Love You to Death

A/N: I highly recommend checking out AGENCY by Jediannsolo on the duckwebcomics or her deviantART, it's a great comic and a great inspiration for this fic.

Squidward was given the week off by Mr. Krabs the next day, as much as it pained the cheapskate to let one of his employees leave during rush hour, he knew Squidward needed time to grieve. After all, Will's death was sudden and according to the police, graphic.

Mr. Krabs couldn't bear the thought of that happening to him even less so to someone as valuable to him like Squidward.

"SpongeBob me boy," Mr. Krabs started, putting a claw on the small of the sponge's back.

"Yes, Mr. Krabs?"

"You take good care of Mr. Squidward while he's not working, got it?"

A small smile appeared on SpongeBob's face as he received a text message. "I got it, Mr. K, he's in good hands." He replied, going to the back to start his work shift.

Sandy texted SpongeBob once she got off the bus and found her treedome thankfully gone. She didn't need anymore reminders of the past or her old job. She took her phone out and sent another message to SpongeBob.

Me: Stayin' at a hotel fer the time bein'. I'll see you at the Krusty Krab.

She sighed, heading to the nearest hotel and ordering a room. She sat on the bed, changing out of her old, clunky underwater suit for the new one she made back in Talfryn. Maybe, just maybe after she made sure everything was alright down here, she could go back to Talfryn, to Kismet, to—

Lil Square Dude: That's great, can you check in on Squidward? He's having a rough time after. . .y'know.

Me: Of course, omw.

Sandy put her phone away, locking the door behind her as she headed towards SpongeBob's pineapple home. She knocked, hearing the telltale signs of someone being inside.

Squidward opened the door with puffy, red-rimmed eyes and a tissue in hand. He looked at Sandy, asking, "Sandy?"

"In the flesh," she replied, swallowing as Squidward practically threw himself at her in a tight hug.

"He's gone and I don't, I can't," Squidward babbled, fresh tears streaking down his face. "I don't know what to do."

Sandy patted Squidward's back, leading him back inside the house.

He sniffed, wiping his eyes and taking a longer look at Sandy. "You look nice. . .guess being on land did you some good."

Sandy chuckled, rubbing the back of her neck. "Somethin' like it. How long have ya been here?" she asked, looking around the Squarepants residence. Nothing had changed.

Squidward shrugged. "Few days, he took me shopping yesterday." He answered, clasping his hands together. "Y'know. . .we were going to get married. I just. . .don't understand. Will wouldn't—." he stopped, swallowing down the rising bile in his throat.

He knew Will like the back of his hand. The other squid wouldn't just. . .kill himself. They were happy, everything was going smoothly.

"I know," Sandy said after a moment, grabbing Squidward's hand. "I know, jus' take all the time ya need, alright?"

He nodded as her phone chimed. Sandy checked it and smiled, looking at the picture of Marcus, Fox, and Krystal. She was glad s he was useful to them then and now her friends needed her here.

"How 'bout this? You rest up n I'll be back with snacks, we can watch my favorite movie." She suggested, earning a slow nod from the cephalopod.

She covered him with the blanket on the back of the couch, leaving the pineapple and leaning against the door once it shut tight.

Sandy had to find whoever had done this.