PAW Patrol Chronicles: Happy Pills

Nightmares and Day Terrors

PTSD : It's not the person refusing to let go of the past, but the past refusing to let go of the person. –Unknown

Chase's POV

'Almost home.'

The words repeat again and again, like a personal affirmation. Every fiber of my being fighting to keep my fluttering eyes open.

'Today was too much. . . for me to handle. . . I need to tell Ryder. . . when I get home. '

I keep my paws gripped to the steering wheel. Absent-mindedly staring at the endless road ahead of me. I've never had a day like this, I've never felt this awful before. Drained of any energy, feigning for sleep's warm embrace to take me. Shivers run up and down my back as the cold wind wraps around me, and despite the rush of the cold air against my fur, my eyes strain to stay open, but they manage.

And yet, somehow my head is warm and cozy, the stress and chaos of the day bleeding away from my concious, leaving me in a relaxed state.

My spirit begins to rejuvenate as time passes and I get closer to my goal, longing for the moment when my head hits my pillow. I wonder if the pups are awake, if Skye is awake... I smile at the thought as the warm sensation spreads further throughout my fatigued body.

Skye.

Braver than any other pup I know, sweeter than candy, and those sparkling. . . enchanting eyes, eyes that I far too often get lost in. Your an angel, flying high in the clouds above the earth. Flying circles around my heart as I watch you, hopelessly falling further for you, the higher you soar.

Mabey tonight is the night, the night I swallow my fear and confess, sing for you the song my heart wrote you. Look deep into your eyes and tell you my heart's deepest desires, give you the key to my soul. . And wait, wait in agonizing silence for you to look up to me, and say. .

"Wake up Chase."

Just as I snap my head up, the front end of my blue police cruiser smashes into an oak tree in it's path. Metal compresses and scrapes together, sending bright sparks into the bleak night.

My jaw clenches together as my only means of bracing myself. The power of the impact lunges me forward, with my lower half still locked in place by my seatbelt.

loud, painful pops, emanate from my back just as everything freezes in time, momentarily, before the metal clip on my life line snaps. The momentum launching me up over the dashboard, sending my limp body flying, several feet across the black sky.

Finally I land, colliding into the unforgiving, abrasive asphalt. My body scraping and rolling along the pavement like a ragdoll, twisting and contorting violently before coming to a dizzy stop.

The salty taste of warm blood dripping from my mouth brings my mind back to reality. But I dare not move, lying underneath the sky, paralyzed; electricity running through every inch of me. Lighting my insides on fire.

I struggle to breathe, each breath intensifying the current surging through me. I try to yell but my voice comes out as a weak whimper. Dragging a shaky paw up to my neck, I fumble with my collar until I hear a beep, the light of my pup-tag coming to life, contrasting with the black void above me.