Fifteen minutes later he awoke again, but this time to the smell of fish coffee brewing on the table. He sat up and put his face in his flippers and let out a tired sigh.
“Good morning,” Marlene said softly as she noticed that Skipper was awake. She poured a cup of coffee and handed it to the drowsy penguin.
“Here you go,” she said as she passed the coffee off, “something to put a little pep in your step.”
“Thank you Marlene, you know me too well. Are you sure you’re not a spy.” Skipper replied jokingly. Marlene just smiled and gave him a playful punch to the shoulder. She sat down next to him on the bed, and he wrapped his free flipper around her shoulders.
“So what’s the plan for today?” She asked curiously.
“Well I can either go and meet up with my team…OR I can sit here and tell you how pretty you are.”
“I like the latter.” A wide grin spread across her face.
“Ok the latter it is then, I’m sure Kowalski’s doing fine anyways.” Skipper was blissfully unaware of what has happening outside the zoo.
Kowalski quickly darted to the other side of the tree where Private had fallen, Rico following closely. He wasn’t sure what to expect, and images of the worst case scenario raced through his mind.
What if he’s seriously hurt, or even worse…dead? How would Skipper react, what would happen to me? What about Private, what if he’s never the same after, how would I live with that guilt.
As he rounded the tree Kowalski spotted Private’s motionless foot. As the tree reveled the rest of the young penguin’s body Kowalski’s fears had come true. A broken flipper was apparent and a decent sized gash was visible across his forehead. Luckily for Private he was unconscious and thus ignorant to the wounds that ailed him.
Kowalski fell to his knees and cradled Privates head in his flippers.
“Rico, attend to that flipper, STAT!” Kowalski ordered, trying to get a grip on the situation.
Rico, without hesitation, coughed up a splint and began to immobilize Privates broken flipper, making sure to keep everything in place. He worked carefully but rapidly, making sure not to disturb the already damaged appendage.
Kowalski had managed to stop the bleeding from the wound on Private’s forehead. Knowing that there was nothing else he could do with out the proper equipment he demanded Rico to carry him back to the HQ.
Rico picked up Private’s limp body and ran swiftly back to the HQ. Kowalski on the other hand headed in the opposite direction, towards Marlene’s habitat.
He hated the idea of interrupting what ever they were doing, but he knew that he couldn’t do this without Skipper.
He tobogganed quicker than he ever has before, flying across the ground, almost frictionless. In no time he was in front of Marlene’s habitat and already falling towards the water below.
From inside a splash was heard, both Skipper and Marlene looked towards the entrance to her home, then back at each other. They shrugged and were about to continue they’re conversation when a dripping wet Kowalski shot through the tunnel.
“Kowalski? What are you doing here?” Skipper asked wondering for what possible reason the intellect would show up.
“Skipper…it’s…it’s…Private…he’s…he’s…” Kowalski stammered as he tried to catch his breath.
“He’s what, spit it out already,” Skipper commanded bluntly.
“He’s…hurt.”
Skipper just sat silently, shocked by the news that was just brought upon him. He felt anger beginning to develop deep inside him, he wasn’t sure if it was directed towards Kowalski, or himself.
“How bad is it?” Skipper finally managed to ask
“I don’t know, Rico’s taking care of him right now back at the HQ but he needs some help, that’s why I came to get you.”
Skipper stood up, gave Marlene a light kiss on the cheek, and without another word darted out of her home, with Kowalski close behind.
