CH.4: Working it out

Gadget wiped the sweat from her brow as she set the wrench down. "That should do it, try it now." Gadget told the driver of the vehicle.

Starting it up the driver wore a smile as the purr of the engine reached his ears. "Wow Gadget, sounds real purty."

"Thanks…just make sure you avoid crashing it up next time ok?' Gadget walked over to the sink as she rinsed her oiled up hands.

"Will do Gadget…and thanks." The driver then headed out and screeched as he turned into traffic.

"Well Gadget, safe to say you fit in like a shoe," a mouse told her as he came out of an office. He was using a cane to walk and his hair, well most of that was left was thin strands of silver.

"I believe it is glove, but thanks all the same. Thanks again Uncle for letting me stay here. I just didn't know who else to turn to." She turned off the sink and ran her hands along her coveralls.

"Oh it is no problem; I actually enjoy your company. You remind me so much of your father, my brother. Now Gadget, I don't want you spending too much time working, the city has so much to offer-."

"All I know is work, and besides, you are backed up on your orders anyway. A lot of these people need your help…and I intend to help." Gadget let out a sigh of relief as her Uncle didn't contend with her. She needed this after all, a break from the Rangers to see if she could find that spark of hers again; a part of her she lost some time ago.

So for the next few days Gadget kept busy, her hands working diligently as she fixed holes, patched up broken wings, even found problems that were internal for which the owner of the vehicle was not aware. All in all she was happy, well, mostly. During one of her breaks she climbed to the top of the building and looked up and off to the direction the Rescue Ranger base was. A small sigh escaped her lips as she kicked her legs out.

"I thought I'd find you here," a familiar voice said. Flapping down and coming to a stop a few feet from her was a bat with a rosy complexion and a warm smile.

"Foxglove…what are you doing here?" Gadget tried her best to not get startled by the bat.

"I came to seek your help. Nimnul is causing a major problem with power and a lot of the animals need it…otherwise the cats get them. You are reliable in a pinch and I found out from Dale about your departure-."

"Darn Dale…can't keep his mouth closed." Gadget shook her head out of amusement rather then anger. "Wait…why were you there?"

Foxglove went silent and her cheeks began to get as bright as her body. "Oh, no reason in particular, just visiting a friend is all-."

"You love Dale…don't you?" Gadget found the bat not arguing it and she smiled. "I can't believe it, how did it happen…no wait…when did it happen?"

"It doesn't matter, any of it," Foxglove forgot about her feelings as she walked over to the edge and looked off in the direction of the Ranger base.

"Oh c'mon, why wouldn't he return your feelings? Dale is fun as you and he can be a bit…clumsy as you, what would-."

"It's you Gadget. All he could talk about was you. How do I compete with that?" Foxglove's voice began to break and she sniffed.

"Golly…I didn't realize. I don't think I ever did anything to draw his eye to me, but, I also probably didn't do anything to stop him, if I knew. Look Foxglove, you don't have to worry about me, when it comes to guys I'm oblivious as the next. You should tell him how you feel, I mean really feel."

Foxglove nodded her head and gave her a small smile. "Thanks Gadget, it feels nice to talk to another girl. Oh…and before I forget…you in?"

"Oh no I couldn't possibly; I mean, sure a part of me is anxious to work a case, but I need to help my Uncle run this place. It can get quite busy. I do appreciate the visit though, it is nice seeing someone from my past."

Foxglove sighed; realizing Gadget was set on her decision. "If you change your mind, call my name, I'm not that far away." Foxglove took off leaving Gadget to herself.

Gadget nodded her head and went back down to the shop where she found her Uncle waiting for her. "Oh, um, I didn't realize you were up."

"Gadget…are you sure you're happy working here?" Looking at her fidget about he took a sigh as he walked over to his chair. Taking a seat he gestured at the seat next to him.

Gadget walked over taking a seat, her hands situated on her lap. "Uncle…everything I do I mess up on, sure it comes out as a success later down the line, but…I put my friends lives in danger. How do you go back to that life?"

Heaving a sigh he leaned back and wore a smile. "You know, you sound just like your father. He had his doubts just as much as you, probably a little more given his piloting. He would sit where you sit and talk my ear off, boy could he talk. My brother, half the time it was hard to believe our age difference. Look, I will tell you what I told him, get your butt off that chair and choose a path and walk it, don't look back, don't second guess yourself. The more you do that…the more speeches I have to come up with."

Gadget reached over giving him a hug. "Thanks Uncle…I will do just that…soon as I finish this next customer's vehicle." Gadget rose up and tied her hair into a ponytail. Looking at the vehicle she found it in a complete mess, the job itself looked like an all-nighter, not that she didn't know what those were.

"So, what do you make of it?" A male squirrel noted as he leaned against the nose, his sparkling eyes lit up under the swinging light.

"I'd say you got yourself a death trap, what happened?" Gadget could see the shape of the wings were off balance, so when it flew it would fly to the left favorably, the seats were too close leaving little room for the total seating capacity, oh and to top it off…the landing gears looked shoddy so any landing would scratch up the bottom.

"Well…our mechanic walked out on us," he said in a deep accent, his hand brushing at his chest, "too many risks that is what he said. So, think you can fix her?"

"There is nothing I can't fix, though, what risks are talking about?" Gadget examined the vehicle assessing what needed to be done and heard flapping then a rustle above. Getting up she looked over to see a familiar bat laying on top.

"Taking on mad scientists, tracking down stolen jewels from cats, oh and ensuring the city stay safe long enough for cops to arrest them." Foxglove wore a smirk as she saw Gadget's shocked look.

"Wait a minute…you're on a team?" Gadget looked over at the squirrel and as he snapped his fingers she saw a turtle and a hare.

"We're the Danger Squad; we do what the Rescue Rangers won't. High explosives, snapping death, and of course gnarled passages underground; that is our game. It so happens, Foxglove here says you turned down her offer-."

"I didn't know you wanted me on a team," Gadget gestured at the assembled team. "This would be a betrayal to my time in the Rescue Rangers…I can't-."

"We just need you for this mission, one you guys failed to stop. After you finish you can go back to fixing…stuff like this." The squirrel gestured at the garage.

"I don't know…what if the Rescue Rangers come?" Gadget rubbed her arm but found Foxglove right beside her.

"They will understand, this is your life now. One mission that is all we're asking. Come on Gadget, what do you say?" Foxglove pulled her close and smiled.

Gadget sighed realizing what her Uncle said was true. She needed to choose a path to walk, even if it wasn't with the Rescue Rangers. "Alright, no time like the present."

"Great, well this is Ray…he is the leader of the group. The turtle is Jonsie, he is the tactical genius, and the hare is named Damian…works with explosives. And you already know who I am." She led Gadget over as introductions were made.

Gadget shook hands and smiled, though on the inside she was fretting making such a decision knowing down the road she'd face her former team mates…and why did Chip come to mind all of a sudden?

Authors note: Gadget is on a new team set for a collision of sorts against Nimnul, though chances are the Rangers won't be too far behind. How will these two teams manage such a collision? And how will they fare against a strong foe like Nimnul? Hope you tune in to find out.