Alex sighed. Kowalski, Rico, and Private looked at Alex. "What's wrong?" Rico asked. "I was wanting to save you guys." Alex said. Kowalski cringed. "Alex, you were in the cage with us. How could you save us when you were captured!?" Kowalski yelled. Private and Rico ran to Kowalski. "Calm down." Private said. Kowalski sighed and walked away. It was now eleven o'clock at night. Rico was dancing to Christmas music. "Don't rush the days. You know Kowalski's pet peeve." Private said. "But it's getting close." Rico said. "I know." Private said. Kowalski walked out of his lab. "Alright guys, it's late. It's eleven o'clock." Kowalski said. "Okay." Rico said. "But where's Alex?" Private asked. "How should I know?" Kowalski asked. "Kowalski, I think you scared him off. You were very hard on him." Rico said. "I know. He makes me angry." Kowalski said. "Remember Kowalski, he's different. We don't have Asperger's, he does." Private said.
Kowalski sighed. "You're right. This is my fault." Kowalski said. "Lights out team!" Skipper yelled. "Coming Skipper." Kowalski said. It was now four o'clock in the morning. Alex was in the hallway. He was upset. "I wanted to save the team." Alex said. Skipper woke up. He walked out of his bunk. He was able to walk around without his penguin crutches. "Wow. My leg feel better." He said. Before he went to get a glass of water, he saw Alex. "Alex?" Skipper asked. "Hi Skipper." Alex said sadly. "What's wrong?" Skipper asked. "I'm sad." Alex said. "Can you tell me?" Skipper asked. "I don't want you to get angry at me like Kowalski." Alex said. "No. I'm not Kowalski. You can tell me." Skipper said. "Okay. It's just that I wanted to save your team." Alex said. "Oh. I'm sorry Alex." Skipper said. Kowalski woke up. "Skipper, you have nothing to apologize for! Alex does not understand that he was in the cage with us!" Kowalski yelled. "Well Kowalski's right. You were in the cage with Kowalski, Rico, and Private." Skipper said.
"And you were crying the entire time!" Kowalski yelled. "Will you stop yelling?" Skipper asked. "I'm sorry Skipper." Kowalski said. "It's alright Kowalski." Skipper said. Kowalski sighed. "Skipper, how's your leg?" Kowalski asked. "Better." Skipper said. "Good. Well goodnight." Kowalski said and he went to his bunk and fell asleep. Skipper got his glass of water. He yawned and then went back to his bunk. "Wait Skipper. I want to talk to you." Alex said. "Alex, it's too early." Skipper said. "Please Skipper, can we talk?" Alex asked. "Alright." Skipper said. He got out of his bunk and took a walk with Alex.
They left the Penguin HQ. "Wow. It's so quiet." Alex said. "Yeah." Skipper said. "Look over here Skipper. This was my habitat." Alex said. "Yes. I remember that. That was months ago." Skipper said. Alex started crying. "What's wrong?" Skipper asked. "I miss it." Alex said and he hugged Skipper. "It's okay." Skipper said. "Skipper, where's my father?" Alex asked. "I haven't seen Zuba the end of November." Skipper said. Alex continued to cry on Skipper. "It's alright Alex. Let it out. I'm not mad." Skipper said. "I miss my family." Alex said. "Do you want to become a lion again?" Skipper asked. "I...I don't know." Alex said. "I understand, but if you change your mind, I'll tell my team." Skipper said. "Thanks Skipper." Alex said as he was still crying.
"Skipper, what's wrong with me?" Alex asked. "Nothing." Skipper said. "Really? You don't think I have a problem?" Alex asked. Skipper shook his head. "No. You are just a wonderful friend to me and my brothers." Skipper said. "Do you mind if I hug you?" Alex asked. Skipper and Alex hugged each other. "Can I ask you something else?" Alex asked. "Is this about Kowalski?" Skipper asked. Alex nodded. "I don't know what's with him. I'm sorry. You're going to have to talk to him about that." Skipper said. "I understand." Alex said. "Let's go back now." Skipper said. "Not yet." Alex said. "Okay." Skipper said. Alex and Skipper were still walking around. Melmen, Gloria, and Marty were asleep. Gloria and Melmen were sleeping together. "It's so quiet." Alex said. "That's because everyone's asleep." Skipper said. "Including Julien?" Alex asked. "Yes. Including Ringtail." Skipper said. Alex and Skipper were about to walk back to the Penguin HQ. "Skipper, thanks for taking a walk with me." Alex said. "You're welcome Alex." Skipper said.
Rico and Private were asleep. Kowalski woke up. "Where's Skipper?" Kowalski asked. Rico and Private didn't hear Kowalski. "Guys? Oh forget it. You guys are asleep." Kowalski said and he went back asleep. One tear fell from Kowalski's eyes. "Why am I sad? Oh. Doris. I still miss her. I just have some strange feeling that Alex could be in love with Doris." Kowalski said and he went back to sleep. Skipper and Alex walked back into the Penguin HQ. Alex went to bed. Skipper could hear Kowalski crying. He climbed up to Kowalski's bunk. "Kowalski, are you alright?" Skipper asked. There was silence. "Kowalski?" Skipper asked. Then there was silence. Skipper went back to sleep. While he was asleep, he was thinking about what Alex was saying to him. Alex was singing. Skipper opened his eyes and smiled and then he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep. He started talking in his sleep. "What should I do? Should we turn Alex back to a lion or should he stay as a penguin?" Skipper asked. Then he thought of something else. "What happened to Alex's father, Zuba?" Skipper asked. He had to find Alex's father. That was the next mission. He was going to do this by himself. He woke up and walked over to Alex.
"Alex? I'm going to find your father." Skipper said and he left the Penguin HQ.
To Be Continued.
