I saw the movie the first time, I was confused. I saw the movie a second time, I am still very much confusion.

I got a fanfiction out of it at least.

Honestly I really wanted to write this because I want just some comfort so they can probably apologise to each other.

Title from Line Without A Hook

Enjoy

Apologies if their ooc:3

Chip needed to talk to him. They needed to talk about this. He needed to apologise.

Dale had asked him if he could stay the night, and of course he said yes. Dale said something about getting some cheese crust pizza and watching old cartoons and shows like they used to do back in their youth. But, like all good detectives, even if they were portraying them on TV, Chip knew why Dale wanted to stay the night, he was just in denial about it like everything else.

But Chip didn't bring it up at the moment, for now, they cringed and laughed at some of their favourite cartoons and shows and commercials they worked on back when they first started out.

After about a couple of hours, the laughter died down and it became one of these awkward silences. Chip turned to see his brother looking down. Something was wrong. "Dale?" Chip asked, older brotherly instincts kicking in as he shuffled closer to him. Dale shuffled away to the opposite end of the couch they were sharing. Something was definitely wrong.

"Dale." Chip said harsher than he intended to be, Dale flinched away even further into the couch, trying and failing miserably to make himself invisible. Chip frowns, shuffling closer. "If you're still mad about-" Chip paused in his sentence as he heard sniffling on the other side of the couch.

"Dale..." Chip said sympathetically, wrapping an arm around him. Dale wraps his arms around Chip, sobbing.

Chip held him like the older brother he was, rubbing his back and kissing his forehead brotherly. Dale started sobbing a little bit harder, concerning the older Chipmunk just a bit.

How long had Dale Felt like this?

The younger bucktoothed chipmunk eventually started hyperventilating. Panicking.

Chip tried to get the other chipmunk to look at him, eventually, after several attempts, Dale was looking right at him.

"Dale," Chip said, firm yet gently. " I need you to copy my breathing, okay? Like this." Chip said, inhaling, waiting for his other Chipmunk co-star to follow. After 15 minutes of the boys doing the breathing, the chipmunk with the red nose finally calmed down.

"What the hell was that about?" Chip asked, shuffling back a bit to give the chipmunk his space, still resting one of his paws on the other's. Dale squeezed, a little tighter than he should've done. Chip squeezed back, his features softening. "You didn't just wanna stay for the cheese crust pizza, did you?" Chip asked with a knowing sad smile.

Dale looks away, shyly ashamed. Chip squeezed Dale's shaking paw. "You Don't have to lie to me, you know? You could've just said something."

Dale remained silent for a moment.

"…I didn't want you thinking I was weak without you…." He says, Voice trembling like the week pathetic thing he was.

"I was so lonely without you, I was a wreck… when Mom died, I tried to drown myself in work, hoping that would help me forget the pain." Dale sobbed softly, Chip hugging him just as softly. After a moment Chip pulled away. "Why didn't you say anything earlier?" Chip asked.

Dale shrugged. "I kinda figured after I fucked everything up with Double O' Dale, you wouldn't want anything to do with me…."

Chip frowned. "Dale you're an absolute idiot, but if you needed me back then, you should've said something! I could've helped you, even though I was still angry about everything, we could've reconciled much sooner, then neither of us would be feeling like this…"

Dale blinked in confusion.

Chip sighed. It had been so long… "I'd be lying if I said I've been okay these past few decades without you. After I left, I went to a bar to drown my sorrows in alcohol, after that, I got my shit together, got a job, and repeated the same shit every day for I don't remember how long." Chip confessed, his voice trembling just as much as Dale's moments prior.

It was now Dale's turn to give Chip a hug, which he did not hesitate, and immediately hugged him back.

After a few minutes the boys pulled apart.

Chip staring at his little brother. "You should really get some help Dale, your mental health is a serious problem."

Dale snorted. "Ha! Real funny Chip, since when do you care about my mental health?" Dale asked in a jokey way.

Chip frowned. "Dale, i'm being genuinely serious! And, of course I care about your mental health! You're my brother for crying out goddamn loud! Just because I was pissed about you getting that so-called 'pilot', didn't mean I didn't care about you! When Mom died I was just as devastated as you!" Chip shouted.

Dale scowled, shoving his cell phone in his brother's face, telling him to go to his contact number.

There were so many missed voicemails. But there was one particular voicemail that made Chip start silently crying. His little brother was on the verge of tears as he spoke into the phone, apologising profusely, begging his older brother to talk with him.

Dale sat there, also silently crying, as his older brother listened to his devastating voicemail,

Once the voicemail was finished Chip put the cell phone down discarding it on the couch, he wrapped his little brother in a hug, hugging him tighter than he'd ever done.

Dale started babbling non-audible words, Chip shushing him. "Shhhh Dale, slow down and take a deep breath." Chip soothed. Dale did as instructed before speaking again. "I-I tried to contact you for so long… but you weren't there. You-you completely shut me out… I needed you, Chip!" Dale sobbed.

Chip squeezed even tighter, kissing his brother on the forehead, Dale leaning in for the warmth.

"Shhhh, shhhh, it's okay, I'm here, I'm not going anywhere, not now, not ever. I'm here little brother, i'm here…" Chip soothed, speaking in his high-pitched voice to see if that would help.

Dale nuzzled closer, causing his brother to pick him up sitting him on his lap. Chip rubbed his brother's back soothingly.

"I'm sorry…" Dale says.

"I'm sorry too." Chip replies.

They hug each other now with their family things behind them.

After a while his little brother calmed down.

Chip smiles softly at his Little brother. "Feel any better?" Chip asked softly.

Dale nodded. "A little, but I think you're right, I think I do need to see a mental health professional."

Chip nodded. " I think so too." Chip says.

It was much later now, Dale finally asleep. Chip watching him protectively like older brothers should.

Chip never realised how much his little brother was suffering and it was the same for his little brother, he didn't know how much Chip had suffered either. But of course, Chip could understand situations better than his younger brother.

But that didn't mean he could shut him out like that. They were brothers after all, and no matter how tough the situation, you still have to help each other. Chip didn't help his little brother at all, all he saw was his little brother was being selfish about getting his own show. When in reality he just felt overshadowed, he wanted to prove to everyone, especially to his older brother that he could do things on his own.

But instead of being supportive and happy, and apologising and talking about this sooner, Chip pushed his baby brother away for years because his little brother wanted some of the limelight.

Dale wasn't completely off the hook though either, he went behind his older brother's back, not talking to him first. They should've talked things out first, they should've told each other how they were feeling, maybe then Rescue Rangers would've lasted a little bit longer, maybe then they could've grieved together over the loss of their mother, being there for one another like brothers always should be.

But unfortunately it took them until Monterey Jack called decades later to see each other again. And even then they were still bickering with each other, Chip was still sour about the whole thing, and they were both suffering mentally because of it. Only, one of them was very very very much in denial about it.

They both had a lot to work on, that was most certainly clear, but now that they've fully apologised, talked and cried about it, they were slowly beginning the road to recovery, together. There were many things they still needed to talk about, but the elder of the two was very glad his little brother could finally confide in him once again.

Brothers together, best friends forever. Just how it should be.