Disclaimer: I already know you're not reading this bit, so why bother.

Trigger Warning: It is recommended you skip this chapter if:
- You have emetophobia/are generally grossed out by vomit
- You are sensitive to the topic of mental illness

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"Welcome to life aboard the Octopod," said Deborah into a video camera as she entered the kitchen. "In this segment, I'll be showing you an average day as a member of the Octonauts." She took her seat at the table. "Like everyone else on this fine morning, we begin our day with a healthy breakfast."

"What's with the camera?" Tweak asked.

"My friend Josephine from school is making a film project about a bunch of different jobs for university," said Deborah. "I'm helping her out by filming stuff here for the project."

"…eight, nine, ten." Captain Barnacles finished counting his crewmates and realized that they were missing one. "Where's Shellington?"

"Octonaut #4 is taking his sweet time getting up this morning," said Deborah into the camera.

"And I'd appreciate if Octonaut #10 would put the camera down at the table and eat her damn breakfast." Captain Barnacles said to Deborah. "In the meantime, I have to go drag Shellington out of bed."

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Captain Barnacles entered the back room of the lab and found a wiggling lump under the blanket. He lifted it up and found his sleepy crewmate underneath. Shellington groaned and shielded his eyes from the light.

"Come on, Shellington," said Captain Barnacles. "You gotta get up."

Shellington yawned. "Sorry…I was, uh, up late working last night."

Captain Barnacles cocked an eyebrow. Normally whenever Shellington worked late, he slept on that pull-out bed tucked into the wall of the lab. However, he shrugged it off. "Are you coming to breakfast?"

"No!" Shellington frantically declined. "I, uh…I'm not hungry."

Captain Barnacles sighed and shook his head. "Alright," he said, leaving the room. "That kid makes no damn sense sometimes…"

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Up in HQ, Deborah was continuing her film. "This is our HQ. Up here, we control the ship, can look up creature information, and watch outside for new creatures."

"We're coming up at the kelp forest now," said Dashi. "We'll be spending a few days here to study all of the creatures who live here."

Just then, there was a whimpering noise coming from outside. Elekai looked out the window.

"Sir! Injury to report!"

Captain Barnacles rushed over to him. "What is it?"

"There's an injured creature out there, sir!" Elekai pointed at a small shark outside with an injured fin.

"We've got to help her," said Captain Barnacles. "Dashi, sound the Octo-Alert."

Dashi pressed the Octo-Alert button.

"Octonauts, to the Launch Bay!"

The Octo-Alert blared throughout the Octopod, and the Octonauts rushed to the launch bay.

"Octonauts, there's an injured shark out in the kelp forest. We've got to help them. Peso, Kitsune, prepare the sick bay." Peso and Kitsune nodded and rushed to their station. "Kwazii, Shellington, Lekona, into the GUP." The four hopped into the GUP-A. Tweak opened the Octo-Hatch, and they went out to find the shark.

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Upon arriving in the kelp forest, Captain Barnacles planned their next move. "Alright, here's the plan. First, Kwazii and Lekona will coax the shark over to us."

"Aye, Captain," said Lekona.

"Once we've got her to follow us, I'll call Peso to bring the GUP-E down here." He turned to Shellington, who was leaning against the wall of the GUP. "Are you alright there, Shellington? You look like you're gonna be sick."

"Huh? Oh, I'm fine, Captain, just a wee bit tired," said Shellington, even though he really wanted to say "Please take me home, I want to sleep for a million years".

"Right. It won't take us very-" Captain Barnacles then noticed Kwazii swimming out of the GUP. He sighed. "Dammit, Kwazii…Lekona, go with him." Lekona nodded and exited the GUP. Both approached the shark.

"Stay back! I'm warning you!" The shark yelled as her body began to puff up.

"Err, Captain, why is 'e swelling up like that?" Lekona asked, turning back to the GUP.

"That's a swell shark," said Shellington. "They puff up like that when they feel threatened."

"I's okay, matey," said Kwazii to the shark. "We're here to help you."

"We have our medics waiting at our base," said Lekona. "They can fix up your fin."

The shark whimpered for a moment, but calmed down and returned to her normal size. "Alright."

Captain Barnacles contacted the Octopod's sick bay. "Peso, we've found our patient down he-"

He was interrupted by a gagging sound. He turned around and saw Shellington hunched over, leaning against the wall. Captain Barnacles instantly knew what was going on. "Nonononono, in the bucket, in the bucket!"

"What's wrong, Captain?" Peso asked from the sick bay. He heard a loud, painful retch followed by what sounded like fluids splattering against a metal surface.

"Oh, son of a bitch, Shellington…" Captain Barnacles went back to the dashboard. "You'd best prepare a bed in the sick bay. We've got another patient down here who needs you." He clicked off, sat Shellington down, and turned to the two others outside. "You two; stay out of the GUP. I don't want you catching this." Shellington leaned over the bucket and looked as if he might cry.

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Peso and Kitsune prepared the GUP-E. The GUP-E went into ambulance mode, and they set off for the kelp forest.

Upon arrival, Kwazii and Lekona loaded the swell shark into the back of the GUP-E.

"The captain's told us to stay out of the GUP-A until we get back," said Lekona. "He doesn't want us to get whatever Pukeface up there's got."

Lekona and Kwazii held onto the sides of the GUP-E while both GUPs drove back to the Octopod. When they got back, both medics brought their patients into the sick bay.

"You're going to be okay," said Peso to the shark. "What's your name?"

"I'm Sweetpea," said the shark. "I hurt my fin while trying to get back into my den. It caved in on itself…"

"Oh, dear, that's terrible," said Kitsune from the other side of the sick bay.

"Don't worry," said Peso. "I'm sure that Captain Barnacles can help you clear the way into your den." He bandaged up Sweetpea's fin.

"Oh, that would be wonderful," said Sweetpea.

"I am curious, though," said Peso. "How do you puff up the way you do?"

"I don't have any bones," said Sweetpea. "I'm all cartilage, which helps me bend back and swallow large amounts of water."

Just then, Captain Barnacles entered the sick bay. "How are your patients?"

"I've bandaged up Sweetpea's fin," chirped Peso. "As long as she takes it slow, she should be able to swim again."

"Excellent, Peso," said Captain Barnacles. He turned to Kitsune. "How about you?"

"He hasn't eaten anything recently that would have caused this," said Kitsune in a serious tone. "I believe he has gastroenteritis. He needs to be in bed."

Captain Barnacles was surprised at this new side of Kitsune, but nodded. "That makes sense. I had a rather, uh…" He clicked his tongue. "…unpleasant view of his guts today."

"Say," said Sweetpea. "Do you think you could help me with my den?"

"That's what we're here for," said Captain Barnacles. He left the room, while Kitsune picked up Shellington to bring him to bed.

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Back in the kelp forest, Captain Barnacles, Tweak, and Lekona followed Sweetpea to her den.

"See?" Sweetpea circled her den. "The entrance is blocked off by all these rocks."

"No sweat," said Tweak. "We'll have your den ship-shape again fast than you can say 'buncha munchy crunchy carrots'!" She and Lekona got to work removing the fallen rocks.

Once complete, Tweak looked over the den. "The roof looks pretty weak. I can fix that." She took out her welder and brought stronger rocks together to create a stronger roof.

"Ooh, you Octonaut people are so kind," chirped Sweetpea.

"It's our job," said Captain Barnacles. "We're there for any sea creature, big or small."

"That should do it," said Tweak. "Try it out."

Sweetpea nestled into her den. "It's perfect! Thank you, Octonauts."

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It was now late in the evening. Deborah was clearing her area of the lab when Captain Barnacles entered. "Good evening, Captain," she chirped. "I got a lot of great footage for Josephine's film, and-"

"I need to speak to your mentor," he said to her in a stern tone. He was very displeased about Shellington lying about being well.

"…Yes, sir." Feeling a little intimidated, Deborah approached the door of the back room alongside the captain.

Captain Barnacles slipped into the room while Deborah waited in the doorway. Just like in the morning, Shellington was hiding under the blanket.

"Shellington…"

Shellington huddled deeper under the blanket and whimpered. Captain Barnacles' face softened. "I need to speak to you about today."

No answer.

"Well, for starters," said Captain Barnacles, "you're going to have to take some time off."

"I know, I'm sorry…" Shellington cowered before the captain.

"For what?" Captain Barnacles was confused. "Taking sick leave?" Shellington poked his head out from under the blanket and nodded. "Oh my god, it's policy, Shellington. If you're throwing up, we have to keep you in bed until you're not throwing up anymore."

Shellington whimpered weakly and went back under the blanket. Captain Barnacles was starting to get suspicious. "You're not in trouble for anything. I just need to talk to you." He sat down next to him and coaxed him back out. "Why didn't you just tell me you were ill? I would have easily let you sit this one out."

"Well…" Shellington averted eye contact. "I…uh…didn't want you lot fussing over me."

"Why not?" Deborah asked. "Being fussed over is the best part of being sick."

"You're allowed to tell me if something's wrong," said Captain Barnacles. "Okay? No need to clam up, you're alright."

Shellington put his head down. "No I'm not…"

If his before behaviour had red flags, then that comment was a neon blinking sign. Something was definitely wrong. "What's wrong?"

"Well, how else am I supposed to get taken seriously?!" Shellington snapped. When he saw the taken aback looks of both Captain Barnacles and Deborah, he shrunk back into himself.

"I don't understand," said Captain Barnacles. "You're our senior field researcher; of course we take you seriously."

Shellington furrowed his brow. "You only started calling me the senior when she showed up." Upon seeing Deborah's offended pout, he hid his face and whimpered.

"What's going on?" Captain Barnacles asked firmly. "It isn't like you to get snappy like this."

He didn't answer; just softly wept.

"Hey…" Captain Barnacles moved closer and let Shellington cling to him. "I don't understand what's going on with you. You've never acted like this before."

"What else do you want me to do?!" Shellington shouted in anger. "What is it going to take me to be more than a lazy, gluttonous klutz who's terrible at everything?!"

"What do you…?" Captain Barnacles trailed off as the realization hit him.

"Bit of a bottomless pit, that one."

"I swear he gets lost every time he leaves the Octopod."

"Kid, you have the attention span of a moth."

"I'd sooner let him teach her how to do quantum physics in Mandarin than how to drive."

"Are you going to interrupt every two minutes?."

"Trust me; he would sleep through a hurricane, given the opportunity."

"Some of us aren't very good at sewing."

"…Oh."

"Exactly! Nothing! I can't do a single damn thing about it!" He completely broke into pieces and sobbed.

Captain Barnacles said nothing. He couldn't say anything. He simply sat silently, rubbing Shellington's back as he bawled. He looked up and saw Deborah in the doorway. Her eyes were wide. She had her hooves over her mouth, and looked as if she might cry herself.

As Shellington was beginning to peter out and calm down, Captain Barnacles finally regained his senses. "Why didn't you ever come and talk to me about this?"

Shellington snuffed. "I'm already a terrible Octonaut. It would be selfish of me to ask for time off."

"You are not a terrible Octonaut, and I don't ever want to hear you say that again." Captain Barnacles cupped Shellington's face in his paws and looked him firmly in the eyes. "It doesn't matter to me that you're not perfect. I've seen you tough out toxic venom and rush headfirst into finding new creatures, and it astounds me that you never run out of steam. Trust me; Deborah couldn't ask for a better mentor, and I want you to know I mean it when I say there is not a single goddamn thing I would change about you."

Shellington didn't respond outside of one last hiccup. He looked down.

"I see now that this is much more than just an ordinary stomach flu." Captain Barnacles continued. "I'm going to have to put you on emergency leave until you're both physically and mentally well again, okay? Because if this is your breaking point, I don't even want to think about what it'd be like to see you hit rock bottom."

Shellington snuffed. He laid his head down on his pillow. Captain Barnacles got up to let him sleep. Deborah stepped out of the doorway to let him through.

"Listen" said Captain Barnacles to Deborah, "I'm going to have you doing your work in the library until he's well again."

Deborah wrung her hooves and nodded silently. They exited the lab, only to find the rest of the Octonauts standing outside, mouths agape. They had heard everything. Kwazii opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but then closed it and pressed his knuckles to his lips. Everyone was at a loss for words.

Finally, Lekona stepped forward and broke the silence. "I don't think a pint is gonna fix this one."

Captain Barnacles sighed and shook his head. "No, definitely not."

"…I should call my wife." The Octonauts dispersed and went to their respective quarters. None of them knew exactly how to digest this major twist of events. How could they let themselves do this? What would become of Shellington? What comes next?

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And there you have it; the Kelp Forest arc has begun.

I'm sorry to end on such a downer note, but I promise that things won't be sour forever.

If you're curious, the thing about the pull-out bed refers to something in Season 5. If you've been on the wiki recently, you'll see that there have been several books released that are based off of episodes from the upcoming season. You can check them out, but you may not understand the words as they're all in Chinese (I believe China got Season 5 early because Octonauts is oddly popular there).

Information about the swell shark taken from Monterey Bay Aquarium