the Paw Patrol but he knew that the paw patrol hadn't been the same since Chase left.

"Chase, you may have made some of the pups upset but I wouldn't say you pushed them away completely. Everest still cares, right?" Jake asks.

Chase thinks about it and shrugs his shoulders.

"I-I don't know. I upset her earlier and I can't even speak to her right now. Everything is so awkward. Why did I do this?" Chase asks, knowing Jake wouldn't have the answer.

Jake was stumped. He hated to watch the Shepherd suffer but that was a question he couldn't answer for him.

"Chase, all I can say is you aren't gonna make any progress towards making things better if you can't build up the courage to speak to the pups. You are still family no matter what happens. They will never stop loving you." Jake says with care to the Shepherd. "I have to go finish dinner. I'm here to talk whenever you need me dude".

Jake walks to the kitchen and continues to prepare the meal for the night.

Truly, Chase appreciated Jake's advice but to be honest, he already knew this. He knew that until he could speak to the pups, he was always gonna live with regret and loneliness.

After further thought, Chase came to the conclusion that tonight was not the night. He decided to let himself rest and hopefully build up even an ounce of confidence by tomorrow. As he takes one last look at the pups on the couch he still couldn't help but wonder:

"How did they make up?"