Author's Note: A short story created by PoMlovah611 and I! No pairing, just friendship and a very concerned Kowalski! Review freaks!
~Natty.
Asthma.
~PoM~
The analyst had just finished clearing the smoke out of the lab. Well that invention followed by explosion had turned out to be most unfavorable in his opinion.
Kowalski had just finished tidying the lab when he heard a crash from the main room and then some harsh coughing that quickly turned into wheezing. It was odd.
It was also Skipper's voice pitch consistency.
The lieutenant blinked and opened the door of his lab to peer out. "Skipper? I-is everything alright?"
The struggling to breathe only increased, and his leader was clutching the floor, rapidly turning blue.
"SK-SKIPPER! OH HANG ON!" Kowalski rushed to his commanding officer.
"K-Ko- *wheeze* -walski…" Skipper breathed heavily, gasping. "C-can't br-bre…"
"I-I see that! B-but h-how d-do I help?" The analyst didn't know what was going on, nor did he know how to act. Anything could be the cause of his leader's sudden inability to breathe! Poisoning, allergic reaction, choking, even MORE poisoning! The list could go on if he had time to think properly!
Skipper pointed to the suitcase that held his classified things, the one he specifically said for them never to touch no matter what.
Kowalski hesitated before reaching for it and pushing it open.
There were files and papers and photos marked with X's but in the corner of the case there was one inhaler.
Kowalski glanced at the leader then grabbed the inhaler. He quickly rushed behind the leader to hold it in front of the penguin's face.
The short penguin took the mouth piece in his beak and waited for the other to press the button on top.
The taller penguin immediately pressed the button.
The leader breathed in the medicine but still wheezed. It looked like he needed another few pumps of it.
The analyst then pressed the button a few times more for his commander.
Rough panting and trying to catch breath soon filled the silence, Skipper gaining his normal color again as his breathing evened. "Th-Thank you Kowalski..." He panted.
Kowalski sighed in relief for him. "Skipper... I thought you were... gh..."
Skipper nodded as he got himself up with some help. "Yeah me too..."
"Gosh Skipper... I didn't know you had asthma." Kowalski said with a smirk as he lifted his leader to stand.
"It's classified." The leader started to walk away but threatened him first. "And it better stay that way! Got it?"
The analyst frowned to object. "But Skip-"
"What?"
Kowalski knew well that there were risks if one did not take a treatment properly and in the case of asthma they could me most dire. "If everyone else doesn't know, you might not get your treatment right!"
"I'll be fine." Skipper reassured hastily, wanting to just drop the subject.
"Skipper, I insist! Someone else should know too!"
"Like who?" Skipper scoffed. "Blowhole? So he can trap me in some smoke chamber? No thanks!"
"I meant the rest of the team, Skipper..."
"I'm not weak." The leader replied almost automatically.
Kowalski blinked. "I-I didn't say that, sir."
"I mean who could've predicted that? A little air that's not so clean and my throat closes in on itself! All those years living in polluted HOBOKEN!" He cried and yell. "ARE YOU HAPPY HOBOKEN?! HUH? MURDERING ME WITH YOUR AIR?! ARE YOU?! ...I'm not weak! I don't need that STUPID inhaler!" Skipper snatched it from the analyst and chucked it against the concrete wall. It promptly broke, its medicine hissing out until it was empty. "Who can't breathe now?! HOOHA!"
"Ah! Sk-Skipper! Wh-why did you do that!?" The scientist rushed to the broken inhaler on the ground.
"I DON'T WANT IT ANYMORE!" The leader barked.
Kowalski had picked up the pieces desperately in his flippers. "B-but you NEED it!"
"Throw it out." Skipper instructed, climbing up the hatch.
"Skipper! Wait!" The analyst tried to stop him.
"That's an order, soldier!"
The lieutenant threw it in the garbage can obediently.
Skipper nodded in approval.
Right after the leader had begun to climb again, he grabbed a few coins from the little jar he had and started to run to the 'Private's First Prize' fish plaque door but not before he waited for the leader to leave the HQ.
Skipper sighed and proceeded to push aside the hatch, but before he exited he gave a little wheezing sound. He suppressed it, staying strong and going outside.
"I have to hurry..." Kowalski shook his head as he muttered to himself. "Skipper'll suffocate if I don't get a new one soon..."
"Training in ten, boys!" The leader announced up top of their island, causing the analyst to bite his beak.
"Aye Skippah!" Private's distant voice responded.
So did Rico's. "'kay!"
Kowalski sighed. Orders were orders…
The analyst placed the money back in the jar and retreated up the ladder for afternoon training. His leader had given an order but for once he knew indeed that it was very wrong. It wouldn't leave his mind. Another sigh escaped his beak. This would be a long day…