A/N: S'up homies. This chapter gets a little weird, and I blame it on reading Edgar Allen Poe, Walden, and Fan Fiction all in the same day. I meant to upload this earlier in the week, but I've been busy with the holidays and such. Belated happy Gobble Day if you celebrate, or happy Sunday if you don't!

Disclaimer- I own Penguins of Madagasc- *We're sorry, but there has been a general disclaimer error. Please restart your browser if you wish to continue* Fine, I don't own Penguins of Madagascar. Happy?

Chapter 8: I'm Sorry is Enough

The next thing I was aware of, I was sitting in long hallway. I had no injuries, but this did not seem to bother me. Quite the contrary, I was tranquil, and I felt an air of calmness surrounding me. I stood up and began to wander the seemingly endless hallway. I had no mission whatsoever, only morbid curiosity as to where it led. So I thoughtlessly continued on.

I had been walking for several minutes- the only indication was my moving body, for the scenery was never-changing- when a great sense of dread began to fill up inside of me. The feathers on the back of my neck stood straight up as though someone was watching me. I hugged myself as the temperature began to drop.

I might be my imagination, but I could swear that the lights were getting dimmer. Suddenly I heard a deep growl emit from behind me, and I began to run.

I was running as fast as my legs would carry me, but the monster was chasing me, and he was catching up real fast. But I continued to run. The farther I ran, the dimmer the lights became, until I was running for my life in a black void.

Abruptly I tripped on something I didn't see, and the monster caught up to me. Although I couldn't see him, I could feel his presence and hear him growl and he slowly circled me. I was terrified.

"Aly," The monster growled.

I began to tremble as I heard my heart beating like a drum. I could literally feel my life ticking away.

"We're losing her!" The monster said again, but in a normal voice. I almost thought I recognized it.

"No! Go away!" I yelled at the monster.

It had now stopped circling me. I could tell he was about to pounce on me. I wanted desperately to move, to get away from the monster, but my body was petrified. I wouldn't move.

"Please wake up," The monster sobbed. This time I knew I recognized the voice, but my brain refused to tell me who the voice belonged to.

"No! Please, just leave me alone!" I begged the monster. He pounced on me.

"No!" I screamed.

"Aly!"

I screamed again. Swiftly the scene changed. I jerked my head up to only to have smack into something hard. Oh my god, it's the monster! I began to struggle to get away from him. Then I freaked out as I felt something push my shoulders down.

"Hoover Dam, Aly! It's just me!" I heard somebody exclaim. Wait a minute, I knew that voice! I paused in my struggling to see Skipper with a concerned expression, his flippers holding me down. I blinked as I realized I had been having a nightmare.

"Skipper?" I asked, confused "Where am I?"

Seeing that I had finally calmed down, Skipper let go of my shoulders "You're in HQ. The boys and I brought you back when you passed out."

"Ugh, I feel like crap. How long have I been out?"

"Three days."

"What!"

My eyes widened as I shot up. I would've hit my head again if Skipper hadn't acted fast and pushed me back down.

"Careful. We don't need to add to your injuries."

"Which are..." I led off.

Skipper sighed " A concussion, broken wing, sprained ankle, and bruised kidney. Also tons of deep cuts and bruises. You took a pretty heavy hit.

I let out a low whistle "Daaanng. Am I at lest allowed to get out of this bed?"

Skipper considered this "Fine. But if you have any trouble, let me know."

"Ok." I agreed.

I sat up, put my legs on the ground, and stood up. But as soon as as I let pressure onto my right ankle- which was wrapped up in an ace bandage- pain shot up my up my leg. My knees buckled. Fortunately to Skipper's quick reflexes, he caught me before I could hit the ground.

"Thanks," I mumbled.

Using Skipper as support, we slowly stumbled to the table where I sat down.

"Hey, do you mind getting me some water? I'm really thirsty." I asked him.

And I was. I wondered if I had gotten any water over the past three days.

"I'm on it." He said.

While Skipper was getting my water, I took in my surroundings. Mary was wrapped up in a blanket and asleep on the couch. Private, Kowalski, and Rico were also sleeping, but they were in the bunks. I realized that I was sleeping on the bottom bunk. If I was on the bottom bunk, where has Skipper been sleeping?

As if to answer my thoughts, Skipper came back and handed me my water. I drank like a man stranded in the desert for several weeks. He grabbed my cup and was about to get up and refill it, but I stopped him.

"Wait," I said "I've got some questions for you."

"Shoot."

"First, if I've been sleeping in your bunk, where have you been sleeping?"

He blinked, then replied "Actually, I haven't been since you saved my life. But you're staying there until Rico can carve you and Mary your own bunks." he said firmly.

I stared at him disbelieving "What about us being spies?" I asked skeptically.

Skipper gulped and stared me dead in the eye "Aly, as a trained military leader, I'm not used to being wrong- especially this wrong- but I was. I don't think any spy would ever knowingly risk life to save mine. I want to thank you for that and-"
"Apology accepted" I interrupted him. I smiled warmly at him. I was glad he finally got over his paranoia.

"Thank you. Now if only Mary would forgive so easily." Skipper said as he glanced at my cousin.

"What do you mean?" I questioned, bemused.

"Ever since you got hurt, Mary has been giving me heck" He complained

I laughed out loud "For future reference, don't ever piss off my cousin or I, you will regret that decision for the rest of your life." I warned jokingly.

He nodded, fully understanding my warning. Then his face changed as he looked as if he just remembered something important.

"Oh, and Aly," He began "It takes great bravery to risk your life for others. That's the kind of penguin I want on my team. As a token of my appreciation, even if it's only for a few months, I would like to invite you and Mary to join our penguin unit." Skipper announced.

My beak dropped open in shock "Are you serious?"

He nodded.

"Yes! Yes! A million trillion times yes!" I exclaimed.

Skipper smiled "Welcome to the team, cadet."

The End.

A/N: Everybody, on the count of three. One, two, three- Awwww! This stories not quite over yet, I still have the epilogue. Please review!