Chapter 21

"Don't hold a grudge against your enemy,

lest you be condemned."

(James 5:9)

"If someone is willing to sacrifice themselves for their friends,

there is no greater love than that."

(John 15:13)

Dale woke up late in the night to see Chip bursting in the room. Though Dale now shared the bedroom with Foxglove, Chip's stuff was still in the bedroom.

Chip strode over to the dresser and pulled out one of the drawers.

Dale sat up. "What's going on?" he asked as he rubbed his eyes.

"Nothing," Chip declared. "We're just going to go see what's going on in the city."

Dale leaped out of bed, excited now. "I'll go with you," he suggested.

Chip shut the drawer with his foot since his arms were full of shirts. It was cold out tonight. "No," he protested. "You stay here."

"What? Why?"

"Just 'cause."

"Come on, Chip, what's going on?"

"That's between me and the others. You just stay here and stay out of trouble." He headed to the door.

"Whatever happened to nobody gets left behind?" Dale snapped.

Chip stopped and turned to him. "I'm sorry, but this is just something I have to do on my own," he said.

"So, that's it, huh?" Dale asked. "No explanation. You just leave me behind, just like my father?" He felt tears well up in his eyes. He quickly wiped them away.

"I know this doesn't make any sense to you now, but, trust me, it will hereafter," Chip replied. "Just stay here and stay out of this, Dale. I want you to promise me you'll stay here."

"But–"

"Promise me!"

Dale sighed. "I promise."

Chip left the room, shutting the door behind him.

Dale was tempted to go after him, but he went back to bed instead.

"Chip, are you sure about this?" Gadget asked.

"I can handle this on my own. Don't worry about me," Chip replied. "Make sure Dale stays here."

"Chip, be careful," Gadget advised.

"I will. Just make sure Dale stays out of trouble." He walked out of the room and outside.

Dale's curiosity got the better of him. He knew how the others had found him. It'd been due to a tracking device that had been inserted into his skin. Everyone of the Rescue Rangers had one. This way, they ould keep track of each other so no one got lost. Going on this thesis, he went to Gadget's room and got the tracker, which was laying on Gadget's bedside table.

He trapped the screen, bringing up the map of the city of New York. "Okay, Chip, where are you?" he questioned. It didn't take him long to find Chip. The blinking yellow light stuck out like a sore thumb. As he followed the light's path, he noticed that it was traveling awful fast. "He must be using the Ranger Wing."

He entered the living room.

"Dale, what are you doing with the tracker?" Gadget inquired.

"I need to find Chip,' Dale replied.

"He told us to make sure you stayed here, lad," Monty spoke up.

"Sorry," Dale replied. "Something's going on, and I want to know what."

"Dale, I think it would be wise to listen to Chip, just this once," Foxglove stated.

Dale snorted. "Sorry," he repeated.

Foxglove sighed. "You really want to do this?"

Dale nodded.

"Fine," she agreed. "I'll take you. Just tell me where to go."

Hanging from Foxglove's talons, Dale told his fiance where she needed to go. When the blinking light stopped moving, he told her to go down. They landed on the ground beside an old abandoned warehouse.

The warehouse looked like it hadn't been like used in years. Wooden boards covered the windowless windows while blinds covered others. The lamp above the front door, which rested on only the middle hinge, thus making it block the doorway since it leaned against the other side of the doorframe, flickered on and off.

"Jeez, what a dump," Foxglove said. "Why on Earth would Chip come here?"

"I think I have an idea," Dale stated. "Come on." He led her inside the warehouse.

Not to their surprise, the warehouse was dark.

"Foxglove, see if you can find Chip," he said. "If you do, report back to me and lead me to him."

Foxglove nodded and flew off. Moments later, she landed beside Dale. "Come on," she said. She led him up to the third floor, where Chip and Bryan Priddy were located.

Dale instantly recognized Bryan as he'd seen his picture back on the TV when he'd been released from jail. "You," he yelled, pointing a finger at Bryan. He launched himself at the gray squirrel.

"Dale, wait," Foxglove cried.

Dale didn't wait to listen. He gripped Bryan's throat and began to beat the squirrel's head against the floor. "You killed my father, you creep!"

Bryan pushed Dale off. "I'll take care of you first," he said. He pulled out a gun from his jacket and pointed it at Dale. He cocked the hammer and closed one eye.

Dale, no, Chip thought. He raced toward the chipmunk. We've been through too much together, he went on. I can't let you die. I remember the first day I met you. You were just a little kid, only fifteen years of age. I took you in and raised you as my own. I know I was hard on you, but it was for your own good. You never ceased to amaze me. Every time I thought I had you all figured out, you'd turn around and do something extraordinary. The harder things became, the more determined you became. Your determination to never give up is what kept you part of the Rescue Rangers team. Although you were like a child, I never gave up on you. If I can sacrifice my life for you, then that's something worth dying for.

Dale watched as Chip dove in front of the bullet. The bullet ripped through Chip's chest and flew out his back. Blood spilled out from the wound. Chip gripped his chest, gasping and shuddering as he collasped to the floor.

"Chip," Dale cried. He ran to his friend's aid.

"Dale," Chip groaned.

Dale put a finger on Chip's mouth. "Don't talk," he advised. "You're just hastening your death."

"No," Chip argued. "You have to hear this. Please. All those years I tormented you and treated you like a child, I didn't mean it. I didn't know about your father."

"I know. Please, be quiet."

"No!"

Dale smiled. Even on his deathbed, his friend still argued.

"I'm sorry for the way I treated you," Chip went on. "No one deserves that kind of treatment, not even you. I'm sorry, so sorry. Can-can you ever forgive me?" He coughed up some blood.

"Of course I can," Dale replied. "You're my best friend. How could I not forgive you?"

"Dale . . ." He gripped Dale's shirt and lowered the chipmunk until their noses were touching. "Kill him . . . for me. No matter what it takes, do whatever it takes to make sure there's no trace of him left."

"Chip, hold on for me, please."

Chip shook his head. "I can't do that," he stated. "I'm-I'm too weak."

"Foxglove, get Chip out of here now!" Dale shouted. "Hurry!"

Foxglove quickly picked Chip up and carried him off.

Dale turned to Bryan. "You took my father away from me, and now my best friend," he said. "You don't deserve to live after what you've done."

Bryan laughed. "You, a lowly chipmunk, think you can defeat me?" he asked.

"I don't think, I know."

"Well, then, let's see what you've got, little man."

"Enough talk! Let's fight, now!"

"Very well. Your move, Sherlock."

Don't hold anything back, Dale, Dale told himself. He ran towards Bryan. He kicked the squirrel in the stomach. Bryan fell to his knees, dropping the gun. Dale grabbed it and pointed it at the squirrel's head.

Bryan kicked Dale in the leg. He stood up and elbowed Dale in the face. He turned around and smacked the chipmunk in the mouth. "You're not going to win that easily," he commented.

Dale smiled. "Good," he replied. "I love a challenge."

"Cast the gun aside. I want to win fair and square."

Dale nodded and threw the gun to the side.

Bryan made the first move. Dale grabbed his paw and flipped the squirrel onto his back. He smiled. Those training sessions with Chip were really starting to pay off.

Bryan rolled backward, kicking Dale in the face. He stood up and once again tried to punch the chipmunk. Dale was faster. Once again, he grabbed the squirrel's paw and kicked him in the stomach.

Bryan fell to his knees, clutching his stomach. Dale kicked him in the head with a sweep of his leg, knocking the squirrel to the side.

Bryan didn't move. He'd stopped breathing. Apparently, Dale had whacked him in his temple.

Dale picked up the gun, then turned to Bryan. "Sned me a postcard from hell, let me know if it's hot enough," he said.

Chip lied on the couch, looking frail. His breathing came out in short wheezes. His wound had been bandaged up, but he still wasn't faring any better. He was actually getting worse.

Gadget dipped a washrag into a bowl of cool water and put it on Chip's head. "Hang in there, Chip," she stated.

Chip sighed in content as the cold cloth touched his forehead. He felt hot. He sat up and took off his jacket and cast it aside, then lied back down. His chest heaved up and down. The pain was excruciating. He didn't know how much longer he'd last, though he hoped he'd last long enough to see Dale before he passed away. He loved the chipmunk like a son. He knew that his death would be extremely hard on Dale. He imagined that Dale would be enraged. He wouldn't blame him for being furious. He'd lost his father and now his best friend.

Fifteen minutes later, Chip passed away, but no without making Jesus his personal Lord and Savior. Knowing that he'd meet Dale again in heaven, his death was a peaceful one.

Now the group had a major dilemma on their hands: which one of them was going to tell Dale the bad news? More importantly, how were they going to tell him?

Dale entered the house moments later, looking exhausted.

"Dale," Foxglove said. She carefully approached him. "Dale, Chip's gone. He didn't make it."

Dale marched out of the room and to his room, slamming the door shut.