Inspired entirely by Private's line in 'Truth Ache'.
Rico had been giving Private a driving lesson, under the watchful gaze of Skipper, when the car's battery abruptly ran out of juice.
"You been sneaking out to joy ride again?" Skipper demanded.
Rico shook his head vigorously and pointed to where the battery had clearly leaked.
"I guess we'll have to interrupt Kowalski after all," Skipper decided and all three headed back to base to see if their resident scientist had a spare.
Once inside the HQ though they stopped abruptly as they heard a muffled conversation coming from the lab. Skipper indicated stealth mode and they crept silently to the door. Once in position he eased the door open to eavesdrop.
What they saw shocked them all.
Kowalski was sat at his lab desk with four toy penguins in front of him.
"We're off out then," Kowalski spoke in a sing song voice as he danced two of the figures off to one side. Private clasped his flippers over his beak to stifle his giggles. Skipper and Rico just looked on bemused.
Kowalski had picked up the remaining figures, one in each flipper, as he continued oblivious to his audience.
"Guess it's just you and me then?" he spoke in his normal voice turning one toy to face the other.
"Uh huh," he agreed with himself in an almost purring growl.
"What's this?" he asked in his own voice again, motioning with one toy to the other. "Oh this is just a trans-location device." He paused as though listening to an answer. "Yes, it is rather genius," he admitted bashfully.
At this Skipper had to hold back his own snort of laughter.
"But you know Rico," Kowalski carried on, "I've always admired your skill with exothermic chemical reactions."
In the doorway, Rico felt a warm flush even as Skipper and Private fought to hold in their laughter next to him.
In the lab, Kowalski was still lost in his own little fantasy.
"I wondered, do you want to go blow something up with me?"
This was too much for Skipper and Private who burst out laughing. Kowalski let out a shriek and all but hurled the figures away from him.
"How long have you-" he froze, absolutely mortified, staring at his hysterical teammates.
Rico however wasn't laughing. He couldn't stop the thought that Kowalski's invitation sounded like a wonderful idea.
Making up his mind he regurgitated a stick of TNT and gave a swift whistle to get Kowalski's attention. As the scientist brought his flustered gaze up to his, Rico waggled the dynamite enticingly.
"Kaboom?" he asked.
Kowalski couldn't stop the smile spreading across his face.
"Rico, I'd love to," he replied hurrying over to join him.
Skipper and Private's laughter died as they watched the other two disappear out of the HQ.
"What the hell just happened?" Skipper asked confusedly.
Private giggled slightly as he replied.
"I think Kowalski and Rico have just gone for their first date."