Chapter 1: Holding on, eight years later.

"Mom, what's wrong with dad?" - a young chipmunk asked, looking up from his comic book to Gadget who was putting away dishes.

"Today's your uncle's birthday. Your father is just grieving a little. He passed away some time ago." - Gadget said softly.

Chip sat on the couch holding an old photo of him and Dale making silly faces posing for a picture.

"Chip, are you alright? - Gadget asked.

"Fine, Gadget." - Chip said, staring at the photo as tears emerged from Chip's face.

"I miss you brother." - Chip mumbled to himself.

Chip got up and walked over to the table.

"I see you like those comics just as much as Dale used to." - Chip said, trying to crack a smile.

"Yeah, they're great." - the young chipmunk replied.

"Say what ever happened to Uncle Dale?" - the young chipmunk asked curiously.

Chip glanced over, setting the picture down.

"Dale, your father doesn't want to talk about it." - Gadget said.

"It's not that I don't want to talk about him, Gadget. It's just a long story, and one I don't really want to get into." - Chip said, somberly.

"But you guys named me after him and you never told me much about him, other than he used to read a lot of comic books."- Dale Jr. said.

Chip and Gadget looked at each other then back at Dale Jr. Chip let out a sigh.

"It's a long story but if you want to know I guess I can tell it to you. It all started 8 years ago." - Chip said as the flashback started.

The flashback starts 8 years prior to Dale's death.

Chip, Gadget, Monterey Jack and Zipper sit in the animal hospital waiting room all. Chip looking extremely worried is then given comfort from Gadget who leans over.

"It's going to be alright, Chip. Dale's strong, I know he'll get through this." - Gadget said, her arm around Chip's shoulder comforting him.

Chip looked over to Gadget.

"You don't understand, this happened a long time ago and he nearly didn't survive then. I don't know if someone can be that lucky to survive twice." - Chip said, tears dripped from his face.

A mouse dressed in medical scrubs with a white lab coat on walked into the waiting area carrying a clipboard.

"Is there a Mr. Oakley here?" - He asked, looking at his clipboard.

"Yes." - Chip replied, standing up and walking over to the mouse.

"Hi, I'm Dr. Philips, Dr. Moleson couldn't make it in today." - Dr. Philips, said, shaking Chip's hand.

"Chip." - Chip replied, shaking the doctor's hand.

"Shall we speak in private?" - Dr. Philips asked, gesturing towards his office.

Chip followed the doctor to his office, sitting down in one of the two guest chairs placed in front of the desk.

"Mr. Oakley, has cancer ever affected another member of your family?" - Dr. Philips said sternly, showing no expression of emotion. Gently removing his coat and hanging it on a rack, then taking a seat at the desk.

Chip pondered, he gave a blank stare to the doctor like a deer in the headlights. He knew what was to be said next but he didn't want to hear it.

"M-My mother died from it." - Chip said, trembling over his words.

"Well to save you some grief, we are unsure if your brother has cancer at this time, but we will perform a few more tests to determine if he does."- Dr. Philips said.

Chip felt an instant shudder of relief as he slouched back into the chair.

"You said he suffered from whatever this is before?" - Dr. Philips asked.

"Y-Yes, about eight years ago when he was ten." - Chip said, still slightly trembling his words.

"Alright, well he did make a full recovery from it last time, so hopefully he can do the same this time." - Dr. Philips said, with a reinforcing smile.

"However, Doctor, this time seems more progressive. It's as if it is the same as last time just a lot worse and painful for him." - Chip explained.

"Alright." - Dr. Philips said, noting the information in the computer.

"Say, I noticed that the female you were with was pregnant. Was that from you or somebody else?" - Dr. Philips pondered.

"That is my child she is pregnant with. We're engaged, soon to be married." - Chip said with a slight smile.

"How did you manage that? A chipmunk and a mouse, they're just not compatible." - Dr. Philips said, confused.

"Well you see its a long story but it involved some gene splicing between Gadget and Dale. They swapped bodies for a little bit then switched back. She managed to have some chipmunk DNA still within hers." - Chip explained.

"Gene splicing? Well I may have an answer to some of my questions then. Would you mind waiting for me at reception while I run a few more tests?"- Dr. Philips asked, opening his office door.

"Sure thing." - Chip said, walking back to the waiting area.

"So what did he say?" - Gadget asked as Chip sat down.

"He's running a few more tests, he seems to be hung up on the idea of you and Dale switching bodies and gene splicing." - Chip explained.

"Hm, did he say anything else?" - Gadget asked.

"Yeah, he also asked me if anyone in my family ever had-" - Chip was just about to finish his sentence before being cut off by the doctor

"Mr. Oakley." - Dr. Philips said, showing now a face of remorse and despair.

"Yes?" - Chip replied.

"I got the test results back. Did you want to speak in private?" - Dr. Philips asked.

Chip glanced at his friends then back at the doctor.

"No, they should hear this too." - Chip said.

"Well, we ran the tests and, Dale… Dale tested positive for abdominal cancer. I'm sorry Chip." - Dr. Philips said.

Chip collapsed in his chair, everything going dark and fuzzy. He then blacked out.

The flashback is then interrupted and goes back to present time.

"That's it? It ends there?" - Dale Jr. said, confused.

Chip glared at the photo then back at Dale Jr.

"Dale was given only two weeks after that. I try to forget what occurred before that day." - Chip said, beginning to show tears.

"Gee Chip, it's not your fault. We don't live forever you know." - Gadget said, comforting Chip.

"Why would it be your fault?" - Dale Jr. asked.

"Because, I was selfish. I didn't take Dale to the doctor the first day he was sick. Instead I waited a week, hoping he'd recover. I just didn't realize that the disease was so progressive and how far Dale had gone ignoring the pain…" - Chip said, reflecting on past memories.

"So what happened before the hospital?" - Dale Jr. asked.

Chip looked over to Dale Jr.

"You really want to know?" - Chip asked.

Dale Jr. nodded.

"Well… it started a week prior to taking Dale to the hospital. It was three in the morning when….

A flashback starts one week before hospital visit; eight years before his death.