Goofy wasn't one to worry too much about Max. He knew he was responsible, he's never had a ticket or gotten into an accident, and he always made sure Goofy knew where he was.

However, it was half past two in the morning, and Max still wasn't home. Goofy was getting worried. He called the hotel where his junior prom was held to see if Max booked a room, no Max. He called Bobby's parents, no Max. He called Roxanne's father, he wasn't home or was asleep. He finally called Pete, and -yep, you guessed it- no Max.

"Pete, what am I going to do?" Goofy lamented. "He's never stayed out all night! I think something might've happened to him."

Pete was tired. He yawned. "Maybe he checked in at the hotel where the prom was."

"I called the hotel. He isn't there." Goofy moaned and rubbed his forehead. "I just hope he's okay.."

Pete sighed. "I dunno, Goof-"

"Oh, what do you know?" Goofy snapped. He instantly regretted that. He sighed. "I'm sorry, Pete. I didn't mean that."

Pete glared at the phone, then shrugged it off. "Hey, you're worried about your kid."

Goofy smiled slightly and took that as forgiveness. "Thanks, Petey."

"All right." He yawned again. "Good-night" Pete hung up.

"Good night." Goofy hung up and sighed again. He put his head in his hands. He thought about going out to find him, but, then realized Max took the car. But since when did that stop Goofy? The phone's ring startled Goofy out of his thoughts. He picked up the phone. "Max?"

"Mr. Goofy, this is Doctor Ellishing at Spoonerville General. Your son was found in an alley with a gunshot wound in his chest..."

Goofy's stomach dropped. His heart started pounding loudly, his breath caught in his throat, his whole body was shaking, the doctor on the other line sounded echo-y, and the fireplace and TV across the room seemed to distance themselves. After the doctor hung up, Goofy dropped the phone and sprinted to Pete's to borrow his car.

XX

After fifteen minutes of pounding on the Pete's door, Pete yelling at Goofy, Peg yelling at Pete for yelling at Goofy, Peg volunteered to drive Goofy to the hospital. They ran through the emergency room before finding out what happened to Max.

"He's in Operating Room four." The nurse told them. Goofy rushed through the doors followed by Peg. "Hey, you can't go through there!" Goofy ignored her. He found the operating room.

A team of six doctors were working on Max. A lump rose to Goofy's throat and his eyes stung with tears. 'How could I let this happen?' He thought sadly. He watched with his hands pressed against the glass window above the door.

"Maxie..." He whispered, his voice shaking. Peg put a comforting hand on her friends' shoulder.

"I'm sure he'll be fine." Peg said comfortingly. "He's strong and resourceful. He'll pull through."

Goofy put a hand over Peg's and closed his eyes. "Thanks." Goofy let Peg lead him to the couches in the waiting area.

"I need to go home for a while." Peg said. "PJ still doesn't know what's going on. And I'll have Pete pick up your car."

Goofy nodded. "Thanks."

"You're welcome."

Goofy watched Peg walk off. Sleep then overcame Goofy, and he lay on the couch and closed his eyes.

XX

Goofy was woken up by the hustle and bustle of the morning shift. Sunlight shone through the windows. Goofy got up and walked to OR Four. He looked through the window and saw the same team working on who looked like Max. The surgeons finally stopped. They bowed their heads. One of them put a sheet over the patients' head, another checked the time, and another wrote something on a clipboard. Realization dawned on Goofy.

Max was...gone...forever...

Goofy turned around and sank to the floor. He shook his head slowly, tears streaming down his face.

"Goofy?"

Goofy looked up to see Peg. "I was just coming to find you. Max got out of surgery while you were asleep."

"Wh...what?" Goofy stood up. "You...you mean...?" He looked towards the operating room.

Peg put the puzzle together. "Oh, Goofy, you thought he was still in there."

"Yeah..." They got out of the way as the door opened and the doctors walked out. One of them walked to two young women with blonde hair.

Peg took Goofy's hand again. "Come on. Max is in room 235 west 6."

They went to Max's recovery room. Max was sleeping peacefully. He looked so small and fragile to Goofy. He slowly walked to Max's side, and took one of his hands in his. Max's hand felt warm which was a comfort to the worried father. Goofy gently squeezed his sons' hand.

"Maxie...I'm so sorry..." Goofy sniffed. "It should be me on the hospital bed, not you." He kept hold of Max's hand and lay his head on the bed.

'I never want to have these feelings again.' Goofy thought forlornly. 'I promise, Maxie: I'll never let anything happen to you again.'

I was going to skip right to when Max wakes up, but I decided to add Goofy's point of view on what happened that night. I also wanted to give Goofy a GOOD friend to be there for him, and Peg was the first person that came to my mind.