At 2:00 a.m., Ryder started thrashing in his sleep.

His breath hitched, his hands clenched, and then he jerked sideways off the couch—

—and landed half on Chase.

"Ouch," Chase muttered, eyes popping open.

Ryder scrambled up, dazed. "Ugh... sorry, Chase."

Chase looked at Marshall.

Marshall was already there.

Chase gave a single, tiny nod.

Marshall's chest tightened with guilt—but he moved anyway.

"I'm so sorry, Ryder," Marshall whispered.

Ryder barely had time to turn before Marshall slipped the needle into his thigh.

Ryder's eyes widened. "Marsh—?"

Then everything went soft.

Chase and Marshall caught him before he hit the floor.

They carried him to bed, careful, quiet, like Ryder was made of glass.

Marshall tucked the blanket around him, hands shaking. "He's going to hate me."

"He won't," Chase said, even if his ears were pinned with worry. "He needed it."

Ryder woke up to sunlight.

His body felt heavy in a different way—like he'd finally slept, but his mind was still exhausted. He blinked at the clock.

6:30 a.m.

His stomach dropped. How long...?

He rolled out of bed and ran to the bathroom, heart thudding. He showered fast, trying to untangle his memory.

Marshall. A needle. Darkness.

Ryder leaned against the sink, breathing out slowly.

I can't even be mad.
I needed it.

He dressed, went down to the kitchen, and started breakfast on autopilot. Cereal for himself, bowls lined up for the pups like always.

Chase's megaphone echoed, and the pups trotted in one by one.

"Morning Ryder sir," Chase greeted, watching Ryder's face carefully.

"Morning pups," Ryder said, voice steady. "What are you doing today?"

Skye's eyes flicked toward Katie, then back. "Actually... Katie and I have something to tell you."

Ryder blinked. "Oh?"

Katie walked in right on cue. "Skye... are we telling him today?"

"Yes," Skye said, and Ryder's curiosity sharpened like a spark catching.

The pups were sent outside to enjoy the last stretch of autumn air. Leaves skittered across the ground, and the sky had that crisp edge that meant winter was coming.

Katie and Skye stayed behind with Ryder.

"Ryder," Katie began gently, "we know the past few months have been hard."

Skye stepped in, more cheerful but still serious. "And we decided we all need a break. A real one."

"A vacation," Katie finished.

Ryder stared at them, then—surprisingly—his shoulders loosened a little. "A trip?"

Skye nodded fast. "Somewhere warm. Somewhere romantic."

Katie gave her a look. "Why romantic?"

Skye blushed so hard she looked embarrassed to have a face. "Um... alone time with Chase."

Ryder actually laughed—quiet, real. "Okay. I see you."

Skye hid her face. "Don't make it weird!"

"I won't," Ryder promised, still smiling. "Let's ask the others."

He called the pups back in.

"Skye and Katie want us to go on a vacation," Ryder announced. "We don't know where yet. Ideas?"

"Hawaii!" Rubble yelled immediately, like he'd been holding it in his whole life.

"Belize!" Zuma countered.

Rocky nodded eagerly. "Belize sounds awesome."

Marshall blinked. "Belize... actually sounds really good."

Ryder looked at Katie. Katie looked at Ryder.

Skye grinned like she'd already won.

"Belize it is," Ryder decided.

Marshall lifted a paw. "Can we ask Everest to come?"

Ryder smiled. "Of course, Marshall."

They spent hours researching—where they could stay, what was safe, what was private, and what still had access to rescue equipment if they needed it. Ryder booked the trip, then briefed Mayor Goodway and made sure Adventure Bay had enough backup support while they were away.

They were leaving in three days.

And for once, Ryder didn't feel like the world was tightening around his throat.

Until he asked one final question.

"The question is," Ryder said, staring at the Sea Patroller schematics, "do we go by air or sea?"

"The air patroller is faster," Katie said.

"It is," Ryder agreed. "But the sea patroller carries the vehicles. If we run into an emergency... and I know us, we will— we can respond."

Katie sighed because she knew he was right, then smiled because she understood him anyway. "How long by sea?"

"About three days," Ryder answered.

Katie nodded once. "Then we go by sea."

Ryder exhaled—half relief, half dread.

Because a vacation sounded like peace.

But Ryder had learned the hard way...

Sometimes peace was just the quiet before the next wave.

They had just finished packing the last few bags when the Sea Patroller idled gently at the dock, rocking like it was impatient to leave. The morning air smelled like salt and sun even though they were still close to home, and the pups were bouncing around with that restless, pre-trip energy that made Ryder's head spin a little.

"Is Everest here yet?" Marshall asked for the third time in five minutes, trying—and failing—to sound casual.

"She'll be here," Ryder said, amused. "Relax, Marshy."

Marshall turned red. "I'm relaxed."

Zuma snorted. "That was the least relaxed sentence I've ever heard."

Before Marshall could defend himself, a familiar bark echoed down the dock.

"Off the trail—"

Everest came into view, carrying a small bag, goggles perched on her head like she was ready for anything. She looked up at the Sea Patroller with wide eyes.

"Everest!" Skye yipped.

Marshall practically teleported down the ramp.

"Welcome aboard," Ryder said as Everest climbed up. "We're glad you're coming."

"Wow," Everest breathed, staring at the ship. "Thanks for inviting me. This is... huge."

Ryder smirked. "It had to be. The PAW Patrol travels with a lot of... energy."

Everest giggled and bumped her shoulder into Marshall's. "And I'm excited to spend time with Marshy."

Marshall's ears went warm. "Yeah. Me too."

Rubble watched them, then groaned dramatically. "Great. Another couple."

Chase's head snapped up. "Rubble."

"What? I'm just saying—everyone's paired up and I'm over here with my kibble and my dreams."

Katie tried not to laugh. "We'll find you someone, Rubble."

Ryder gave her a look. "We're not adopting girlfriends like we're picking up souvenirs."

Katie pointed subtly at Rubble's face. "He's the only one without a girlfriend and he's trying to hide it, but he looks sad."

Ryder sighed like a man who knew he was losing this argument. "Meaning you want a girl member."

Katie's smile widened. "Meaning we want Rubble to stop sighing like a Victorian widow."

Rubble lifted his chin. "Thank you."

"Anyway," Ryder said quickly, cutting it off before it became a whole thing, "pups... we ready to go?"

Every single pup howled, yipped, or barked like Ryder had asked if they wanted bacon for breakfast.

Ryder chuckled and lifted his pup pad. "Alright, Robo-dog—take us to sea."

"ARF ARF!"

The Sea Patroller's engines hummed, the dock drifted away, and Adventure Bay shrank behind them until the horizon swallowed it.

For the first time in what felt like forever, Ryder's chest didn't feel tight.

Not yet, at least.

The first day of the voyage was calm. Too calm, almost.

The pups filled the ship with noise—games, laughter, arguing over rules to a card game none of them remembered correctly. Skye and Chase kept sneaking nose kisses. Zuma and Rocky sprawled out like they owned the place. Marshall and Everest sat shoulder-to-shoulder, sharing a blanket even though it wasn't cold.

Ryder watched them from the upper deck, arms folded, the breeze lifting his hair.

Katie stepped beside him. "I still can't get over how you built this."

Ryder blinked. "Built what?"

Katie gestured at... everything. The ship. The systems. The bridge. The sheer fact that this existed because Ryder's brain refused to accept limits.

Ryder rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassed. "I don't really know how to respond to that. I like building machines. It's... kind of my thing."

"You truly are amazing," Katie said simply.

Ryder actually blushed, and he hated that she could still make him do that.

Katie leaned her head against his shoulder. "You know... we really do need one more member."

Ryder's eyes narrowed. "No."

Katie pointed discreetly toward the deck chairs where Rubble sat alone pretending he wasn't watching the couples.

"He's the only one without a girlfriend," she whispered. "I feel bad."

Ryder groaned. "Katie..."

"I'm just saying. We can help. We don't have to rush. But he deserves to feel... chosen, too."

Ryder opened his mouth to argue, then stopped. He glanced at Rubble again and saw it—the way his ears drooped, the way he laughed along but didn't quite look as bright as the others.

Ryder sighed. "Fine. We'll keep our eyes open. But not as a 'mission.'"

Katie grinned. "Noted."

Ryder reached for the navigation map, scanning ahead—and his expression changed instantly.

Katie felt it before he said anything. The shift in him. The way the calm fell off his shoulders like armor turning back on.

"We're heading toward a storm," Ryder said quietly.

Katie leaned closer. The radar showed it clearly: thick, angry weather cutting across their route like a wall.

Ryder tapped his pup pad. "Robo-dog, take it easy through this."

"ARF ARF!"

The Sea Patroller adjusted, slowing and angling, and Ryder stayed at the bridge longer than usual, eyes locked on the water.

A few minutes later, a shout came from the lookout camera.

"There's another ship!" Skye called.

Ryder's gaze snapped to the screen.

A smaller vessel lurched in the waves, already tilted awkwardly. It looked like it had clipped rocks—maybe more than once—and now it was drifting like it didn't know which way was up.

Ryder didn't hesitate.

He hit the call-all.

"PAW Patrol to the bridge!"

"Ryder needs us!"

Paws thudded. Pup packs clicked. The energy shifted from vacation to duty so fast it was like flipping a switch.

Chase stepped forward, steady and serious. "Sea Patrol ready for action, Captain Ryder sir."

Ryder gave a small nod, grateful without saying it. "Thanks, pups. That ship hit rocks. We have people onboard and some in the water. We're moving now."

He pointed quickly, voice crisp.

"Rocky, you're on repairs—whatever you can do to stabilize the ship."

"Green means go!"

"Marshall, you're on injuries. Check everyone the second we pull them in."

"I'm fired up!"

"Zuma, you're on water rescue. Focus on anyone who's drifting."

"Ready, set, get wet!"

Ryder's eyes swept the group. "Skye and Chase—assist Zuma with spotting and direction. Rubble, you're with Rocky if he needs extra muscle."

Rubble's ears perked. "Rubble on the double!"

"All right—Sea Patrol is on a roll!"

They launched.

The storm slapped them immediately—spray in their faces, wind tugging at their gear, the ship bucking like it was offended by physics.

Zuma dove first, buoy launching out toward a struggling passenger. Skye rose slightly in her harness line to get a better angle, shouting directions.

"Two more on the left—near the broken mast!"

Chase's voice stayed calm. "Zuma, ten o'clock. You've got one drifting behind the hull."

Marshall already had a blanket out, hands ready, and Ryder's stomach clenched in that familiar way—but this time, he wasn't panicking.

He was functioning.

Rocky clambered onto the damaged ship with Rubble bracing him, tools flashing. "Okay, okay—if I can patch this line and reinforce the rail... it won't tip further."

Rubble grunted. "I've got you. Go!"

Within minutes, the rescue turned from chaos into rhythm. One person pulled in, checked, wrapped in a blanket. Another guided to safety. Another lifted from the water.

No one was lost.

By the time the storm eased, the passengers were gathered on their ship's deck, shivering but alive. The captain, soaked and shaken, stepped forward and gripped Ryder's hand like he might never let go.

"Thank you," the captain said, voice hoarse. "We... we wouldn't have made it. We're grateful you were here."

Ryder nodded, quieter now that the adrenaline was fading. "You're welcome. Try to stay close to the calmer route. That storm came fast."

"We will," the captain promised.

As they pulled away, Marshall exhaled hard. "That was... different. It's weird helping random people."

Ryder glanced back at the ship, then at his pups. "We help everyone, Marshall. Even the people we don't know. Even the people who don't deserve it sometimes."

Marshall nodded slowly. "Yeah. I know. It's just... new."

Ryder understood exactly what he meant.

A vacation was supposed to be a pause.

But Ryder's life didn't really do "pauses."