Disclaimer- i don't own pom
(Rico's POV)
I ran through the hall and down the stairs, finding Private's uncle reading the newspaper. All of a sudden a butter knife flies towards me and hits the wall, centimeters from my head. "WHA?!", I yelled as I looked around to find whoever threw the knife.
"Oh, sorry lad. I believe I mistaked you for an intruder. Still getting used to having more people around the house", Nigel said as I walked away from the knife on the wall.
"Private?", I asked as I looked around trying to find the door to the outside.
"Outside in the pool, you can go as well, just try not to track water in the house."
"Yah, okey", I grunted as Nigel pointed to the exit door behind the kitchen.
I slid open the glass doors, rushing over to the pool, just it time to see Private poke his head from the water and go back under. "Pri?!", I called out panicking as I saw his head go down. Can he swim as a human? Can I still swim? Probably, okay concentrate Pico, Miko, Niko… wait Rico. Darn it I got distracted again!
Shaking my head I ran towards the pool and dove in taking a large gulp of breath. Unfortunately my body's contact with the cold water made me gasp and breath in the chlorine water. I sputtered and choked out the water from my lungs as I resurfaced, slapping my hands in the water to keep myself from sinking. I bagan to make guttural sounds of panic, no longer concentrate on anything else except myself and Private. Was he still okay?
I started to sink further down not noticing that Skipper and Kowalski were bolting to my direction…
(Kowalski's POV)
Beeping noises came from my alarm clock on the bedside table, successfully waking me up. Sitting up on my bed, I opened up the drawer in the table and pulled out my clipboard and pen. What day was it today? Flipping over some pages I found that today was the 23rd of December! Wait how can that be right?!
Scribbling on my clipboard I began to calculate and consider my variables of travel and stay time. We took Nigel's car and went underwater through the ocean… The aerodynamics of the car can allow it to go faster than a boat, getting from New York to London would take at least three days by boat. Considering the variables we should have gotten here in a day and a half or two days at most. Which we did, huh... Well science and math don't lie.
I put my clipboard back on the desk and started to get out of bed, better now than to be yelled at later. Actually, what time is it? Ten thirteen! What is going on today?! Skipper is usually the first one up at the break of dawn, he always wakes us up early. As I began to hastily put on my clothes, I hear the someone walking outside my door. Judging by the heavy footsteps, I think it might be Rico. Stepping out of the room, I find no one in the hallway, he must have gone down the stairs in a hurry.
I walk over to Skipper's room and knock on the door before entering, being greeted with a faded peppermint scent. Looking around I find a few candles lying on the desk, the peppermint scent was emitted from them, where did he get those? He must have been in such a relaxed state with the peppermint, I think as I take another step into his room. Just then Skipper throws off his covers and tackles me to the floor.
"M-morning, Sir", I say slightly shocked from the quick movements.
"Morning, soldier", Skipper says as he smiles and lets go of me. "Now, what the heck are you doing in my quarters Kowalski?"
"Umm, well… you didn't wake us up early like normally, it was slightly concerning."
"Well, just know that i'm fine Kowalski and that well… we aren't going to slack off today, we just lost track of time."
"What shall we be doing for training today Skipper?", I say trying to hold in a groan. I understand we need to train, but it would be nice to just spend the vacation time by relaxing.
"Well, normally we would start with a few laps around the pool but since we don't have one we could just…", Skipper stopped abruptly when we heard Rico screeching and the sound of… splashing water? Skipper and I bolted out the room with me wearing a just a green shirt and pants and Skipper in nothing but a tank top and long johns. We rush down the stairs, following the splashing and screaming, which led us to glass doors at the back of the kitchen. Sliding them open we rush out to see Rico, who appeared to be drowning!
Skipper and I jump in without a second thought to go help our brother, when we too start sinking into the water. I try to do a few strokes in the water, but only found myself struggling in holding my breath and trying to float. Skipper wasn't farring well either as he also started sputtering and flailing his arms and legs to keep himself from sinking to the bottom of the deep pool.
I'm broken out of my thoughts as I see Private in the water as well, he's fully submerged in water. Oh god… does he know how to swim? Suddenly Private resurfaces and goes behind Rico, who was still panicking, grabs him by the shoulders and drags him over to the edge of the pool. "Rico, please calm down!", Private yelled over the splashing of the water as he pulled Rico and placed him on the edge. Rico began to calm down held on to the ledge for dear life, but began to panic again as Private went under again.
I noticed that I was also moving towards the ledge, while small hands gripped at my chest. Private was taking me to shore too! "Private?!", I called as I help him kicking his legs to make us move. "Since when do you know how to swim as a human?!"
"Long story, K'walski", Private said as he pushed me to the edge along with Rico. We then watched as he disappeared back under water for Skipper, who was no longer visible in the pool.
(Skipper POV)
I held my breath as I sank into the pool, closing my eyes and kicking my legs to get back to the surface. Where's everyone else? Rico and Kowalski stopped splashing! Oh my god…. A sinking feeling rumbles in my gut as I begin to imagine the worst. At that moment something grabs me from behind and I begin to panic and flail my arms vigorously. I turn around and grip onto the thing holding me, if I'm going out, i'm going down while fighting. Holding my breath began to be harder and harder and soon I let out a breath. Big mistake.
My lungs burn for air and at the moment I couldn't fight back anymore, my head broke the surface of the water. I gasped and sucked in as much air as possible, oh sweet relief. At that moment I noticed there was a grasp on my waist, looking down I saw the thing that was holding me up. Private! His eyes were closed shut in struggle as he was fully underwater holding me up, and by the look of it, he was running out of air. "Private!", I yelled to get his attention, but as he whipped his head towards me he couldn't hold his breath any longer and the water clouded with bubbles.
The grip on my waist loosened slightly, but I still didn't sink. Even though Private was drowning… he was dying, and he still won't let go of me. I would have felt proud, if I wasn't seeing my best friend dying in front of me. "Kowalski! Rico! help!", I yelled to them, watching them scramble out of the pool, but Nigel burst through the door running, he jumped into the pool and swam towards us. "Grab hold of my arm", Nigel ordered us as he extended his arm. Grabbing hold of Private's hand, I held onto Nigel's arm and we began moving towards the ledge.
As we emerged from the pool, I pulled Private out and onto the edge. He was unconscious. I scrambled out and held Private's body close to my chest, putting his head on my lap. Kowalski and Rico finally made their way over, looking panicked. I kept a stern face, but I felt myself having a strong urge to cry. Nigel came out of the pool, having a concerned but calm facade as he made his way to me and Private. He kneeled down and took Private from my arms, setting him down on the floor. And OKAY, I might have slightly growled a bit at that.
Nigel started doing compressions on Private's chest as he muttered numbers under his breath, focusing on Private's face for any reactions. I looked over to Kowalski and Rico, they were eerily still with horrified looks on their faces from watching CPR being performed. They knew what it meant, Private drowned. Nigel began to look more and more frantic, desperate to wake his nephew up. 30 compressions, 2 breaths, repeat. No response for about 2 minutes and only 5 minutes without air would cause permanent brain damage, then... I mentally scolded myself for thinking that, but he wanted to prepare himself with the awful scenario if it happened. But the painful burn was still there.
At the academy they said soldiers died, so they better get 'used' to it. This… this wasn't something he could just get used to. Just then Private lurched forward spewing water from his mouth, wheezing. Nigel patted his back and said, "Easy lad, Easy. You're okay…. And you boys scared me half to death!" Private began to laugh as he hugged his uncle.
"Sorry uncle Nigel", Private said as he calmed down. As soon as he let go of Nigel, Kowalski, Rico and I crushed him into a hug, sputtering apologies and scolding him for getting himself in danger. Private giggled and direct his attention to all three of us, while we sported confuse faces. "Guys, it's not like this hasn't happened before", Private said with a large smile and flushed cheeks. Before? "Besides, I know how to swim as a human and i'm an experienced life coach and you guys were drowning. I couldn't just let you drown could I?"
He had a point… experienced life coach? I have to look into this later on. "You know…", Private started, breaking my train of thought. "I could teach you how to swim"
"You sure you want to do this Private, I mean, you just…", I stopped myself not wanting to think about it anymore.
"Sure, I just need a minute to recover and...", Private stopped as he looked at the three of us. "Did you just jump in wearing that?" What? I looked down and realized I was soaked and only wearing a wet tank top and long johns, exposing most of my muscles. Kowalski was wearing a light green shirt and white pants and Rico was wearing a blue shirt with white pants. Private was the only one wearing a swimming suit.
My eyes narrowed and saddened a bit as I looked at the damage I did to him. There were two new holes in the suit with a scratch just slightly visible under the flaps of the outfit. Private stood up and motioned for them to walk over to the side of the pool. "Come on guys, I'll teach you how to swim so we can enjoy this lovely mornin'", Private said as he jumped in and everged floating on his back. "There are some stairs over there if you don't want to jump in." I looked to my other soldiers, questioning if they were going to jump. Well I wasn't going to wuss out in front of Private. Stepping towards the edge, I backflipped into the water, before going into the water I caught a glimpse of Private's amazed gaze.
I smirked as I landed into the water, but quickly held onto the ledge for concern of drowning. Kowalski and Rico also jumped in and Private led them to the ledge. He began to show us how to float by laying flat on our backs on the water. First was Rico, he panicked slightly as his ears went underwater, but Private cooed soft encouragement s to him and held his head and back to keep him steady. Eventually easing his hand off and letting Rico float on his own. Cheering him on with a cute and encouraging smile with Rico returning a toothy grin himself.
Next was Kowalski, he quickly adjusted to the water in his ears and relaxed, soon Private wasn't holding him and Kowalski laughed and gave an enthusiastic smile at being able to float. Private soon moved on to me and I held on to the ledge to project myself into the water. Private rested his hands on my shoulders and said, "Let go Skipper, i've got you." I let go of the ledge hesitantly and pushed myself forward foward. As my ears entered the water I panicked and held onto Private's hands as they held onto my head and back. "Skippah, It's alright. I'm right here, You're okay, sir. You're doing fine." I relaxed under his touch and kind words and allowed myself to trust in him.
"Skippah?", Private said softly. "I want you to slowly move your arms into a chicken position, then an airplane." I moved my arms into these positions like Private told me and looked up at him expectantly. "Now push them hard to you sides like a soldier." I pushed my arms back down quickly and noticed that I propelled myself forward onto Private's chest. "Oh, Skippah. You swam, you actually did with no help at all." Private then took both of his hands out of the water, grinning all the while as I grinned back to him like a child on christmas. Which it was going to be soon.
We swam back together towards the ledge and we spent the whole morning, and a bit of the afternoon learning how to swim from Private. Soon we were all swimming like professionals, all thanks to our little soldier. Once lunchtime came around we left the pool and went back inside. Well, after Private gave us some towels so we could keep the house clean and stay warm. We all made our way through the living room, where Nigel was dressed in new clothes, sorting out some books on the shelf.
As I looked at the coffee table there was picture I never noticed before. One of us, all together in the pool, laughing as we lifted Private up into the air and dunked him into the pool. So that's where Nigel went. I smiled softly at that moment, but then I remember that there was something else I needed to see. That other picture of Private and that guy with the white streak of hair. Who was that? But I realised something disturbing, something else that made me really anxious at getting to the bottom of this. In all those pictures, Private was a human...
A/N- Hey guys, so sorry for the late update, Midterms just came up So that took up most of my time this week. And I added in some special fetures to this chapter as compensation for the tardiness. I'll try to update sooner and add some more art to the chapters, but let me know what you guys think and I'll see you next time. Bye bye
