Early morning light filtered through the windows of headquarters. Chip stretched his aching bones, only to realize he had fallen asleep on the couch. Shaking the sleepy feeling from his mind, he stood and stretched more deeply. He began to make his way to the bathroom to wash up, but stopped in his tracks when he reached the hallway.

Clarice stopped in the middle of the hall, clad in a satiny light blue robe. Her cheeks flushed, and she stuttered a bit as she spoke. "I—I was just going to take a shower. Um, Zipper and I went last night to get a few of my things from the club . . . I hope you don't mind."

/Of course I mind/ his mind screamed. Outwardly, he managed a civil tone. "I'm sure everyone will be fine with you staying here."

"Well, Gadget was the one who suggested it." She pulled her robe more tightly around her. "She was worried about me being by myself."

Chip nodded, trying to stay cool. "Gadget's always looking out for others."

Clarice tried to smile, but couldn't make herself. To complete the conversation, she quickly slipped into the bathroom, leaving Chip to wallow in his own self-doubt about his feelings for the two women in his life. He made his way into the bedroom to don a light sweatshirt. Maybe a short jog would clear his senses.

Dale was snoring on the top bunk. The sound was grating to Chip's ears; he changed as rapidly as possible and left. Once outside, he allowed the brisk winds fill his lungs as he gently warmed his muscles. As he jogged and jumped from tree limb to tree limb, his mind wandered. He kept thinking about what Clarice had told him last night; he knew he would not forget her words as long as he lived.

"Dale and I . . . I'm so sorry, Chip."

She didn't need to go into detail. He had sat in stony silence as she sobbed out her mistakes. He was too shocked to even shed a tear. Now, as his feet pounded the bark beneath him, anger rose into his throat. It wasn't fair of her! Why did she have to come back and ruin everything? He'd been fine . . . he'd been fine . . . he'd been . . . .

He collapsed on the tree limb. Curling up in a fetal position, the wind cutting through his fur to his very core, he cried—really cried. Chip—the leader, the logical one, the control freak—fell apart on a solitary branch. He had squelched his pain, his anger, his fear for so long. Striking out at Dale, his best friend, had never eased his inner ache. Perhaps, somehow, he'd had a subconscious knowing about Clarice and Dale. The thought of his once-fiancée and dearest friend almost made him retch. He hiccupped loudly; he couldn't remember the last time he had cried like a child. After a few minutes, the tears began to subside. He pulled himself from his curled up position and sat on the limb, staring down into the snow-covered park. From his vantage point, he saw small human children, probably a brother and sister, working together to make a snowman. A husband and wife, the children's parents, sat snuggled together on a bench. As they watched their progeny, the parents whispered and laughed, sharing inside jokes and little intimate secrets with each other as they had a few precious moments in solitude.

Chip's mind drifted as he watched the human interaction below. What would it be like? To have someone with whom he could share everything with—his desires, his fears? To one day have children—to ponder with his mate over which child had whose nose or eyes? To have a normal job . . . or at least a job where he wouldn't have to worry that he was going to die that day by Fat Cat's fangs or Nimnul's explosions? He was lost in his reverie as someone settled close beside him.

"It could still happen," a voice whispered in his ear.

Chip turned in surprise and found himself nose to nose with Clarice. "What-?"

His inquiry was cut short. His eyes widened as Clarice kissed him, ever so tenderly. When she pulled away, he stared at her in disbelief. Clarice peered into his dark brown eyes and took one of his hands in hers.

"I still love you, Chip," she murmured.

His lips trembled as he gazed back at her. "Clarice, I don't know what to say."

She snuggled against him, closing her eyes. "You don't have to say anything. I know you're in love with Gadget."

Chip stiffened. "Clarice, I don't think this is the right time or place to talk about this."

"I don't care." She wiped a stray tear from her cheek. "I just want this moment for us. The way we used to be." She looked up at Chip. "Relax."

"Is that what you said to Dale that night?"

Clarice pulled away, her face looking as though she'd been slapped. "I didn't follow you to fight."

Chip struggled to his feet. "What did you come out here to do? Lure me into loving you again, just to be thrown away like garbage?" His voice rose. "I don't understand you, Clarice. One minute you're like an innocent little girl, and the next, you're telling me you love me and you want things to go back the way they were. Well, I've got news for you, and I hope you listen very carefully. Things can't be that simple. I'm a different person now. I live a different life. No more carefree attitude, no more falling for just a pretty face." He turned his back to her. "You said it before—you don't know me anymore. You've only been here a day! I don't know what you want from me. All you've done is turn my life upside down and inside out."

Clarice stood, coming up behind him and putting her hands on his shoulders. "Chip. I've told you everything. I came clean about what happened. I just . . . I just want to know if you forgive me." She gave a whisper of a sigh. "I don't know what else to do."

Chip whirled around, startling her. "Leave me alone—let me finish this case. Let me go on with my life!" He stormed off, breaking into a fast jog, leaving Clarice alone with the laughter of the children below ringing in her ears.

Chip arrived back at headquarters about an hour later. He was tired, sweaty, and drained. He practically stumbled into his home and headed straight for the shower. As the hot water hit his fur, he permitted a few tears to join the water trickling down his face. A knock on the door jolted him out of his feeling sorry for himself. "What do you need?" he yelled over the shower.

"Um, Chip? It's Gadget." Chip could tell she was blushing just being outside the door.

"What is it?"

"Was Clarice with you? She hasn't come back in, and we're getting worried."

Chip cursed under his breath. Great. "Uh, no—hang on a minute." He turned off the shower, towel dried himself, and slipped back into his sweaty shirt. He opened the door quickly, alarming Gadget. He found it very difficult to meet her eyes. They were so very blue, crystalline . . . .

"Chip?" Gadget gave him a little shake. "Where's Clarice?"

"I don't know." Chip forced himself to look at Gadget. "She followed me . . . and we talked." Gadget raised an eyebrow. "Ok, ok, we argued." Chip crossed his arms defensively. "She wanted me to relax." Something about that word made both blush a little. "I took off and left her there." He slapped a hand on his forehead. "I'm so stupid," he muttered.

Gadget patted him on the back. "It's ok; I'll go look for her." The two stood in a very strained silence for a minute, looking into one another's eyes. The sound of a door opening up the hall forced them to go their separate ways. Gadget threw on her coat and scarf and hurried out of headquarters to seek Clarice.

Chip retired to his room to change into his jacket. He noticed that Dale was no longer snoring in the top bunk, and he breathed a sigh of relief at being alone. Once the door was closed, he grabbed a jacket out of his closet, threw the sweatshirt in a hamper, and sank down on his bed. He was motionless for a moment, then reached into an interior pocket. He withdrew a clean, crisp picture of Gadget. He laid it beside him and reached back into the coat. Another picture, this one faded and cracked, was retrieved. He began to weep. "What have I done?" he whimpered. He clutched the photograph in his hands and stared at the worn image. Two cheery faces stared back at him, frozen in historic happiness. He simply could not tear his gaze away from his own engagement picture. Could Clarice have been right? Could he have a chance at a real relationship again?

Chip looked up through his watery eyes to see Zipper hovering in the doorway. "Oh, hey, Zip," he said, trying to sound a little upbeat. Zipper smiled apologetically and gestured toward the main living area.

"/Someone's here to see you/" he squeaked.

"Thanks." Chip wiped his eyes and hastily shoved the photos back into his pocket. He cleared his throat and slowly made his way into the living room.

McDugell stood solemnly in his overcoat, his hands thrust deep into his pockets. Seeing Chip, he raised his eyebrows, but didn't say anything about Chip's reddened eyes. "I just wanted to let you know that Stella cracked this morning."

Chip brightened noticeably at this information. "Did she tell you where Max is?"

McDugell smiled. "He's back at the precinct now."

If Chip was disappointed at not getting Max back himself, one couldn't tell. He reached out to shake the squirrel's hand. "Thanks for your help. I'm just glad this thing is over."

"What's over?" Dale entered from the kitchen and stood in the doorway.

Chip's smiled faded a little at the sight of Dale, but was only too glad to tell him the news. "Max Travinski's back safe and sound at APF headquarters."

Dale furrowed his brow. "So . . . the case is solved?"

McDugell nodded as he exchanged glances with Chip. "Is that all you needed?"

Chip smiled and opened the door for McDugell. "Yeah, thanks for everything." McDugell tipped his hat and started down the tree. Chip closed the door with a sigh and a heavy heart. He looked back to see Dale still in the doorway and began to walk in the other direction.

"Hey."

Chip slowly turned around to face his long time friend . . . and competition. "What?"

Dale shifted from foot to foot, his expression ashamed. "I, uh, I'm sorry."

Chip snorted. "Right." He wheeled around and marched out onto the back veranda before Dale could say anything more. Light snow whisked by him, stinging his eyes. Chip stayed outside until he couldn't feel his toes. Deep down, he hoped that Gadget and Clarice would return soon.