Chapter 4

The hidden Truth

They say the best plans always take the longest. If that was true, then what does that say about Monty's? "Oh yeah...just make up some nice and believable mumbo jumbo that'll get ol' Chipper to follow along." Monty said in a huff as he was nearing Ranger HQ.

On his way from leaving FC and Dale, he had to come up with a convincing story to go along with the big felines plan. Telling the team leader Dale was kidnapped was a start but in order to drive it home, there had to be a lot more effort put into it. Much to the burly mouses dismay.

"I swear after all of this is over I better be loaded with cheese for the next freaking month!"

Monty slowly made his way up to the front door and with all the dramatics he had within banged on it so hard he nearly put a whole in the poor door. If his first idea wasn't going to be convincing enough he sure as heck hoped his second one was.

After a few minutes he heard the sound of feet rushing to the door. It was time. He quickly punched himself in the gut in order to get the show on the roll.

Gadget quickly opened the door in a fit of panic from the banging and looked at Monty in pure horror. "Golly! Monterey Jack! What happened?"

"Ugh...i-I-it was...it was Fat Cat! He found me and Dale headed here from the park. He ambushed up with his goons, we tried to fight them off, I tried to protect him, but we were outmatched. I'm...I'm so sorry..." he finished as he fell to the floor breathing heavily.

As the gears started turning in her head, Gadget quickly shouted for Chip to come and help. It didn't take long for the leader to see what all the commotion was about. To his horror the site he saw couldn't be anymore messed up than he wanted to think.

Monty was on the floor with his jacket ripped all over and what looked like blood splattered on a few parts of his body. His face looked in pain and he just overall looked drained.

"Monty...where Dale?"

No response. Chip was starting to get very agitated.

"Dammit Monty! Where is Dale!?"

Monty stayed quiet. After a few seconds though, he pulled a slip of paper out of his jacket and handed it to the team leader. Although it was crumpled and a little dirty he read it with ease.

"Dear Rangers...This game of ours ends now! You are to show up at the warehouse at the docks where this all started. If any of you fail to show I will take pleasure in slicing your stupid friend piece by piece!"

Chip was enraged. No one has the right to beat and hurt his idiot but him. He would make FC pay no matter what! He looked to Gadget and then to Monty. "Let's go get our idiot back!"

Gadget tries to stop him, "Chip we can't let Monty go not in his condition!"

"You heard what the note said. Every single one of us is to be there. The only one I think would be ok not showing would be Zipper, but the rest of us must go." His voice was firm and set which didn't sit right with the mechanic but she relented when Monty told her he would be alright.

( Elsewhere at the Docks )

Fat Cat was sitting on the ground with his back leaning on a container with someone sitting in his lap. It was none other than Dale. He was happy that his feelings reached the one he loved but wish it could've been under better circumstances.

"You know...I still can't believe all of this!" Dale sighed.

"You mean that we actually want to test this out or that your so called leader will more than likely be killed here today?" FC responded.

"Both. I just never thought it would come to something like this."

"Neither did I my love but sometimes the world works in ways we've yet to understand."

"You took that from a movie didn't you?" Dale chuckled.

"Maybe." FC smirked.

As the two laughed in each other's company it was soon time for business as they saw the rangers plane in the distance.

"Are you ready for this?" FC said looking to Dale.

Dale was quiet at first but with a tight grip of the hand and a reassuring smile he nodded. "As long as your with me I'm ready for anything."

With a quick exchange of kisses, the two got into position. As the plane landed in front of the big feline, the first one out was the leader himself. Chip! FC could see his body stiff and his fists balled so tightly you could see little drops of blood.

"Where is he?" He quietly asked.

"I'm sorry little child you'll have to speak up!" FC teased.

"I...said...where...the hell...is...HE!" Chip yelled.

As Gadget and Monty got out of the plan as well, the two could finally see the team was surrounded. Gadget was on edge while Monty looked on at the two in front. He hoped this would end without bloodshed but he knew better.

"My little Rescue Rodent...you have the audacity to yell at me?" FC snapped his fingers and one of the henchmen had Chip face first on the ground mere inches from the feline. "You don't get to make demands here. This is my turf, my territory and I'll be damned if your little ego gets in the way. I do believe it's about time...someone put you in your place."

"W-w-what the heck are you on about? Just give us our teammate and we'll be on our way!" Chip struggled.

FC looked towards Monty then to Gadget and the confused look she gave was priceless.

"Oh my god! You mean the others don't know? Really? Oh my, this just got a whole lot better!" He laughed. He soon walked in front of Gadget with a straight face that made her extremely uncomfortable. "Tell me...do you believe your so called leader to be reliable? Trustworthy? "

Gadget didn't know where this was going but from Montys silence since all of this started, she knew something was wrong.

"I do. He's proven time and time again that no matter what there has been no reason to doubt him."

FC smiled. "I wonder if that's true? Tell me little mouse...what do you think of the red nosed one!"

Chip body tensed at the question and Monty and FC noticed it immediately. Gadget was so deep in thought she missed it herself but that would soon change.

"I know Dale could be a hassle to deal with but he means well. He can be a good ball at times but he does have his moments where he can be extremely smart, heck even dangerously smart to the point where he puts me to shame. I'm not the closest to him and our relationship is at best 50/50, but I still want to see him succeed."

FC remained quiet. Until a voice came from behind him that made Chip French and Gadget do a double take.

"If that's true then why would you go along with the others and belittle me?" Coming out from behind FC was Dale, but he wasn't in his usual clothes. No, he was in a very familiar red dress and had his wig on. He was only missing the makeup.

"What...what are you talking about Dale?" Gadget responds.

"Every time I tried to do something heroic or something right all I ever get from you is reticule or hate. I know I'm not the smartest or strongest, but can't I at least try to help? I'm always being made the fool of or just thrown to the side."

"Dale! That is not true. At times you can get a little bit over the top but-"

No! Tell me right now how happy you were when I just stopped trying and obeyed every order without question! Tell me right now that you liked it when I didn't make a mess of things and became a freaking obedient robot that just follows orders with no emotions!"

The silence was all the conformation Dale needed. Gadget didn't know how much damage was truly done during that time. She was just happy everyone was acting like a legit team instead of butting heads or things going haywire during their missions.

"That's what you should always be!" A voice that was almost forgotten spoke.

All eyes laid back on the chipmunk still in the ground. He breathing was getting harder but he remained strong.

"You should have always listened like I told you. Instead you prance around, make every mission into a freaking joke and almost on several occasions got us all killed. Wether I wanted to or not, someone had to teach you your dumb actions have severe consequences."

Dale walked towards Chip and kicked him on the side of the head. FC and Monty looked in in silence. Gadget gasped at the attack.

"Your right Chip, my actions do have consequences. That being said, why don't we tell the others what kind of consequences I was givin by the oh so responsible and trustworthy leader of mine?"

Chip didn't respond which made the others start to get tense. It was Gadget who gained the courage to speak. "C-Chip what is he talking about?"

No answer. She asked again and still Chip remained quiet. She was seriously starting to get scared at what this was really all about.

"Ah now I get it! What you did to me was supposed to stay behind closed doors huh? Tell me...Chip! What would happen if the person I love were to find out what you did to me?" Dales voice was cold and chilling.

Chips face looked towards FC with fear now. He really never thought Dale would fall in love but with their arch enemy no less. But now that the words was finally dawning on him, he tried to shake off his captor to no avail.

Dale saw and just chuckled. "Don't worry Chip, I'll make sure the process is painfully slow compared to what I had to endure." With that he turned to the only feline in the area and slowly turned his back to FC. The cat was confused until his face turned into one of pure rage. He slowly and as gently as he could ran one of his fingers along side one of the deep cuts that was on Dales back.

"You dam pest!" FC's voice boomed. He looked towards Chip with nothing but death on his mine. "Get him up!"

The minions did as was told and brought the leader in front of FC and Dale.

"I never would have thought that you would be capable of completely harming someone close to you, but from these...s-scars, I see now just how eve up you are. Congratulations you dam rodent, you have officially earned my respect!"

Before Chip could respond he was sent flying into a pile of crates not too far away. Gadget ran to his aid and was about to help until Dale stopped her.

"We have to help, there's no way he would do something, anything to hurt you!" She screamed.

Dale said nothing but lowered the dress until it was low enough to show his entire back. Gadgets eyes widened beyond belief and Monty's fists tightened to the point of bleeding.

Dale slowly turned around to face the rest of his team. "For months I've been silent in fear of more beatings, for nights I've gone to bed hoping he wouldn't show up in my room with another weapon. For so long I wanted to just end my life hoping that would be enough to erase the pain." He cried.

Monty rushed to Chip and started beating the ever loving crap outta him. No remorse and no mercy. Chip tried to fight back but he knew he could never reach Montys strength no matter how hard he tried. After a few minutes of grunts and blood being sprayed everywhere Monty walked to his pal and hugged him with as much tenderness as he could.

"I'm so sorry Dale. I always said I'd protect ya, but who knew that the danger was so close to home. I'm so sorry."

Dale just continued to cry in his embrace. Gadget remind quiet. She looked to Chip and slowly walked towards him. As he stood up he revived a harsh slap from the mouse. With tears of her own she reached inside her jumpsuit and too out an emblem Chip knew all to well.

"I'm done with you! I no longer want anything to do with you! If I ever see you anywhere near Dale or any of us again...I'll kill you personally!" Her voice was sad and filled with regret but they all knew she never threatened anyone, but when she did she made sure the threat became reality.

After the tears were shed, Dale looked towards his old leader. "Chip this is the end. I'm no longer a ranger and I'm sure Monty isn't either. Gadget has already said her piece and I'm sure zipper will find out from Monty real soon. Theres nothing left for you to do but leave!"

"You expect me to just leave huh? Hell no! I made this team, I Meade you all what you are now! Your nothing without me you hear!" He finally got yo his feet just to find himself in FC grip with his life being squeezed outta him.

"Listen up and listen well. I won't kill you...no, you made the one I love suffer and for that you will do the same. With as much force as he could control FC threw Chip into one of the steel containers on the docks. The scream everyone heard told them the immense pain he was feeling.

"I've sent out a mass notice about your you. Everyone in this city is now on high alert. If you are seen you are to be killed on site!" FC stated coldly. "You have 24 hours to leave this city and never return. Consider the time limit my final gift to a foe I once thought as a worthy opponent!" He said as he nagar to walk away while he scooped up Dale and the others followed.

Gadget and Monty knew things were about to change big time but only time would tell what would happen from tomorrow onwards.