Come back to me

Chapter 16

When Chip arrived to Gadget and Zipper's house, he tipped the Uber driver and ran over to the front door.

After explaining the situation to the couple, they knew he needed their help immediately and quickly put together some tools needed for their homemade plane-like transport that could take him anywhere at a high speed.

Once the three were up in the air and are ready for the rest of the mission ahead, they take a breather for a quiet moment as Gadget, seeing how this was a good time to talk, decided to bring up a subject that Chip never knew he needed to hear.

"Well Chip, it certainly has been a while since you last needed us for anything. But somehow it's funny to see you here alone, though." Gadget noted with a small chuckle.

"Why do you say that?" Chip asked, confused.

"Well for one, you two were always together back in the day whenever it comes to stuff like this. And second, the last time we similarly helped out like this, was because Dale was trying to rescue you." Gadget explained with a 'I know everything' look on her face.

"He did?" Chip asked rhetorically, while looking away, pretending not to know what she was meant by all of that.

"Yep. He really needed all the help that he could get." Gadget added with 'uh huh' look.

"Heh. Yeah." Chip mumbled before he finally let his guard down and slowly smiled in a warm glow, thinking about what he wanted to say once he finds him again.

Which then gave Gadget an opportunity to tease him again.

"Ah, I see that smile now. Did Dale by any chance, told you that he loved you?" Gadget asked curiously with a sly smile.

"W...what?! How did you know about that?!" Chip asked, embarrassed with his face turning red like a tomato.

"Of course, we would know if there was even a slightest bit of connection between you two. What did you think we are, robots? Chip, he's always liked you. And for a long time too. That's why he was really sad when you left the show. We wanted to bring you back ourselves, but didn't feel like that it was in our place to say anything." Gadget explained while Zipper nodded his head in agreement.

At this point, Chip's heart had now sunk deep in his chest.

Knowing all those years ago, that their growing, strained bond between them could have been better if he would have just listened to him that night.

It would have made things a lot easier.

And a lot less lonely to go through everything.

"Oh....I guess I never saw it that way, before." Chip said, feeling guilty.

"Well honestly, he never did tell us. But we could see in his eyes and his smile that he showed obvious signs of wanting you more than a friend." Gadget empathized.

His smile....was for me?

And I....

Chip thought, rubbing his forehead roughly while looking down, sadly.

He knew he had messed up and wanted to cry.

Gadget then immediately noticed his distress and wondered if she might have went a bit too far with their talk.

"Uh, Chip. Are you okay?" Gadget asked in deep concern.

Before Chip then lifted his head up and wiped his face of any possible tears that could have fell from his eyes.

"Sigh. Sorry. I'm fine. Do you um, have a plan?" Chip asked, hoping to change the subject.

Which, Gadget went ahead and move along with it to keep him from stressing any more.