just had to keep running.

Finally, she balted into a clearing. There in front of her was a fallen tree, it's trunk partially hollowed. Without thinking twice, Jenna jumped inside, and hid herself within. She gasped for breath, her throat and chest burning, as she looked out into the snow.

A few seconds later, Balto emerged into the clearing. His eyes were bloodshot and wide, and his chest was heaving. He looked round, his teeth bared.

''Jenna? Come out, come out wherever you are!'' he sniggered, his muzzle high in the air as he tried to pick up her scent. Jenna ducked lower into her hiding place as Balto approached.

''I know your here Jenna! Stop wasting both our time and come out! Now!'' he snarled, his paws digging into the snow.

Jenna felt the tears running down her face. This wasn't the Balto she had fallen in love with. This...thing wasn't Balto anymore.

She let out a gasp as Balto let out a growl, his eyes burning ''All right Jenna! I'm gonna count to three! And if your not out here by the time I finish...I'll drag you out myself!''

Jenna began to shake as Balto's piercing glare passed over her hiding place.

''One!'' he started counting, taking a step forwards in her direction. Jenna began to shake harder.

''Two!'' Balto snarled, his eyes scanning round murderously. He was so close to where she was, she could feel the heat radiating from his fur.

Without warning, he shoved his head inside the tree trunk, and smirked at what he saw

''Three''

He grabbed her bandanna with his teeth and dragged her out of the tree trunk, before depositing her onto the snow. She looked up at him, her entire body shaking.

''Balto...please...don't...'' she stammered. Balto smirked.

''It's okay Jenna. Now we can be together again. And we'll never be apart again''

She whimpered as he nuzzled her gently ''It'll all be over soon. Promise''

Jenna shut her eyes, waiting for the inevitable pain.

''Stop!'' a voice commanded, and then she heard Balto yelp out in surprise as something lunged at him. Forcing herself to open her eyes, Jenna gasped as she saw Dingo holding Balto down.

Balto struggled under Dingo's weight, his muzzle clamped shut by his sons paws. Dingo looked down at him with pleading eyes.

''Dad, please stop. This has gone on too long. We want to help you''

Balto struggled, trying to shake his muzzle loose from Dingo's grasp. Then, something clicked in his head. He opened his eyes and looked into Dingo's face. His eyes brimmed over with tears, and he nodded slowly.

Dingo smiled faintly ''It's gonna be okay Dad. I promise''

Balto just nodded, a soft whining escaping his throat. He looked back at Jenna, who stared at him with tears trickling down her muzzle.

''Balto? Balto...I still love you'' she whispered, bending down and nuzzling his soft fur. Balto gasped as a sharp pain drilled through his head, but he managed to hold the urge back.

A moment later, Lance and Chester entered the clearing, the sled dragging behind them. As soon as they were unstrapped, they turned to the sled and together; they pulled a flat crate off the back. With a combination of claws and teeth, they broke it open. Balto looked up at Dingo with concern.

''It'll be okay Dad. They're gonna help you'' he said, trying to put Balto at ease. Balto gulped, and turned to Jenna. She licked his muzzle, calming him down.

From inside the crate, Chester and Lance pulled out a needle filled with clear liquid. Clutching it in his teeth, Chester padded up to Dingo.

''This needs to be administered into his bloodstream. The only way we can do that is if we...inject it'' he glanced nervously at Balto.

Dingo sighed ''Okay. I'll hold him down, you position it, and Lance...you push down the plunger''

Balto began to squirm as Lance padded over, staring at the needle point as Chester positioned it near his leg. He looked at Jenna pleadingly, whimpering softly.

She nuzzled him ''It's okay Balto. I'm...I'm here''

While his attention was turned, Chester positioned the needle using both paws near Balto's leg. With a single nod, he motioned for Dingo to hold Balto down firmly as Lance lay a paw on the needle plunger.

Dingo stared into Balto's eyes ''This'll hurt for a second Dad, but that's all''

With one sharp movement, Lance pushed down on the plunger, injecting the fluid into Balto's leg. Balto growled and squirmed to get lose as Dingo held him down. Jenna backed away slightly, but as she looked down at Balto's struggling form her emotions kicked into overgear. As Balto continued to struggle, she nuzzled him and licked his face.

''I'm here Balto. It's okay, I'm here for you'' she soothed, nuzzling his warm fur.

When the needle was empty, Chester carefully removed it from Balto's legs and applied pressure to stop the bleeding. Balto breathed heavily, as his eyes started to flicker. He suddenly felt extremely tired, and all he wanted to do...was sleep.

Jenna continued to nuzzle him softly as Balto drifted off to sleep. Dingo released his grip on Balto's muzzle and turned to Chester.

''We'll take him back to our house. Help me lift him onto the sled''

With the combined effort of both dogs, Balto was lifted onto the sled. Dingo grasped the tarpaulin with his teeth and covered his sleeping form with it. Jenna looked on with concern.

Chester padded over to her, a warm smile on his face ''He'll be okay. The toxin will work through his system and he should be up again in a few days. But he'll need to take it easy for a while''

Jenna smiled despite the tears slowly trickling down her muzzle ''I can handle that''

To Chester's surprise, she leaned forwards and kissed him ''Thank you''

He smiled in shock, a faint blush coming over his cheeks ''It was...it was my pleasure'' he said.

Smiling, Jenna padded over to the sled and climbed up. She lay down besides Balto and snuggled up to him. A few moments later, Chester, Lance and Dingo were harnessed to the sled, and together they started the long trek back to Nome.

************

One week later, Jenna got up out of the bed she and Balto had been sharing, letting him sleep. She looked down at him, and couldn't resist the urge to gently nuzzle him. His eyes flickered open.

''Morning Jen. Sleep well?''

She smiled ''Very well. You?''

He let out a yawn ''Okay I guess'' with a stretch, he got out of the bed and nuzzled her affectionately.

In the last week, the drug Chester had given Balto had slowly but surely fought the rabid infection. Balto had remained asleep for the best part of two days, to the continuous worry of Jenna despite Chester's reassurances. When he had finally woken up, she couldn't stop herself from hugging him tightly. He was her Balto again.

Since then, Balto had been taking it easy at Jenna's. Despite his protests, Dingo and Kodi had refused point blank to allow him to start flying again for at least another week. He had finally seen reason, and decided that spending another week in Jenna's company wasn't so bad.

''So, what do you want to do today?'' he inquired.

''Oh, I don't know. Say, Balto?''

''Hmm?'' he perked his head up.

''You know that, with all that happened last week, we didn't get a chance to celebrate our anniversary'' she smiled at him.

''Yes?'' he returned the smile.

''Well, how about we celebrate it today instead?'' she kissed him on the cheek.

''Sounds good to me'' he smiled, nuzzling her fur.

Jenna smiled, and drew in to kiss him.

''Happy anniversary Balto''

************

As the snow began to fall lightly amongst the foliage, a silent figure passed by a weather beaten sign. Turning to glance at it, the bandanna cladded figure smirked.

''Until we meet again Balto, I bid you...adieu'' Grant chuckled, before continuing on through the gathering mist.

************

THE END