So, I think I like how this rewrite is turning out, overall. I've decided to post this in chapters. Mostly because I'm anxious to share it ASAP and I'm only half-way done. The second half may come quickly, it may not. I'm having a little trouble with it.

I may make some edits with this chapter as well later on.

Alvin groaned. Here he was, stuck in his room for the rest of the day. And grounded for two weeks! And his summer vacation had just started yesterday! This punishment was way too harsh--all he had done was spray paint Dave's car completely by accident. Okay, maybe he had done it on purpose, but he "ruined it"—as Dave put it—by accident. Geesh, He had to learn how to use spray paint on more than bikes, with more fancy patterns, somehow! And Dave always said that practice makes perfect. Besides, Alvin's job on the car didn't turn out half bad. Oh well, he'd just have to suck it up. Dave rarely changed his mind on things like this.

Wait! A thought had just occurred to the boy. I don't have to sit in here moping. I can sneak out of my room, have some fun, and sneak back in. Dave would never even know I was gone! I'm brilliant!

Alvin grinned haughtily to himself and began taking the bedsheets off of his and his brother's beds. As he worked at tying them together, he began thinking of all the things he could do. He finished tying the bedsheets and fastened them to the bed post closet to the window. Which was Theodore's, at this time. The end of his make-shift rope in hand, Alvin walked over to the window and peered out to make sure the coast was clear. Seeing that it was, he lowered the rope to the ground and slowly began to descend. He wanted to hurry, but he also didn't want to risk making any unnecessary noise that would alert anyone…so he'd have to take it slowly. Freedom here I come! As he was climbing down, he suddenly remember that he hadn't really planned a course of action beyond escaping. Darn it! He was almost to the ground now. Part of him wished that he had consulted in Simon. He was much better at planning ahead for things like this. But that idea was quickly shot down—he could convince Simon to help him most of the time, but Alvin knew there was no way he could get his blue-clad brother to assist him on this one. Even if he could, it was too late for that anyway. Besides, Alvin was good at winging it. He didn't need Simon to help him complete this plan. As Alvin reached the bottom, he tip-toed across the yard to the treehouse he and his brothers had built a while back. He would think of what to do next once he was safely inside it.

Dave sighed as he sat himself down at the table in the kitchen. What was he going to do with that boy? Alvin was always getting into some trouble or other. Trouble may as well have been Alvin's middle name. Dave had hated to ground Alvin yet again, but how else was he to learn? Spray-painting a car—Dave's car!--without even asking his opinion first...Dave shook his head. Had Alvin not learned by now to ask him for permission before doing these things? His thoughts were interrupted by movement coming from the corner of his right eye. He glanced out the window and spotted Alvin climbing into the treehouse.

"ALLLLVIIIIIINNN!"

Uh-oh. Apparently Dave had spotted him. Alvin climbed up the treehouse faster, prepared to think of some quick escape once he made it to the top. He wasn't giving up without a fight. About three-fourths of the way up, however, he somehow slipped and found himself rushing towards the ground. Alvin was dimly aware of a blow to the crown of his head before everything went black.

Dave had headed toward the back door and made it to the backyard just in time to see Alvin land hard on his head. Horrified, Dave ran to where his son lay. "Alvin, are you okay?" No answer. He felt the boy's pulse and was relieved slightly that it was still going strong. He felt Alvin over quickly. There didn't appear to be any broken bones. Alvin's hat had fallen off and lay just a few feet away, so the rather nasty bump on Alvin's head was plainly visible. Other than that and the fact that the chipmunk was unconscious, Alvin appeared to be fine. Dave gently picked his son up and quickly carried him inside. After placing Alvin on the couch, he dialed 9-1-1. He could barely keep his voice steady on the phone, but the ambulance was on it's way. That taken care of, he called his other two boys.

"Simon, Theodore!"

"What's wrong, Dave?", Theodore inquired as he ambled towards Dave from direction of the kitchen. He had noticed that Dave sounded concerned, so he was already feeling concerned himself. When he noticed Alvin lying on the couch with a large bump on his head, he understood. Alvin had hurt himself somehow. Theodore just stared at his older brother's unconscious form, speechless. Simon appeared next to him, a worried look on his face as well.

"What happened, Dave?"

Dave sighed. "He was climbing into the treehouse and slipped."

Theodore began to sniffle. "W-will he be okay?"

"I'm sure he will be, Theodore." Dave didn't want to worry Theodore and he needed some assurance himself right about now. "I've called the ambulance. They'll be here any second. Listen, boys...we've got to be strong, okay?"

"Okay," Theodore said, wiping a tear from his left eye. Simon just nodded. Alvin, hurt? It just couldn't be. As much as Alvin exasperated Simon at times, he would never have wished something like this on him. And he felt helpless right now…he couldn't do anything for his brother. Wait a minute, yes he could…"Uh, Dave, shouldn't we pray?"

"Oh my gosh, Simon, you're right. Give me your hands, boys." The concerned brothers obeyed and all three said quick, but heartfelt, prayers for Alvin.

The ambulance had arrived by the time they were done. They watched as the EMTs loaded Alvin up and sped him to the emergency room. As Simon watch them drive off, he was sorry that he couldn't do more to help his brother. Then he remembered that Alvin hadn't been wearing his hat. He was sure to want it later on, so Simon figured he'd better hurry up and find it. They'd be leaving for the hospital themselves in just a few minutes.

"Uh, Dave, where is Alvin's cap?" Simon asked Dave before he could leave the room.

"Oh, uh...it should be in the backyard. That's where it was when he fell." Dave headed toward the garage to go start up the car.

"Thanks."

Simon then scrambled to the backdoor, yanked it open, and scanned the ground with his eyes. A red cap, of course, would be hard to miss, so he had spotted it within a second or two. He retrieved it quickly and scurried back into the house until he was right in step behind Theodore and Dave, who were now heading toward the garage.

They just sat there in the waiting room. If Alvin were there, they might have had something to do…something they'd end up getting in trouble for, no doubt. But Alvin was the reason they were here this time, Simon reminded himself sadly. So they just sat there. Simon twiddled his thumbs nervously, Theodore kicked his feet back and forth, and Dave just looked worried.

The doctor walked in after a while. "Mr. Seville?"

"Yes?" Dave answered. Simon and Theodore looked up at the physician, paying very close attention.

"Your son is in a coma. We're not completely sure of any damage caused right now, but it doesn't seem to be as bad as it could have been. He is young and has always been very healthy, so he has a good chance of pulling through. We may place him in Intensive Care later on, depending on how he's doing. You'd best head home for the night."

"Thank you, Doctor. We will. May we see him first?"

"Certainly. This way," the doctor replied, leading them towards Alvin's room.

Simon hurried a bit to fall in pace with the doctor and held up Alvin's cap. "Would it be all right if I were to place this on Alvin's nightstand? He'll want it when he wakes up."

The doctor glanced at the cap and nodded. "Sure. I'll take care of it." He held out his hand. Simon hesitated. Alvin didn't like others handling his beloved cap.

"If it's all the same to you, I'd rather be to one to place it next to him. My brother doesn't like others even touching it."

"Yeah, Alvin's crazy about that hat." Theodore added.

"I understand." The doctor replied quickly, looking ahead. Simon hoped he hadn't hurt his feelings.

After a minute or two, Theodore piped up. "Simon…"

"Yes, Theodore?"

"What's a coma?"

"A profound state of unconsciousness. It means that he isn't aware of what's going on around him. It's like a deep sleep that he won't awaken from."

"Oh." Theodore appeared thoughtful for a moment. "How long does it last?"

"It can last anywhere from a few days to a few years. Usually no more than a few weeks, if I remember correctly." Simon glanced at his little brother. "Don't worry, Theodore. Alvin's always been strong. He'll pull through this." Simon had said it to reassure himself as much as Theodore. He could only hope he was right.

Nothing else was said, for they had reached their destination by now. When Theodore saw Alvin lying in a hospital bed, oblivious to his family standing right there, he hid his face in his hands. Simon placed a comforting hand on his shoulder before setting Alvin's cap on the nightstand. Alvin just has to make it, he thought.

Ooh, cliffy? LOL, not really, for those of you who read the old version on deviantART. This rewrite is mostly to make the story flow better. Other than a few added scenes, I'm not changing the storyline itself. At least, not yet. I may decide to later. So…please review.