[Que Rescue Rangers Theme Song]

The scene opens with Chip stocking shelves at his uncle's hardware store. Chip is back to wearing a white collard shirt and black tie but now wear's a beige apron as part of his uniform.

Chip checks a box on his clipboard. "There we go, 75 boxes of nails in stock." He said, feeling proud of his work.

The shop door opens and the bell mounted above it rings.

"Oh hey, Dale." Chip said.

Dale passes Chip a brown paper bag. "Hey. Mom wanted me to give you this since you left in a hurry this morning." He said.

Chip accepted the bag. "Thanks, Dale. Tell mom I said thanks." He said.

"I will. So how are things here?" Dale asked.

"Not too busy. Usually, a few locals, the Home Depot down the road seems to be taking its toll but we're still going strong." Chip explained.

"I see," Dale said.

There was a break in the conversation before anyone said anything.

"Are you okay, Dale?" Chip asked.

Dale looked up from the ground briefly. "Yeah. Why wouldn't I be?" He asked.

"Because you've been acting different lately after what happened between you and Maria. Is it still bothering you?" Chip asked.

Dale's memory flashed back to those unforgettable moments of trauma. Dale then refocused on Chip snapping his fingers.

"What?" Dale asked.

"I'm going to make an appointment at lunch for you to see a doctor." Chip said.

"No, I'm fine. I promise. I just can't stop thinking about when we will get back to LA." Dale said, trying to cover up the truth.

Chip shook his head. "I was born at night but not last night, Dale. I know it's still bothering you. I thought we promised to be honest with each other." Chip said.

Dale became frustrated at the number of emotions going through his mind. "Yeah, well this is private! How would you feel if that happened to you?" Dale shouted.

Dale stormed out of the store and proceeded down the sidewalk towards their home. Chip came out of the store.

"Dale!" Chip called out.

Dale ignored him and continued walking with his hands in his pockets. He continued walking until he found himself in the same alleyway to avoid being seen by Chip.

Skip flicked a cigarette. "Well, well, well. Look what the cat dragged in boys." He said to his friends.

"Hey, I don't know skip. We almost got busted the last time we beat this guy up." Johnny said.

"Fine, then just stand there and be useless. I'll take care of him myself." Skip said, walking towards Dale.

"Hey, you!" He shouted.

Dale looked up and he froze. "Uh-oh." He muttered.

"You got me in trouble after you ran from Maria." Skip said.

"Please, I don't want any trouble." Dale pleaded, retreating slowly.

Skip grabbed Dale by his short collar and pulled him in close. "I'm going to teach you a lesson about snitching." He said.

"Please." Dale pleaded once more.

It was no use for Dale. Skip pushed Dale to the ground and began physically attacking Dale. Dale tried to ward off his attacker but wasn't strong enough.

"Chip!" Dale yelled as he sobbed.

"Chip's not gonna help you now." Skip said, laughing.

Dale closed his eyes, the forced trauma was causing him to lose consciousness. However, after a metal thud sound, it was all over. Dale opened his eyes gingerly to see Skip lying unconscious in front of him bleeding from a head wound.

Chip dropped the shovel on the ground. He pointed at Skip's friends. "Any one of you ever touch my brother again and it will be the last thing you ever do." He said.

Skip's friends grabbed him and tried to rush off. Chip kneeled and lifted Dale. He struggled but managed to carry him in his arms.

"Chip, you saved me," Dale said faintly.

Chip looked down at Dale. "I'll always be there for you Dale." He said.

There was a beeping noise that grew louder and louder for Dale. His vision began to fade.

"Chip?" His voice echoed.

The scene transitions to Dale waking up from a nightmare. He groans and hits the alarm clock snooze button. Chip enters the bedroom.

"You getting up?" He asked.

Dale groaned. "Yeah, just a little sore." He said.

Chip walked over to Dale and assisted him upright. "I'll go and find you some pain medication. You think you can make it to the dining room by yourself?" He asked.

Dale rubbed his eyes and yawned. "I think so." He said.

"Alright, just call me if you need help." Chip said, leaving the room.

"Chip," Dale said.

Chip turned. "Yeah, Dale?" He replied.

Dale paused and pondered but then forgot what he was going to ask.

"Um, never mind," Dale said.

"Alright." Chip said, leaving.

Dale gripped his side and stumbled out of the room. He used his other paw to guide him along the wall as he walked to the dining room. He sat down in the chair and whimpered from the pain. Rachal heard the faint whimper and came into the room.

"What's wrong, Dale?" She asked in concern.

"My side hurts, mom," Dale said, his pain being almost unbearable.

"Let me see what's wrong," Rachal said.

Rachal lifted Dale's shirt to expose a lot of bruising on his left side. Likely from the blunt force of the tumble, he took from Skip knocking him over.

Rachal gasped. "Oh you poor thing, that looks so painful. You go back to bed right now and I'll go find the first aid kit." She said, giving him a brief kiss on the forehead before heading to the bathroom for the first aid kit.

Rachal entered the bathroom to find Chip looking through the medicine cabinet reading labels on bottles.

"Mom, half the stuff in here is almost as old as me. Do you have any nonexpired pain medication?" Chip asked.

Rachal sighed. "I hope so. Have you seen your brother, the poor thing, he looks like he's in so much pain right now." She said, feeling immense sympathy for Dale.

"I don't see any medication in here that's not expired." Chip said, becoming flustered.

"Go to the store right now and pick some up. Get some children's pain killers and cold compression pads." Rachal instructed.

Chip gave a confused look. "Children's medicine? Dale's the same age as me, he's not a child anymore." He said.

"He'll always be my little boy, Chip. Now just go and do as your told, and quickly" Rachal said sternly.

Chip left the house and got into his mother's Jeep. He drove down to the local store and bought regular pain medication despite his mother's specific request, in addition to, the cold compression pads. Chip drove back home and brought the stuff into Dale's room where Rachal was keeping him company.

"Did you get the stuff?" Rachal asked.

"Yeah, right here in the bag." Chip said, opening the bag and placing the stuff out on the nightstand.

Rachal grabbed a cold compression pad. "Here Dale, we're going to put one of these on. It may hurt while we apply it but you'll feel a lot better." She said.

Rachal placed the cold compression pad on Dale's left side. He tried his hardest to withhold tears but the pain was far too unbearable that he couldn't withhold them any longer.

Rachal grabbed a tissue and wiped Dale's eyes. "Don't cry sweetie, you'll feel better soon I promise." She said.

Dale sniffled and nodded. "Okay." He said.

Chip gripped Dale's paw. "You're going to get through this, Dale. Just stay strong for me." He said.

Dale replied with a simple nod as he tried to make a smile. Rachal opened up the liquid medication and poured it into the small medicine cup attached to the lid.

"Okay, Dale. Sit up for me so we can give you your medicine." Rachal said.

Dale raised his head as Rachal gave Dale the pain medication. He grimaced at the disgusting taste but then layed back on the pillow.

"That stuff tastes nasty. What happened to the grape flavor medicine?" Dale asked.

Rachal looked at the bottle label. "Chip, this is not the medicine I told you to get." She said.

"Look, mom. I know we're living here again but Dale is not a child anymore. Neither am I. He needed medication for his age group." Chip explained.

Rachal sighed and took a seat on a chair in the dining room. "You are right. I just wish I knew why he was ruffed up so bad. Rick says it was just typical hazing but Dale's not a child, nor new to this town. It just doesn't make sense." She said.

Chip sighed and sat down next to Rachal. "Mom, Dale won't tell you this but I will. Dale snuck out of the party with Maria and…well…I don't know how to put this but they pressured him into taking drugs." He explained awkwardly.

Rachal gasped but Chip continued before she could mutter a word.

"That's not all after they arrived over wherever it is they went she…sexually assaulted him. I don't know for certain, Dale is too embarrassed to say but based on how he looked when he came in to find me at the store it looked like that to me." Chip explained.

Rachal covered her mouth in utter shock and disbelief. "My poor little boy was violated by someone who I thought I could trust. How could she?" She said in shock.

Rachal got up and peeked inside Dale's bedroom door. He nuzzled his head into the pillow as he drifted asleep. Rachal smiled as tears fell from her face as she closed the door softly.

"Mom, promise me you won't do anything crazy until I get home." Chip said.

"Where are you going?" Rachal asked.

"Work. It's my first day." Chip said.

"Oh, yeah. I forgot. Okay, go ahead. I'll see you later." Rachal said.

Chip left the house, entered the Jeep, and drove down to the hardware store. He entered and put on his apron.

"Morning Uncle Mike." Chip said.

Michael was talking on the phone with Rachal who appeared to be crying.

"I know Rachal. I'm sorry it had to happen as well. Dale's a good kid. If I see Rick today I'll say something. I talk to you after." Michael whispered on the phone and then ended the call.

Michael turned to see Chip standing there.

"Oh, I didn't hear you come in," Michael said.

Chip sighed and leaned against the counter. "That was my mom I'm guessing?" He asked.

Michael sighed. "Yeah, she told me about your brother. I'm sorry for what happened to him. That isn't right what that girl did to him. Dale's always been a good kid, a little absent-minded but always a respectful boy. It's a shame what happened to him." He said.

Chip nodded. "Yeah, he seems pretty torn up inside. I just don't know how to help him." He said.

"Well, being there to support him and let him know that he's not alone in this. Being around people he loves is all Dale needs right now." Michael explained.

"You're right but I wish there was more I could do to avenge Dale." Chip said.

"Chip, violence to combat violence will solve nothing. You can't let your anger get the best of you in this issue. It will only hurt Dale more than help him. What he needs is your compassion and dire will to bring justice to him by having him press charges." Michael explained.

Chip nodded in agreeance. "You're right." He said.

"Of course I'm right. Dale's been a part of your life practically forever. No use screwing it up and putting yourself in jail because you're angry that justice isn't being served. Maria and her friends will get their comeuppance." Michael explained.

The bell above the door rang and a customer entered.

"Now get out there and sell some stuff," Mike said, patting Chip's back.

"Welcome to Mike's Hardware." Chip said to the customer.

The scene transitions later to Chip entering the front door of his mother's home. He tossed the keys in a bowl next to the door and threw his coat on the hook.

"I'm home." Chip stated aloud.

"In the kitchen, Chip," Rachal called out.

Chip entered the kitchen to see Dale with visibly messy hair in his pajamas eating a bowl of cereal.

Chip smiled. "Hey, I thought you were bedridden." He said, walking over to Dale and giving him a brisk hug.

"I started to feel better so I thought I'd come out to eat something," Dale mumbled with a mouthful of cereal.

Chip chuckled. "I can't understand a word you say when you talk with your mouthful." He said.

Dale swallowed. "I said, I'm feeling better so I came out for some food." He replied.

Chip sat down at the table and the newspaper. "Well, I'm glad you're feeling better. I was starting to get worried about you for a little bit there." He said.

Dale took another spoonful of cereal. "Don't worry about me, Chip. Everything will be fine." He said.

"I'm your brother, it's what I do best." Chip said.

Rachal turned and placed her arm around Dale's shoulder as she sat down next to him. "And don't you worry sweetie, nothing bad will ever happen to you again." She said.

Dale dropped his spoon into his bowl. "What did you tell her?" He asked.

"The truth, Dale." Chip replied.

"I told you I didn't want anyone to know," Dale said.

"The only way I can help you is if you're honest. If no one knows what happened, how can we help you?" Chip asked.

Dale slammed his fits on the table, his cereal bowl spilled slightly. "I said I didn't need your help!" He shouted in frustration.

"Dale, there will be no shouting in this house." Rachal lectured.

Chip stood up. "You know what, I'm out of here. I didn't speak to you for over 30 years because you walked out on the show and left me high and dry. Now, after only being together for a year you have managed to become your old self again. So, whatever, Dale. I'm done. See you in another 30 years." He lectured as he walked out the door and slammed it.

Rachal began to cry and Dale got up and walked outside to Chip who was walking down the sidewalk. He caught up to Chip and grabbed and turned him.

"What do you want now?" Chip asked in frustration.

"Please stay. Look, I'm sorry about what I said. I cherish everything you've done, I just wasn't ready to talk about it. We're family, you can't walk out on your family." Dale pleaded.

Chip gave a stern look. "Don't ever call me again, Dale. You're no brother of mine, you never were and you never will be." He said, shoving Dale.

Chip turned and walked away. Dale's eyes watered as he began to cry. He sat down on the side of the road and continued to cry. Chip hearing Dale's whimpers didn't turn but continued walking with a sigh. Rachal later came out to see Dale.

"Come on, Dale. Chip just needs to blow off some steam." Rachal said, helping Dale to his feet.

Dale hugged Rachal. "Oh, mom, he said he didn't want anything to do with me ever again." He sobbed in a muffled tone.

Rachal patted Dale's back to soothe him. "It's okay, Dale. He'll be back." She said, feeling unconvinced herself.

The scene transitions to Chip sitting in a bar with a beer in his hand.

"You alright?" The bartender asks.

"What do you care?" Chip questioned as he took a swig of his drink.

"I care because I see when someone is using the bottle as a means of forgetting their troublesome times." The bartender said.

Chip sighed. "It's my best friend. He's had some problems recently and I tried to help him but he didn't like the way I was helping him." He said.

"Well, Dale for one should be grateful that there is someone like you looking out for him. Although, if this is a personal problem the only person that should be involved is Dale." The bartender said.

"How did you know it was Dale?" Chip asked.

"Come on, Chip. Everyone in town knows you two." The bartender said.

Chip sighed. "That obvious was it?" He questioned.

"You two are the closest best friends I've ever seen. I mistook you both for being brothers for the longest time. Although, I guess Dale was adopted into the family if I remember your mother telling me correctly." The bartender said.

"You're right. Dale was adopted by my mom." Chip said.

"Why was that anyway?" The bartender asked.

"Dale was staying over at my place for the weekend and his mother was killed by an impaired driver on her way to pick up Dale." Chip explained.

"He must have taken it hard." The bartender said.

Chip nodded and sighed again. "Yeah, he did. He became extremely depressed. Although I was there for him every step of the way, he got through it. Then things started to get better when we were in our teens. I just don't know how to help him this time." He explained.

The bartender smiled. "I think you know the answer, Chip." He said.

"I do?" Chip questioned.

"Being there for Dale. He needs you right now, someone he can talk to about his feelings when he's ready. All he needs is someone to know he's not alone." The bartender explained.

"You're right. I should go tell him." Chip said.

Chip got up and rushed to the door but then turned to the bartender.

"How much do I owe you?" Chip asked.

"Don't worry about it. Dale needs you more than I need your money." The bartender said.

Chip nodded and smiled. "Thanks." He replied, leaving the bar.

The bartender returned to wiping out glasses. Another man turned to him.

"You know, I have a brother too." He said.

"Shut your mouth, Rick. You're not getting anything free from me." The bartender said.

[The scene transitions to Dale sitting on the couch, flipping through channels in a depressed state]

Chip opens the front door and walks into the living room.

"Dale, you got a second?" Chip asked.

"Do I know you?" Dale asked in an annoyed tone.

"Dale, don't be stupid. It's me, Chip." Chip said.

"That's rich. I'm the stupid one, right?" Dale questioned.

"No, Dale. You're not stupid. Look, I didn't come here to argue, can I just sit down please?" Chip asked.

Dale sighed. "Whatever." He said.

Chip sat down next to Dale. Dale paid no attention to Chip and continued flipping through the channels. Chip grabbed the remote and shut the TV off.

"What was that for?" Dale questioned.

"I'm sorry." Chip said.

Dale's anger faded with a confused expression. "What?" He said softly.

"I'm sorry, Dale. I screwed up big time. I was wrong to do what I did. It wasn't my place to tell mom about what happened to you. I should have just remained quiet and supported you like you would have wanted. I'm such an idiot." Chip said, burying his face in his paws.

Dale placed his arm around Chip. "You're not an idiot, Chip. You're the smartest person I know. I like that about you. I just wish you would have spoken to me first." He said.

Chip wiped his eyes. "I only said something because I was concerned you would go into that depressed state again like when we were kids." He said.

"Aw, come here," Dale said, hugging Chip.

They broke from their embrace.

"You know I would've gotten help before it came to that," Dale said.

Chip nodded. "I understand now, Dale. I'm also sorry for what I said to you earlier. That was wrong on my part. I still consider you as my brother, even though not by birth you always will have a special spot in this family." He said.

Dale smiled. "And you'll always be my older brother, even though we're the same age." He said.

Chip sighed. "So what now?" He asked.

"Well, I didn't want to tell you right away because I wasn't entirely sure but I got a job. I think if we both have jobs we should be able to save up enough to be able to move back to LA." Dale explained.

Chip nodded. "That's great news, Dale." He said.

Dale turned on the TV. "I'm going to find something to watch. Care to watch a movie?" He asked

"Sure, Dale. That sounds like a good idea right now." Chip said.

[The scene fades and the outro music begins playing]