March 4th, 1989, Rescue Ranger Headquarters.
It was 9:00 am in the morning, usually Chip would've been up at 7:00 and had woken Dale by 8:00 am, but due to Chip's injury no one was awake early.
Dale then woke up and got down from his bed to wake up Chip.
"Chipper?" - Dale said as he tapped Chip's shoulder.
"Y-Yes, Dale?" - Chip mumbled.
"It's morning, did you want breakfast?" - Dale asked.
"Sure Dale." - Chip said as he sat up in his bed.
"Here, let me help you downstairs."- Dale said as he wrapped his arm around Chip's waist.
"Thanks, Dale." - Chip said with a sigh.
Dale then helped Chip downstairs to the kitchen table and sat him down. He then grabbed Chip's already prepared plate of cheese omelette.
"Did Gadget cook this Dale?" - Chip asked as he positioned himself in his chair.
"No, I did." - Dale replied as he put his chair next to Chip's.
Chip pondered at the thought of, 'since when did Dale know how to cook?'
"Say Dale, how did you learn to cook?" - Chip asked.
"Mostly stuff on TV, but I also watched you a lot when we were younger. You seem to be pretty good at cooking." - Dale replied with a smile.
"Well my days of cooking are far behind me. Besides, Monterey Jack does all the cooking now for us." - Chip replied.
"Yeah, I know, I just wish maybe sometime you could make something for old times sake." - Dale said.
"Well anyways, you ready for breakfast?" - Dale said as he picked up Chip's fork.
"Dale, I think I am able to feed myself without your assistance." - Chip said with a frown.
Chip picked up the fork but due to the injuries to his wrist his hand started to shake making it very difficult to move the fork without the food falling off it. Chip then dropped the fork on the plate, let out a sigh and a look of embarrassment.
"Oh it's fine Chip. Here, let me help you." - Dale said with a large smile as he took the fork and fed Chip.
Gadget then entered the room and at the sight of Dale feeding Chip, let out a little giggle.
"What's so funny." - Chip said in frustration while he pushed the fork away.
"Oh, it's nothing Chip, I was just remembering a mission we did once, where Dale had pretended to injure his toe. I remember at one point I was feeding him, before you showed me that he was faking his injury." - Gadget said as she laughed at the memory of the past.
"Oh, right." - Chip said as he let out a laugh out of relief that Gadget wasn't laughing at him.
"Is your wrist still bothering you, Chip?" - Gadget said as her smile faded..
Chip nodded as a reply. While Dale gave a glance of concern.
"Have you had enough, Chip?" - Dale asked as he set the fork on the plate.
"Yes Dale, thank you." - Chip said in appreciation.
"Gadget, I made you some too, there on the counter." - Dale said as he pointed to the plate.
"Golly Dale, thanks." - Gadget said out of politeness but was concerned the meal was going to taste nothing like it looked.
Chip then caught a glance of Gadget's concerned facial expression as she set the plate on the table.
"It's okay Gadget, Dale's cooking certainly has improved."
Gadget tried some of the omelette.
"Golly, this really is good." - Gadget said as she continued eating.
"Where'd you learn to cook like this Dale?" - Gadget asked.
"I guess you could say I learned from the best." - Dale said as he pointed to Chip.
Chip rolled his eyes and smirked.
"Yeah, sure Dale." - Chip remarked sarcastically.
"Gee Chip, I didn't know you could cook. Why don't you ever prepare any of the Ranger's meals, I bet Monty would appreciate the break." - Gadget said in surprise.
"Well you see Gadget, I put my cooking days behind after my accident about a year and a half ago just before you guys moved in with us." - Chip said as he rubbed his arm.
"Gee Chip, was it that bad of an accident." - Gadget said in surprise.
"I didn't know you had an accident while cooking. When was this?" - Dale asked in confusion.
"You were outside Dale, when this happened. I was using a pot of oil to deep-fry something when the hot oil splattered and burned my arm badly. I wear this coat hoping it will cover the scar from the burn on my arm." - Chip said in anguish.
Chip then rolled his right sleeve up.
"Golly Chip! That must've been painful" - Gadget said in sympathy as she came over and got a better look at the scar on Chip's arm.
Gadget gently touched the healed wound on Chips arm causing him to wince.
"Oh, sorry Chip." - Gadget said as she pulled her hand away.
"Why didn't you tell me when this happened Chip?" - Dale asked.
"I didn't want to scare you Dale. Believe me, the burn looked much worse when it first happened then it does now. Besides, who would've taken care of you if I had to go to the hospital. - Chip explained.
"Oh Chip, I would've been fine, you know that." - Dale replied in sympathy.
"Gee Chip, what about your parents? They could've taken care of Dale when you were injured." - Gadget asked trying to get Chip's side to the story after hearing Dale's while in the Ranger plane.
Chip and Dale started at each other in disappointment and then back at Gadget. There was silence for a few seconds, then Chip spoke.
"Our parents died when we were young. I assumed the role to care for Dale and look after the house. Dale was only 8 or so, I was only 11, it didn't make any sense not staying around. I had my opportunity to start a new life when I was 13 with a girl I met in school but I turned it down. I sometimes look back at the life I could've had if I went with her, but I know I made the right decision staying here." - Chip explained.
"How did your parents die, Chip?" - Gadget asked in curiosity.
"I don't want to talk about it, Gadget. Not with you, not with anyone." - Chip said as he deflected the question and avoided direct eye contact.
"Golly, I'm sorry for asking Chip." - Gadget said in remorse.
"Dale I think I'd like to go upstairs and get ready." - Chip said as he looked at Dale.
"Okay, Chipper." - Dale said with a smile as he helped Chip up and walked him over to the stairs.
"Ready?" - Dale asked.
"Ready as I'll ever be." - Chip replied
Dale then assisted Chip up the stairs helped him put on a white buttoned shirt and helped him downstairs on to the couch.
"You wanna try and watch some TV again, Chip?" - Dale asked as he held the remote in his hand.
"No thanks, Dale. I grabbed this book from our room, I think I'll catch up on some reading." - Chip replied while holding the mystery novel in his hand.
"Okay, Chip. I'm just gonna be outside if you need me." - Dale said as he headed out the front door, closing it behind him and sitting on a bench next to the door.
Dale then looked around to see no one was around and then pulled a cigarette out of his pocket and lit it. Gadget, who was working on the Ranger Plane, caught a whiff of the cigarette odor and looked up from the plane to see Dale sitting on the bench.
"Dale, what are you doing?" - Gadget called out as she set her tools down and wiped her hands, then continued walking over to him.
"Huh? Oh its nothing." - Dale said, being caught off guard and quickly put the cigarette out.
"Gee Dale, I didn't know you smoked. You know those things are bad for you right?" - Gadget said as she sat down next to Dale.
"Oh I know Gadget, I just have one from time to time to remove any tensions or stress I have built up." - Dale explained.
"Golly, you don't ever look stressed out." - Gadget assumed while looking at Dale.
"Well then I guess these are working then." - Dale said as he stood up and flicked the cigarette over the edge of the tree branch.
"Wait Dale, tell me what's going on." - Gadget said as she reached out for Dale's arm.
"Oh alright, just as long as you don't tell Chip. I don't need to put any more stress on him." - Dale explained as he sat back down.
"Now why would Chip become stressed over what you're going to tell me?" - Gadget asked.
"Cuz he's the one that causes my stress." - Dale said as he left out a cough.
"Golly, how do you figure that Dale?" - Gadget said in a surprised expression.
"He's always hittin' me on the head, calling me names, telling me I'm stupid and a goofball. How am I supposed to be a Rescue Ranger, if I'll I'm known for is the group screw up. I made breakfast today without any problems, and if Chip knew beforehand he would've said no because he thinks I'll break too many dishes. I've lost all of my confidence, Gadget." - Dale explained as he lit another cigarette.
"But Dale, this shouldn't be the solution to the problem. You should talk to Chip, tell him how you feel." - Gadget said as she took the cigarette out of Dale's hand.
"I'll try Gadget for you." - Dale said as he stood up and walked over to the front door.
"Just promise me you'll talk to Chip and give these up. They won't do you any good Dale." - Gadget pleaded.
Dale nodded and went back in. Gadget tossed the cigarette off the tree branch and went inside and sat on the couch next to Chip.
"Hey Gadget." - Chip said as he got a hint of tobacco odor from her.
"Say Gadget, why do you smell like tobacco?" - Chip asked.
"Dale and I just finished a conversation. I think you need to seriously rethink your actions towards him. Your choice of words…Everything you do or say to Dale that is negative has to end Chip and it has to end now." - Gadget lectured as she stood up and walked over to the hallway leading to her workshop.
Gadget turned back to Chip looking stunned still on the couch.
"Oh, and just for your information the tobacco smell was from Dale who I had caught smoking a cigarette to help elevate his stresses caused by your behavior towards him." - Gadget said in a look of frustration as she walked off and entered her workshop, slamming the door behind her.
Chip froze as he sat there while the words Gadget told him constantly replayed within his subconscious mind. Chip then heard a muffled voice as he snapped back out of his illusive state.
"Huh?" - Chip said.
"You alright, Chip?" - Dale asked as he sat down next to him.
"Dale, can we talk?" - Chip asked
"Sure, Chip." - Dale said as he let out a violent cough.
"I-... Words alone cannot express the apology I have for you about the way I've treated you. But I'm going to try anyways, I'm sorry Dale for hitting you, calling you names, telling you you're stupid and worthless. I guess I feel like I expect a certain level of responsibility from you, and when you don't present it, I use my anger to express how I feel, instead of just talking to you. Gadget told me that she caught you smoking outside. I just want you to know Dale that I never intended to push you to the point where you need to self-medicate to be happy. I-I want to try to be better if you'll let me. I can show you how an older brother is supposed to behave if you give me some time." - Chip said as tears began to fall from his face.
Dale, shedding only a few tears smirked in appreciation.
"Thank you Chip, I accept your apology and I look forward to you trying to be better. I'd also like to say I'm sorry for my over reactions from time to time." - Dale replied.
Chip put his hand out to Dale's for a handshake but Dale grabbed Chip by the shoulders and pulled him in for a hug.
"How would you like it if I cooked dinner tonight?" - Chip asked with a grin.
"I'd like that very much, Chip." - Dale replied with a smirk.
Chip then made dinner for Dale and Gadget and the rest of the night went smoothly now that Chip and Dale had finally buried the past and started on a new slate of hope, friendship and promise.