Chapter VII: A New Generation

Chip knew that something strange had happened during their battle with Nimnul, but he couldn't put his finger on it. They had had an ally…but who was it? Well, no matter now. He leaned back into the seat as the Rangerwing charged toward home, the overdrive whining as it brought the plane to full speed. Reguba sat in the back, cradling Tammy's head in his lap. The shock she had received had left her slightly crisp, but she would recover. She looked up at him, smiling even though she was barely conscious.

"My big, brave warrior," she giggled with some obvious pain. "I never knew you could be so ferocious."

"When properly motivated," he answered, taking her hand.

"I always said, never get in the way of a motivated guinea pig…er, squirrel," Sparky added from the pilot's seat. With Monty bringing up the rear in the Screaming Eagle, and Dale delivering the Rangerbolt back to the tree, all of the Rangers were soon in sight of their home. The Rangerwing's radio crackled to life.

'Chip? Come in, this is Foxglove. Come in!"

"I'm here, Foxy, what is it?"

'What do you mean, what is it, you goofball? Its time, that's what!'

"Time? Already? I knew Gadget's family tended to deliver early, but I guess it caught me by surprise!"

'Well hurry up and get your fuzzy tail back here, she's asking for you.'

"We're almost to the tree now, don't worry!" He looked over at Sparky. "Floor it!"

"You're the boss!"

Moments later, both planes landed cleanly onto the runway branch. Chip was already out of the cockpit and running before either rolled to a complete stop, nearly bowling over a white-coated mouse in his haste.

"Oh, Doctor Sloan! Sorry, didn't mean to give you a scare."

"That's all right, my boy. Where's my patient?"

Martha opened the door, taking him by the arm.

"In the first bedroom down the hallway, doctor. Thanks for coming so quickly."

"That's my job, dear lady."

He and Chip proceeded down the hallway, and through the open door. Gadget was lying in bed, a damp cloth draped across her feverish forehead.

"Well now, my dear, pleasant day for a birth, isn't it?" Doctor Sloan smiled, patting the mouse on the shoulder. Gadget glared.

"Dispense with the pleasantries and let's get this over with!"

Chip fidgeted nervously, stepping a bit closer.

"Umm…hi Gadge."

Her expression softened.

"Chip…you made it back!"

"Of course, don't I always?"

She smiled.

"Yes, you always seem to…ow!"

She jumped as a pain shot through her.

"Chip, I think it's best if you go and wait with the others, and let the professionals handle this," the doctor commented, opening his bag and laying out his implements. "Where can I wash up?"
"Across the hall, first knothole."

"Thank you. Oh, and my nurse is out of town. Is there someone who can fill that position?"

"Well, I'd say Tammy, but she's a little under the weather herself at the moment."
"I'll do it," Martha declared, walking back through the door. She chuckled at Chip's uncertain face.

"This old squirrel has worn more hats than you think in her life, mister chipmunk."

Doctor Sloan stood up, rolling up his sleeves as he headed across the hall.

"Good! All should be ready to proceed shortly."

Chip turned to leave, but then looked back, and squeezed Gadget's hand.

"It'll be all right, Gadge. You be strong, okay?"
"Trying," she gasped, managing to put on a small smile.

"That's my girl."

As the time passed, the other Rangers paced the living room, Chip most of all. Monty endured the whole thing stoically, masking the fatherly concern he felt for Gadget in his heart. In Geegaw's absence, he felt his responsibility deeply.

"Well," Tammy said, struggling into a sitting position on the couch, "I guess I should go see how things are going."
"Ixnay on that, dear one," Reguba replied, pushing her back down. "You are going to lie right there, and let Lady Foxglove finish with that burn ointment. By thunder, I've seen battle-crazed badgers that were less cantankerous."

As Chip continued to wear a trench in the floor, Dale looked at him from his perch in one of the teacup armchairs.

"Nervous, huh?"

"You don't know the half of it. This is a whole new world to me. Will I be a good father, Dale?"
"Listen, buddy, you've sure tried to keep me straight all our lives. That's got to be good experience for this!"

A scream cut the air at that moment, and Chip made a dash for the hallway. He was halfway to the bedroom door when Reguba and Sparky caught him, hauling him back.

"Patience, lad!" Monty said, looking up from the television. "If 'ol Doc Sloan needs ya, he'll yell. Now siddown and take a load off."

"Yessir," Chip mumbled, glad to have the mantle of leadership removed for the moment.

A few minutes later, the doctor walked out, wiping his brow with his sleeve.

"Is she all right?" was the question from all sides.

"Oh yes, of course! These things do tend to run long, sometimes. I just needed a drink while there was a lull in the action!"

And so things continued throughout that evening. Chip had finally begun to lose himself in a Sureluck Jones novel, when Monty looked up.

"Ay, wait a minit. You all hear that?"
All the Rangers listened.

"What, Monterey?"

"Exactly. Its quiet! Not a sound from in there, mates."

"You think everything's all right?" Foxglove asked.

"Awww, our little Gadget's right as rain. Oi wouldn't be surprised if we saw the little nipper any time now."
Chip sighed, setting his book down on the table.

"I was getting really worried there for a while. The doctor was swearing like Fat Cat on bad caviar a few minutes ago."
Sparky hid a grin.
"Ahh, Chip…I think that was Gadget."

"Oh…"

The bedroom door opened. Martha stepped into the living room, and motioned for the others.

"Its all right. You can come in now."

Chip got to his feet, holding onto Monty for support. Little Bink, who had been asleep beside her sister up to this point, charged ahead, barreling through before anyone could stop her. The rambunctious six-year-old hopped up onto the bed, looking at Gadget curiously.

"Is that the baby?" she asked, her eyes going wide.

Gadget smiled tiredly, gazing down at the little bundle in her arms.

"Yes it is, short stuff."
Bink reached out and stroked the soft fur on the newborn's head.

"It's so small."

"Yes, she is. But she'll grow."

The Rangers peered into the room, taking in what was happening. Chip pushed the door the rest of the way open, walking uncertainly over to the bed.

"Are you all right?" he asked, his worry evident.

Gadget's eyes sparkled with amusement, despite her weariness.

"I feel about as bad as when Lawainie zapped me with Nimnul's invention, but I'll live." She patted the bed beside where Bink was sitting. "Come on. Come see our daughter."

He sat down, his apprehension beginning to lift a little. Nestled in Gadget's arms, the tiny mousegirl smiled up at him, blue eyes shining like stars. His breath caught in his throat.

"She looks just like you."
"Yes, but she's got your tenacity, I can tell that already."

"That could be a good thing. The best of both worlds, you know."
He leaned over and kissed her gently.

"You'll be a great mother."
"And you'll be a great dad, I know. Now tell everybody to come on in, before they fall over each other trying to listen."

That was all it took. The room instantly filled with the rest of the team, hearty congratulations and a number of cheers passing around. Reguba tickled the baby under her chin, and she grabbed his finger, gurgling.

"A true warrior's grip!" he exclaimed.

Monterey leaned down, a wide grin on his face.

"Well 'ello there, me liddle mate! Oi'm yore Uncle Monty! Oi bet yore first word'll be cheese, or my name ain't Monterey Jack!"

"Uncle nothing," Gadget said. "I was thinking more along the lines of godfather."

"So was I," Chip agreed. "How about it, Monty?"

"Well…well, tie me to a wombat's hind leg! Oi'd be honored, mates!"

Gadget looked over at Tammy, and smiled.

"And now we need a godmother."

Tammy looked around for a second before realizing that Gadget was referring to her.
"Me? But aren't I too young?"

"You've grown a lot of years in the time I've known you. That's good enough for me."

Tammy leaned over the bedside and hugged her friend.

"I'd be happy to. It's the least I can do."

Chip slipped his arm around his wife, gazing down at their new child.
"What do we call her?" he asked.

"I had already thought about that," Gadget answered. "I thought maybe we take turns. I name this one, and you get the next one."

"Works for me."

She lifted the baby around where everyone could see.

"Everybody, meet Mariel Annette Hackwrench Maplewood."

"It's a mouthful, but it's beautiful," Martha laughed. "It fits her, I think."

There was general consensus on that statement. There was also no doubt that the little girl would grow up to look just like Gadget…just as Sprocket Hackwrench had predicted.

Even in this time of joy, as she gazed out the nearby window, Gadget felt a sense of sadness. She knew she had met someone over the past several days…but she couldn't remember them! She felt that whoever it was had been almost like…almost like a son to her. She smiled.

"Well," she whispered, looking down at her precious cargo, "who knows what the future holds?"

Epilogue: New York City, November, 2010

"Sprocket! Where's my nine-sixteenths socket?"
"Check the organizer on your workbench, Mom!"
"Okay, found it, sorry about that!"

Sprocket shook his head and grinned. Even the greatest inventor in mousedom needed a little organizational help sometimes. He put his arm around Rebecca, as they sat on the sofa in Ranger HQ's living room.

"Now, where were we?"

She giggled, batting long, reddish eyelashes. Sprocket's heart fluttered, and he almost felt himself slipping away in the bottomless blue pools below those lashes.

Crash!

The front door flew open, and a mouse stumbled in, drenched from the rain pouring outside.

Sprocket and Rebecca jumped from the couch, and ran to help.

"Is this…Rescue Ranger Headquarters?" the female mouse asked, coughing from the cold.

"Yes it is. How can we help you?"
"Its…a long story."
Looking up at the clock, which only read eight-thirty, Sprocket grinned.

"Mom! Dad! Everybody! Front and center! I think we've got a case!"

Nothing ever stayed quiet at the Rangers' tree for long. When duty called, they would answer.

For generations to come.

The End

To be continued in Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers: Due South