Chip jerked awake, but he didn't know why. He'd fallen asleep in the chair next to Dale's bed, just as he had the past four nights in a row.

Even now, he'd wake up scared and disoriented. He still had a bad feeling, as though something was out of place.

He glanced around wildly before staring out of the window. It was snowing, it would be Christmas in a few weeks.

Dale was missing over Thanksgiving, so any celebration had been out of the question.

Chip leaned back, feeling calmer. A nice present and one he'd taken for granted in years past, having everyone here.

He looked fondly at Dale and stopped short. Dale's hair was matted against his forehead and he was tossing and turning.

No! Chip panicked, tipping his chair over as he leaned over his friend. Dale's breathing seemed normal, thank goodness, but he was really flushed and Chip could feel the heat radiating off of him.

The fever! Dr. Fielding's warning! Chip cursed himself for being so stupidly careless.

"Dale?" He said softly, jostling his friend's shoulder gently. "Dale?" Chip said louder but his friend just moaned pitifully and pushed Chip away.

Chip felt Dale's forehead and gasped at how hot it was. He didn't think beyond that, panic took over. He ran out of the room, going instinctively towards Gadget's.

"Gadget! Gadget, hurry! It's Dale!" Chip heard running feet and disheveled but wide awake and frightened looking Gadget yanked the door open.

"Dale? What happened?" Her blue eyes widened looking at Chip's expression. "What's wrong!"

"Fever!" Chip gasped out. "His fever's rising!"

Gadget didn't waste any time. She dashed into the kitchen and ran back out with a cloth and a bottle of clear liquid.

"Wha-"

"Rubbing alcohol. We have to cool him down, now."

Chip nodded mutely and followed her.

"Wha's 'appenin'?" Monty yawned from his door. "Dale." Chip said shortly. Monty, not quite awake, rubbed his eyes and stumbled after him.

"Wha's wron' wi' 'im? Crikey!" Monty gasped when he saw Dale's flushed face.

Gadget barely glanced at the thermometer she's pulled from Dale's mouth. She didn't need it to know he was dangerously overheated.

"Chip." Chip didn't respond, just stood there, frozen. He felt like he was back in one of his nightmares, pulled back into that hopeless world.

"Chip!" Gadget grasped his shoulders. "Please, help me! You too, Monty."

"Chip, take the cloth and douse his forehead with alcohol. Monty, go run a cool, not cold cool bath. Zipper, get Dr. Fielding."

The three Rescue Rangers stared at her wordlessly, mouths agape. "Hurry guys! We can't waste time!"

All three darted in different directions. Chip kept the alcohol soaked rag on Dale's forehead, anxiously watching Gadget as she listened to Dale's breathing then looked down his throat. She finally sighed and looked at Chip.

"I don't know what's causing this. He shouldn't be having a fever now. Everything else seems fine, I, oh!" Her eyes widened in horror.

"Oh, Chip, I-I'm so sorry!" Tears streaked down her face. Chip stared at her, dumbfounded.

"H-he, got overheated, it's my fault! He was getting better but-"

"Don't be silly, Gadget luv." Monty had returned, his nightshirt's sleeves rolled up. "If I'm right, an' I usually am." He glanced at Chip, who ignored him. Monty sighed and shook his head at the other Rangers' distraction.

"The lad's body is just getting' rid o' the nasties still inside." He gently hoisted Dale out of bed. "Let's get him cooled off and he'll be right as raindrops. You'll see."

Both Chip and Gadget nodded, wanting to believe him. Zipper buzzed in and zipped about frantically around Monty's ear.

Monty nodded. "An' I'm in the majority. Doc says the lad's gonna be okay, just a last hurrah from this blasted germ."

"That's what he said?" Chip pointed to Zipper.

"Naw, he said the Doc's comin' to tell you it 'imself, he's just the messenger. C'mon Dale-lad." Monty finished softly, carrying the thin chipmunk out.

An hour later Dr. Fielding, looking gray and exhausted, came out of the boys' bedroom. "Fever's down, excellent job young lady. He's fine, my boy." The mouse cut off a frantic Chip. "He's sleeping normally. The fever escalated quicker than I would have expected but luckily you caught it in time."

Monty thumped Chip on the shoulder, nearly flattening him and Gadget impulsively hugged him once he'd straightened himself up.

"He'll be all right now, you've ridden out the storm. Young lad's very lucky to have friends like you. Wouldn't be here if it weren't for it. Good evening." The Doc let himself out, bracing himself against the cold.

Zipper buzzed something and Monty nodded seriously.

"What?" Chip asked, eyes on the bedroom door where Dale was.

"Says we're the lucky ones, that Dale proved his mettle. Don't fancy the Rescue Rangers without 'im."

Chip spoke quietly. "Thank you, all of you." His gaze lingered on Gadget. She blushed but didn't look away.

"Just a thought but, shouldn't we start decorating for Christmas tomorrow?" Three smiles answered him.

"Yeah!"

"Dale Oakmont, I'm going to knock you out with a hammer if you don't take it easy!" Chip bellowed at the closed door.

"Easy, easy there pally. Doc says you should'na overexert yerself."

Dale, thin, pale with large circles under his eyes, slowly walked into the main area of Ranger Headquarters.

He blinked, almost not recognizing it although everything looked exactly the same. Still, he hadn't seen it for over a month.

Memories assaulted him as he thought back to the last time he'd walked through here on his own power.

Before. Before Fat Cat had turned everything upside down.

"Dale?" Gadget's soft voice, full of concern, sounded from near his ear. She and Chip were both hovering (and Zipper, though that was normal for him) around him as Monterey helped him walk out to see Ranger HQ decked out for the holidays.

"I'm okay." Dale mumbled to his friends, blocking the bad memories from his mind. He was still weak as watered-down grape juice though and even this slight exertion of getting out of bed and getting dressed was making him shake from head to toe.

Chip noticed it first, being very overprotective lately. "Dale? Um, Monty, he's shaking pretty badly and it's a little chilly out here. I don't think this is a good idea."

"Aw, come on Chip!" Dale whined. "I've been cooped up in that room forever! I'm getting' stale, besides I don't think Foxy wants to see me in my drawers." He grinned at his best friend but Chip still looked worried.

"Still, I…"

"Chip." Gadget put a small paw on Chip's shoulder. "He'll be all right. It's Christmas, let's celebrate."

Her large, blue eyes grew bright. "There's a lot to be thankful for."

Chip felt his own throat constrict and grasped her paw, holding it tightly in his own. She smiled at him and she was so lovely, standing there with the Christmas lights shining, making her hair glow. It made Chip dizzy.

"Dale-lad, I think Foxy want to see you without the knickers if'n you're catchin' me drift."

"Monty!" Gadget and Chip gaped at the larger mouse but Dale just chuckled lightly.

"Yup, I'm quite the ladies' munk, especially right now." He smiled sheepishly at his friends and Chip clapped him on the back.

"Foxy'll be so glad to see you, Dale. She's been here so many times but the Doctor said you shouldn't have visitors until you got stronger."

"Doctors." Dale grumbled as Monty helped him onto the couch. "I need their advice like I need a hole in the head."

"I think you have a hole in the head for as well as you take care of yourself, acorn for brains." Chip snapped irritably.

"Er, Merry Christmas?" Gadget broke in uneasily, trying to stave off a fight as the chipmunks glared at each other.

"Um, eggnog anyone?" Monty followed Gadget's lead.

"Me!" Dale said, raising a paw.

"Fat chance!" Chip cut him off. "O.j. for him, eggnog for the rest of us. Doctor's orders." He finished, smirking smugly at Dale.

Dale shot his friend the evil eye, folded his arms and sank down deeper into the couch.

"So, uh, pally, whatcha think o' the decoratin' job we did? I know it's usually your niche but we tried to do ya proud."

Dale's expression softened and he looked around. "It looks great." He said quietly. "Really guys, you, you guys are the best."

Monty grinned. "Guess, uh, I'll help Gadget-luv in the kitchen."

Chip watched him go and plopped down next to Dale on the couch. The two best friends were quiet, staring at the silent television for awhile.

"Merry Christmas, partner." Chip finally said, wondering at the lump in his throat.

"Merry Christmas, Chipper." Dale grinned at him. "Happy New Year, too."

Chip tried to smile back at his friend, but he just couldn't. It had been so close. Too close. There might have been no more Happy New Years, not ever.

Even now, Chip felt like something had happened to change fate, but he didn't know what it was. A miracle, maybe? A second chance?

"Chip? Chipper, you okay?" Dale sounded worried and no wonder, Chip thought. Tears were streaking down his cheeks.

"I-I'm, you…"

"Hey, Chipper, it's, I mean…" Dale gave up, scratching his head and shrugging.

"I dreamed you died, Dale." Chip blurted out, his paws balling into fists. Dale just stared at him, his mouth open.

"Just a dream, Chip! Sheesh, and you say I let my imagination run away with me."

"You dummy! Don't you get it! You were dead! Fat Cat won, everything was gone and you were gone and it-" Chip was sobbing so hard he could barely get the words out. He hardly noticed Dale's paws on his shoulders.

"It seemed so real! It still does. It's, it's like this, this, right now is the dream and that horrible place is reality. And, after, after you said it would, would be okay!"

Dale hugged his friend tightly as Chip sobbed, his breath hitching. Finally, Chip grabbed his friend, hugging him back in a bone-crushing embrace.

"I did say that, didn't I?" Dale whispered after a moment. "When are you gonna realize that I'm right? You do know, don't you Chip?"

"You weren't!" Chip started, pulling away.

"Sure I was." Dale cut him off. He put a paw on his best friend's shoulder. "Sure I was." He said again, softly. "I mean, you're the one who's always believed me, believed in me, you and the Rangers. So, I just thought that life, my life was worth fighting for."

Dale shrugged. Chip didn't know what to say. His friend had always had the ability to surprise him, to show character at odd times. It was one of the reasons they'd been friends for so long.

Both knew the other so well, better then they knew themselves. Dale hugged his friend again, briefly. There was nothing more to say, really.

Chip settled down next to Dale and flipped on the T.V. "Hey, I heard 'Brain Zombies from Jupiter, Part 3' is on tonight."

Dale raised an eyebrow at him.

"What?" Chip asked, defensively. "I've been wanting to see it, okay? Hadn't had a chance taking care of you, sicky." Chip grinned at his friend and Dale cracked up, shaking his head.

"Oh cutie!" A voice squealed from the door. Dale beamed self-consciously.