Hey ya'll. I'm still alive. I just came up with this last week and now I'm writing it down. I hope everyone enjoys.

Disclaimer: I do not own Penguins of Madagascar

(Penguin HQ)

It was a brisk late December morning as the zoo woke up to the shivering cold. Don't feel too bad for them. Everyone had their own ways of staying warm. Much of which involved the zoo furnace releasing steam. Our focus now turns to the Penguin habitat.

Skipper sat, drinking his coffee with the little fish hanging out the side. He was busy reading the paper while the rest of his men were busy doing their own things. The only one of his men in the HQ was Private and HE was currently watching the Lunacorns. Skipper couldn't help but sigh as he looked over at Private. The door to the HQ opened up and Marlene slid down the ladder towards the guys.

Skipper looked up from his paper and said, "Well good morning Marlene. What are you doing out this cold morning?"

Marlene smiled and said, "Thanks Skipper. I'm here to see you guys of course. You know that Christmas is coming up again right?"

Private got up and waddled on over.

"I know, can you believe. The year just went by so fast. I can't believe it," Private said before Skipper gave him a light smack.

"Settle down Private. It's not THAT exciting," Skipper said.

Private gave Skipper a salute and said, "Sorry Skippa. Just got a little bit carried away."

Marlene took a seat and let out a sigh.

"To tell you guys the truth, the real reason I came over here is because I'm a little concerned. About Dave," Marlene said.

Skipper groaned and rolled his eyes.

"Is Dave STILL moping?" Skipper asked.

Marlene nodded and Skipper just stood up and let out a little growl.

"It's been six monthes now. I hate to sound cruel, but Dave needs to past what happened. Besides I hate to see a soldier letting their emotions getting in the way of their work," Skipper stated.

Marlene sighed and said, "What do you intend to do Skipper?"

Skipper sighed and said, "I need to go over there and set him straight. I just hope this doesn't get physical."

Marlene shook her head and said, "Just take your time with him Skipper. He's not in any shape for a fight."

"He's let himself go too?" Skipper asked and Marlene just nodded.

"Oh he's gonna get it now," Skipper said and climbed up through the fish bowl entrance.

(Otter habitat)

Dave was sitting at a little makeshift desk that he had placed in the cave with a little light shinning on the desk. He was currently tinkering with some broken objects that he had found around the park and zoo. One of them was a walkman radio that looked like it hadn't been used in years. It did contain some parts that he needed for his radio that Julien had broken the other just hoped that it worked.

"DAVE! What are you doing?" came a voice from the cave entrance.

Dave turned around and saw Skipper standing there. Dave just let out a little wave and went back to his work.

"Hey Skipper. Just trying to repair my radio. You know the one that Julien broke. The one I found in the garbage last month," Dave said not looking back at Skipper.

Skipper waddled over and smacked the screwdriver and pliers from Dave's hands and made Dave look at him.

"Hey what are you doing? I was working on that," Dave said standing up.

Skipper forced Dave back down and said, "David Perkins you need to stop moping and listen to me right now."

"Moping? What makes you think I'm moping? What am I doing that suggests I'm moping?" Dave said bitterly.

Skipper pointed at the tools and everything else on the desk and said, "Dave I'm glad you've taken up a hobby. But it's all you do these days. You don't even come to our potlucks anymore. We're just concerned Dave. Look at yourself. You've gained weight too. This can't be healthy for you."

Dave looked down at himself and it was true. He had gained some fat on his body due to lack of exercise. He couldn't help but pinch the bridge of his nose and look away. Skipper stood there and remained silent for a moment.

"I know what's causing this Dave and let me tell you this. We've all lost someone were close to. But part of being a soldier is getting through a personal loss. I hate to sound cruel Dave, but that's just what we do," Skipper said as he waddled back to the cave entrance.

"You better hope you come around," Skipper said and waddled out of the cave.

Dave stood there alone and a little distraught. He looked back down at the desk and moved away from it. He processed everything that Skipper had told him and walked over to the cave entrance. He was right, Dave had been trying to ignore everything that had been going on around him and focused more on filling his time with mundane tasks.

Dave just turned away from the desk and towards the cave entrance.

"Maybe a cold dip will help me," Dave said as he walked out.

Well that's the first chapter. I know it's not very much, but I'm gonna try to keep these short. So this is my new holiday story. (Lousy PC terms). I don't know if this'll be done by Christmas but I will try.

Remember to read and review please.