I have pretty much every chapter outlined, unfortunately between work and grad classes I have very little time to write so it will be some time before I can get more chapters out. Thank you everyone who has been reading and leaving reviews, I have no plans to leave this story unfinished.

Chapter 5

"Are you sure it isn't too short notice?" Marlene asked Skipper as they walked the currently closed lower east wing of the gallery. "Normally, I wouldn't have asked even with the gala next weekend, but after that letter came in—"Malene trailed off already having expressed her concern about the letter warning them to keep an eye on what is valued or risk losing it.

"Of course not." Skipper surveyed the area with interest, with the gala it would be easy for anyone to slip into the closed area. There weren't many pieces up though as Marlene explained they were in the process of packing up the previous exhibit and making adjustments to the final layout for next. He sent a quick text to Private to look into their files for anyone who would target the gallery. Even if they hadn't talked about it in detail many of them were iching to get back to work and CENTRAAL was still hesitant to send any assignments their way. "In fact, this will be a welcome distraction for everyone."

"And by everyone you mean Kowalski?" Marlene guessed, fully aware of the fact that Kowalski had been driving everyone up the wall. Private had even asked the other week if he could join "Girl's Night" just for an additional opportunity to get away from Kowalski's love sick sighs whenever he came across something that reminded him of her.

Skipper pinched the bridge of his nose, a headache forming at the mere mention of his second in command, "Doris's research trip can't come fast enough."

Marlene shook her head at Skipper's remark as they walked toward the doors to leave the currently closed wing. "I think it's sweet that he wants to spend so much time with her before she leaves," she chastised gently as they made their way to her office. She only needed to grab her bags from her office and write a reminder to inform the Head Curator that additional security for the upcoming show had been found in addition to a private investigation into the note.

"I wouldn't care if it wasn't starting to affect his work. Did you know that last week was the first time in almost ten years Kowalski's failed to prepare and submit his quarterly expense report? I mean I've seen Kowalski pretty far gone on a gal," Skipper responded recalling how Eva had left Kowalski speechless or unable to string a coherent sentence together at best, "but this is a whole other level."

"Lighten up, Skipper," Marlene remarked as they entered her office and she went straight to her desk and began to scribble a note for tomorrow. "He's just caught up in the honeymoon phase."

Skipper huffed at the reminder. "Yeah, well even when Rico and Julien were in their honeymoon phase, Rico didn't fall behind on his duties."

"Rico didn't have to worry about Julien jumping on a boat for three months. Besides, isn't this Kowalski's first serious relationship?" Marlene finished her note and looked up at Skipper who shifted under her unwavering gaze. They both knew that she knew something more was bothering him and she would get it out of him.

"It is," Skipper answered followed by a sigh. "And I'll be honest that's part of why I'm not too keen on it."

"Skipper," Marlene spoke soft and low as if speaking to a child, "you can't ask him to not have a relationship with someone."

"I know that," Skipper snapped and rolled his eyes. If he had learned anything from Rico and Julien's relationship about relationships it was that. He took a deep breath and exhaled before explaining what he meant by not being keen on Kowalski and Doris's relationship. "I just can't shake this feeling that something isn't right."

"One of your gut instincts?" Marlene teased. "Look Skipper, I understand that you just don't want to see any of them hurt-"

"I think that ship has long since sailed."

Now it was her turn to roll her eyes. "You know what I mean."

"Marlene, I've been in this game for a long time and my gut instinct has never steered me wrong before." Skipper frowned, "I just know something about this whole Doris thing is going to turn sour."

Marlene hummed in thought. It was true that Skipper's gut instincts had a good track record, but those instincts also had a tendency to push his paranoia into overdrive. She could argue that point and cite several instances where that had occurred including the time poor Rico was nearly court martialed over Private's determination to get a date with an ER nurse. Instead she glanced at the note she had written and opted to give him a way out. "Are you sure about running extra security for the show next week? We can always pull some of the day shift for overtime."

Skipper's frown deepened as he thought about how the team dynamics had already shifted, revealing cracks in their foundation. "Like I said, it would make for a good distraction. It would also make for an easy mission to get everyone back into the feel of things. Although I might have Rico sit out- he doesn't blend in well when it comes to black tie missions."

Marlene chuckled at the understatement. Not that Rico didn't clean up nicely, but with his mohawk, scars, and piercings he was better suited for undercover work on the streets. "Speaking of Rico, on our way back from dinner do you think we could stop in for a minute so I could see where he's at with the project?" She asked as she slipped her bag over her shoulder. "I've been kinda worried that this project may do more harm than good for him."

"I wouldn't worry about it, it's how he deals with things anyway. At least how he deals with the things he can't blow up or burn," Skipper he would have to admit that the red paint splattered across the wall had been alarming at a glance. However, he wasn't about to go into more detail about what he had seen walking past Rico's work space, not when Marlene would roll into a whole bit about art revealing the inner workings of an artist's soul. "But we can stop if you want, it gives me a chance to see if Kowalski got his paperwork caught up."

"Skipper, I know you're worried about him and that's sweet," Marlene smiled softly and placed a hand in his cheek. "But one of them was always going to think about leaving the flock someday. Kowalski went through a lot last year. You can't blame him for wanting to get out of the line of work you guys do. Let him enjoy what he has... just in case he doesn't get out."

Skipper placed his hand over Marlene's as he felt guilt building in his chest. They had had a similar conversation about their own relationship a little less than a year ago. Less of a conversation and more of a screaming match between the two of them. It was difficult to maintain a relationship in his line of duty and Marlene had known that when they first started talking about the possibility of starting one. Even if they had come to an understanding, it was a delicate one as they both knew that Skipper had no chance of ever getting out of CENTRAAL.

"Well, I suppose if any of them have a shot at getting out, it would be Kowalski. I want to be happy for him, but it's hard when it feels like the team is falling apart. "

"You guys have been through so much and you've always come out with a stronger bond than you had before." Marlene reassured thinking back on the last year alone. She was certain there was nothing that the Penguins couldn't come back from.

"Thank you," Skipper gave Marlene's hand a gentle squeeze before they parted and made their exit from the building.

The conversation was relatively light as they walked to HQ having decided that they could check in with the team, drop Marlene's stuff off, and then go out for dinner. Although in reality they'd probably stay in at Marlene's and order takeout since they opted to cut through part of Central Park.

They were just drawing near the zoo when they heard a familiar shrill laughter. Marlene glanced at Skipper and saw that he had gone into "commander mode" as she had dubbed it. For a moment she wondered if they had misheard something until the laughter rippled through the air again.

"Was that—" Marlene trailed off as Skipper tensed, brows furrowed in anger.

Not a second later Skipper practically growled, "Doris." He could see her and on one of the walking paths across from them, just far enough ahead that wouldn't notice them.

"Skipper, calm down." Marlene placed a hand on his arm hoping that it would be enough to prevent him from charging over. "Maybe Kowalski got the paperwork done early, let him have his fun," she suggested now worried that her boyfriend would pop a blood vessel with how tightly he was clenching his jaw.

"I guess we'll find out," Skipper shrugged off Marlene's hand and pulled his phone out. He pulled up Kowalski's number and hit send.

Across from them Kowalski and Doris froze on the path and they watched as Kowalski answered the phone after a moment of hesitation, but Skipper could be patient when it was required.

"Skipper?"

"Kowalski, just figured I'd check in to see where you were with that paperwork Alice has been after and have you put it on the calendar not to make any plans next weekend."

"Oh! The paperwork is coming along. I don't think it'll take much longer, perhaps an hour or so."

"That's good. Marlene and I are going to cut through the park and were planning to stop in and see how everything was going. If you're going to be done soon, maybe we can do a take out night or order pizza."

"That sounds great, but... Tesla's coils! I just realized that I'm missing several crucial forms and statements. There's no need for you to stop in, I'm going to be working on forms and Rico and Private are off doing their own things."

"That's a shame Kowalski," Skipper started fully knowing that the panic in Kowalski's voice wasn't over a few missing papers. He could call him out, tell Kowalski to turn around, but there was a sliver of a chance that Kowalski had actually completed his paperwork and was hoping to sneak Doris into HQ for the night. He needed more proof even if his gut was telling him that Kowalski had gone against orders and opted to say, "Make sure those forms are in full triplicate or Alice will have both our asses."

"Of course, sir."

Before Skipper could get a word in, the call ended and he watched Kowalski put his phone away and turned his attention to Doris once more. He watched with seething anger as the two talked for a minute before continuing on their walk.

"Skipper?" Marlene asked in concern as Skipper sent a text to the one person on the team that was incapable of lying to him.

"I'm going to kill him, but I need to make sure it's justified first," he responded as he waited for those three dots to solidify into an answer.

"You think he lied?"

"I know he did," Skipper corrected as his phone buzzed twice in quick succession.

Of course, Rico went above and beyond a simple yes or no and a picture of the desk in Kowalski's lab appeared. All of the documents and forms were still stacked exactly where Skipper had left them and the second picture of forms spread across the desk confirmed what he already knew. Each and every one was blank and the fact that Private's watch was next to the forms confirming the date and time made it the damning evidence Skipper needed.