chapter 10

After lying in the sun for a few minutes so Private could dry off, and finally catching some fish for a much delayed lunch, Skipper decided they should go back to work, as much as he didn't want to. Who knows? Maybe if I go back to HQ, this feeling for Private might just disappear.

Skipper sighed as he noticed how little progress they had made. This is going to take days! He picked up a shovel, motivated by sheer determination.

Private knew it was his fault that they had made little progress that day, he wasn't as strong as Skipper and just slowed the other down. He sighed as he sat down to eat like Skipper had suggested. He ate slowly, knowing that after he had finished eating he would have to leave. He finished his food and sighed inwardly again.

"Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow" Skipper said, lifting his flipper in a half wave before dropping it awkwardly.

Hug him. Hug him. Hug him. No! Private turned away before he changed his mind, already looking forward to he would see Skipper again tomorrow.

He was so lost in his thoughts that he walked around the zoo three times before noticing and stopping.

Marlene stepped out of her cave. "Oh hey Private, how's it going?"

Private stood there with a lovesick smile on his face. Marlene noticed and steered the little penguin into her habitat.

"So, did you tell him?"

"No" Private said, ashamed. "I'm scared, I mean it'll ruin everything! He'll never think of me the same! I'm scared I'll lose his friendship..."

Marlene sighed. "I'm not gong to tell you what to do, it's up to you." But was interrupted by loud music. "Those lemurs" she muttered. "I'm surprised I haven't heard Skipper complaining, in fact, I haven't seen him in awhile, what's he up to? Or is he on one of those top secret missions you cant tell me about" She laughed.

"He's stuck in the park" Private whispered finally, needing to get it off his chest, needing to know he wasn't crazy.

"What?" Marlene was shocked he had actually answered, it was a far cry from the usual 'classified'. "What do you mean?"

"He's stuck in the park, he cant leave! He says its like an invisible barrier all around the park, I can leave and enter, but he can't leave!" The younger cried, tears leaking from his eyes.

"Oh Private, it'll be okay, I'm sure he'll be back soon. He's smart, you guys will figure it out, and then he'll be back and everything will go back to normal again and be okay."

Private remained silent, wondering if Skipper came back everything would ever be okay again. He lay there and eventually drifted off to sleep.

He woke up a few hours later, it was dark. Private bolted up, worried that Kowalski had noticed he was missing. He sat up and cringed when heard the floor squeak. He tiptoed out of the cave and into the night, not wanting to wake his friend. She wouldn't be too cheerful to be woken in the middle of the night. The first thing he noticed were the stars, they were so bright, the only light in the dark sky. He walked cautiously in the direction of the penguin habitat. He reached his 'home' and dropped down into HQ, coming face to face with a very angered Kowalski.

Private gulped, he knew he didn't have a chance. 'Smack' he felt a lump form on his head. I wish I had never left Skipper. I should have stayed in the park, went anywhere but here. 'Smack' this time, a kick that sent Private sprawling into a corner. He saw Rico cowering in his own bunk before the taller penguin blocked his view. Private whimpered in fear, causing the older to smirk evilly.

"Maybe next time you wont go running off whenever you want, from now on you listen to me, YOU WILL OBEY ME IF YOU WANT TO LIVE!"

Private sat, shaking, not just from the physical blows but the words Kowalski had said. He wouldn't put it past the older to actually kill him.

"You will train everyday until you become perfect, and if that's not possible, then we can easily find someone to replace you!"

Private cowered, dodging the punch coming from the taller. That just angered the scientist more. "Try and struggle now" he said wickedly, pinning the younger against the wall. "I could beat the crap out of you, in fact, its quite tempting, but I'll be the nice guy, and I hope to hell that you learned your lesson." He let the penguin go and watched him drop to the floor.

"Yes Kowalski" the younger stammered, feeling his heart beat rapidly against his ribcage.

Kowalski stood glaring for a few seconds before storming into his lab and slamming the door.

Private lay there, laying his head back down on the cold, hard concrete, not daring to move to his bunk. He heard a sob escape him and promptly clamped his beak shut, willing sleep to overtake him and the horrible night.

"Wake up" Kowalski ordered, kicking the other penguin in the stomach. Private bolted up, afraid of the older penguin. Kowalski didn't even offer them breakfast this time, just ordered them outside, this time Rico obeyed quietly. They stood outside in the sunshine but Private was anything but cheery.

"Give me 100!" Kowalski shouted, pushing both penguins to the ground. When they lay there stupidly he added "Push ups you morons!" Private felt his stomach drop, he wasn't exactly in good shape. Yet he still tried, fuelled by fear. He got to 5 and felt his flippers begin to burn, he got to 15 and felt his flippers begin to shake. By 35, he felt his whole body begin to shake from physical exhaustion. 100? He must be crazy! He felt himself collapse and looked up to a snarling Kowalski. Oh god, please no.

"Piece of crap" he muttered, turning to check on Rico, who wasn't doing much better than Private. Kowalski shoved them both up. "100 laps, I sure hope you weaklings can do that" he said pointing to the water.

Private was glad for this, he was actually a half decent swimmer, it was a lot better than push ups. He quickly hopped in the water and couldn't help but think of the last time he was in the water. Skipper. He has to admit, he had never seen Skipper so happy and un-concerned of his tough guy image before. It had been nice, he had seen the side of Skipper he rarely saw, the side he loved. Well actually I love all of Skipper. He blushed immediately and finished his laps in no time and was met with more training tasks.

It was sunset before Kowalski finally let them quit. Private was exhausted, he wanted to plop down and sleep forever. It took what little energy he had left to drag himself into HQ and into his bunk.

Kowalski locked himself in his lab, as per usual and Private promptly drifted off to sleep.

He didn't come. Skipper had sat waiting all day for the little penguin, looking forward to seeing him, but Private hadn't shown, it broke Skippers heart, not that he would admit it. He knew deep down that Private couldn't come visit him everyday, that he shouldn't, that the team would him, but that didn't make the hurt any easier. At first he was worried, afraid the younger had been kidnapped or was left for dead somewhere, then the rational part of his brain kicked in and he felt stupid for thinking Private had nothing better to do with his time than visit poor old Skipper trapped in the park.

He looked at the shovels on the ground and knew he should work on the hole, but he didn't have the heart, not without Private. He sighed and locked away his worried for another night as he went to sleep.