I know its bin a long time and i wish it was worth the wait but I wasn't happy with how Chap. 9 was turning out. Then my comp took a massive dump so i was with out for the longest time. but its fixed enough so i can try to complete my story. Thank you for sticking around.

Chapter 9

"Let me go, dammit!" Fox yelled in a blind drunken rage. But Peppy and Falco wouldn't budge.

They drug the enraged fox away from the bar and the tiger that sparked his anger. After several minuets of fighting with him; Peppy and the blue falcon finally wrestle Fox under control and into Peppy's car. Falco sat in the back with Fox wondering how long Fox has bin on this self destructive path.

"I know your pissed at us but you'll be thanking us once you sober up." Peppy said without taking his eyes off the road. Falco nodded in agreement.

"I know we haven't known each other for very long but after all the time we spent hanging out together at the gym, I started to think of you as a friend. And I never turn my back on a friend in need." Falco said as he carefully placed his hand on Fox's shoulder. Fox shrugged it off violently. He then gave Falco a hateful glare which caused the blue falcon to jump slightly.

After Fox's glare, they headed back to Peppy's house in silence. Once they arrived at Peppy's home, the still drunk and highly aggravated fox started yelling at both the old hare and the blue falcon.

"I'll beat the living shit outta you for interfering with my business with that bastard!" Fox hollered as he struggled harder to get out of the grips of Falco and Peppy. Once they worked their way into Peppy's house, a young frog peeked out a doorway to see what was the cause of all the commotion. Fox spotted the frog but it didn't hit him that there was another person in Peppy's home until the frog spoke up.

"Um, Peppy, is everything OK? Why are you and the blue bird fighting with that fox?" He squeaked in a young kid voice. Falco was the first to respond with a glare of his own.

"Falcon not bird!" Falco snapped. The young frog jumped backed behind his cover.

"Yes, Slippy everything's fine. This is my late commander's son. He doesn't know it yet but we just pulled his furry ass out of a major fire. Don't listen to his out bursts either, he's a little on the wasted side." The old hare informed. Fox looked over his shoulder at Peppy with another glare.

*After a few minutes of fighting with the still angry but slightly sobered fox, Peppy and Falco, with a little help from the frightened Slippy, they got Fox in a chair and completely secured. The only thing Fox could do at that point was thrash about only hurting himself and shouting angry threats.

"Get me out of this chair! I'm not going to do anything! I'm done. Now let me GO!" Fox yelled as he twisted his body about trying to get loose.

"Not going to fall for it buddy." Peppy started as he knelt down to look Fox in his eyes. "You need to calm down and listen to us. We are not your enemies. We are here to get you to drop this drinking bullshit and to get your life back onto track. I care for you, Fox. I know Falco thinks of you as a friend. In fact on several occasions he has even told me that you are something of a kindred spirit with him." Peppy paused and looked to Falco who was nodding in agreement. He looked back to the fox, "You need to stop this. All this drinking is not going to bring your dad back. The only thing it is doing is killing yourself. We are here for you. Pepper even is worried about you. That's how we found out about what you were doing. He had some people shadowing you for a while. He did that because he cares also..." Peppy said before another angry outburst from Fox.

"LIAR! I see it now! You guys are working for Andross! That's why Pepper had people following me, that's how you knew about what I was doing. Why didn't I see it before!? And now your waiting for your boss to give you word that its OK to kill me! I mean why else would you have me tied to this chair if you wasn't going to kill me!?" Fox yelled in a paranoid rant. Peppy listened to every threat and put up with each struggle that the fox tried but this, this he couldn't let slide. Anger fired up in the old hare's eyes, and before he could stop himself, he punched Fox as hard as he could. Peppy's fist connected squarely to Fox's right cheek, forcing his head to the turn to the left. Fox had a dumbfounded look on his face, he wasn't expecting a reaction like that from Peppy.

"You really think I'm working for Andross!?" The old hare yelled, he was done trying to be nice. He then let out a heavy sigh and looked back at Fox with a slight apologetic look in his eyes but he was still hurt from Fox's drunken outburst. Peppy looked at the young fox, he noticed a small trickle of blood running down his lip. He felt even worse but Fox had crossed the line.

"I'm sorry guys," Fox whispered slightly. He then let out a loud sob, like all the pain he had felt and caused in these recent months hit him all at once. Peppy looked towards Falco and nodded, he knew that this was no trick. They finally broke the barrier that Fox built to protect himself. Falco nodded back and let go of the restraints that held the now weeping fox.

Peppy knelt down to Fox's side and placed an arm around him. "I know, buddy, I know. I miss James too. But this drinking and picking fights, that won't bring your father back. But I know a way you can honor his memory. The general has already worked out the details, he just needs my go ahead. When your ready, we are sending you to the Academy. Falco is going too, mainly to keep watch over you since I already graduated and cannot attend to your classes. My young green friend in the back is already attending but I'm sure once you get to know him, you both would be friends." Fox didn't say anything, he just continued to weep uncontrollably.

Falco came over and placed a hand on the fox's shoulder in a comforting way. "Looks like Fox is finished. What do you say, Peppy, should we take him home to sleep off whatever is still in his system?"

Peppy nodded. "Yea, that will be for the best. But first, he'll need some painkillers for the punch and the hangover." Peppy let out a slight chuckle then went to get some painkillers. "Alright, now let's get Fox home. He might sleep better in his own bed then here at my house."

Falco and Slippy helped get Fox to his feet and into Peppy's car, the drive was very short only taking minutes. Once they arrived, Fox started stirring, almost like his intoxication and sudden exhaustion where causing him to have hallucinations. He would jerk away from something that wasn't visible to the others, or he would yell some rage filled threats to a taunting shadow. After about five more minutes of fighting with Fox, the group made their way inside Fox's house. It still looked just like it was the last time Peppy came to check on Fox. Peppy and Falco helped the now nearly passed-out fox to his room, which was a complete mess. Falco cleared a path to Fox's bed and cleaned it off, then the old hare and the young frog helped Fox to his bed. Fox sat down hard making a noticeable thumping sound. Peppy pushed Fox over onto his side. "Get some sleep, I'm taking Slippy home then I'll be right back. I'm sure Falco wouldn't mind waiting until I get back."

The three turned and left the tired fox to sleep. Falco hopped into the couch in the living room with a thump. He looked around for the remote to the TV but it was nowhere in sight. As he glanced around he seen a magazine that seemed to be more interesting then anything that could possibly be on television at this time of night. Falco thumbed through the book for a few minutes before he hopped back up to peek in on Fox.

He seems to be sleeping, Falco thought to himself, probably better if I just leave him be. Fox lied on his side just as Peppy pushed him over, unmoving aside from steady breathing. But Falco had no idea that Fox was dreaming of something that none of them could ever or would ever believe.