Missing Moments in PoM Special
Ch 4: Safe, Sound, and Hospital Bound
Hans groaned, the light stinging his eyes as his mind drifted into consciousness. The puffin attempted to sit up, only to flop back down on the soft pillow as he overbalanced.
'She blinded me with science... da da da da,' a strange voice was half-singing from below him. Hans struggled to roll over, wincing as he put weight onto his bandaged wings.
'Finally awake?' the tall penguin glanced up from his calculations on the floor and smiled.
'Where are we?' Hans asked, his voice sounding scratchy and hoarse.
'You are currently a guest at our zoo's hospital,' Kowalski explained, hopping up onto the bed and towering over the puffin.
Hans pressed back into the pillow and waited for the hitting to start. He was still their enemy, after all. He was mildly surprised to find that the penguin did nothing more than check him over.
After tightening and adjusting the bandages on the puffin's chest and wings, the scientist finally stepped back. 'Looking good. You should be back on your feet in no time. Well, as soon as that leg heals up.'
'Is Skipper..?' Hans looked away, feeling a wave of guilt churning in his stomach.
'Safe and back to normal. We insisted on setting up a schedule so that one of us would be able to keep an eye on you at all times,' Kowalski explained, sitting down and watching the puffin.
'Skipper doesn't trust me...' Hans glanced at his bandaged wings and sighed heavily.
'Look, Hans... I'm willing to give you the benefit of the doubt, but only because you saved Skipper's life back there. Or at least you saved him from being flattened like a pancake. If you're really serious about a relationship with him, then you're going to have to prove that you've changed,' Kowalski commented, giving the puffin his most serious look.
Hans just blinked back at the penguin in shock.
'Oh, and if you hurt him, I'll sic Rico on you,' the scientist promised with an evil smirk.
Hans shivered at the thought. Not that he had any plans to hurt Skipper... well, not on purpose anyway.
'Kowalski! I'm here to relieve you!' a cheery voice called from the window. Moments later, a short, pudgy penguin landed on the windowsill and waved at them.
'No need. Sleeping beauty is awake,' Kowalski smirked at the puffin next to him.
Private leapt down and waddled to the bed, where the scientist was waiting to help him up. Turning to the puffin, the little penguin rushed over to give him a hug.
'Ouch!'
'Sorry. You really had Skipper... I mean, us, worried,' Private sat back, giving the puffin his brightest smile.
'You've been unconscious for nearly 2 weeks,' Kowalski explained, nudging Private in the side.
'Oh, right. We should go tell Skipper that you're awake,' Private waved as the pair jumped off the bed and made their way to the window.
Hans watched them disappear and leaned back into the pillow with a sigh. What a strange way to wake up. Tossing and turning, his mind began to churn with thoughts of his... lover? Would Skipper even want him around now that he was awake? Maybe the penguin had plans to send him back to Hoboken.
The puffin winced as every pain in his body tried to get his attention. Just great. But if he hadn't pushed Skipper out of the way, then the penguin would be the one injured in the bed... or worse.
{Maybe I should run away before Skipper can send me back to Hoboken.}
'Good luck running away on that broken leg of yours,' Skipper's voice echoed from the floor, causing the puffin to jump. Seconds later, the penguin's familiar body landed on the bed.
Hans gave the cast on his right foot a glance before focusing his attention on the penguin watching him with an unreadable expression. For a moment, he thought he saw a flash of concern in Skipper's eyes.
'You saved my life, Hans. Why?' Skipper frowned down at him, refusing to look away.
Hans looked away first as he tried to think of something to say. 'I just... couldn't let you get hurt.'
'Are you saying that you have feelings for me, Hans?' Skipper asked, stepping closer.
The puffin froze, gripping the sheets underneath him tightly with the un-bandaged edges of his wings. 'Yes...' Hans finally whispered, refusing to make eye contact with the penguin. Any second now, the other bird would dash his hopes and break his heart into pieces. Any second now...
'Stupid puffin.'
Soft flippers wrapped around his neck as Skipper gently hugged him, careful not to lean in too close. The penguin's small beak nuzzled against his cheek, making the puffin's heart do flip flops in his chest.
'Skipper,' Hans whispered, turning to look into the penguin's deep blue eyes.
'Hans,' the penguin smirked, inching closer.
'See Doc, I told you the penguins keep getting in here,' a gruff female voice had the pair jumping apart and staring at the humans in the doorway.
'It's alright, Alice. No harm done. It looks like the little guy was just worried about his friend,' the doctor pushed past the woman and stepped up to the bed, smiling down at the birds. Reaching out, he plucked the penguin from the bed and placed him into Alice's waiting arms.
'Let me go, you quacks!'
Hans felt a smile break over his beak as he watched his protesting soon-to-be mate get escorted from the room. Looks like Skipper wasn't planning to send him back to Hoboken after all. And if the penguin was willing to keep him around, the puffin wasn't about to argue.
...tbc...
Note: One more small part left. But first, I leave you with an extra scene.
Extra Scene: Skipper's Imaginary Friend
'Don't worry, I'm talking to an invisible lion,' Skipper explained. His teammates took a step back.
'No, no. He's my spirit guide,' the leader continued, pointing to the lion.
'Does your imaginary friend have a name?' Private asked, twirling around.
'It's Alex... and he's not my imaginary friend. He's my spirit guide,' Skipper grumbled, crossing his flippers over his chest.
'Alex the Lion?' Kowalski exchanged a look with the other two penguins before bursting into laughter.
'Sorry Skipper. I think it's cute that you picked the most famous dancing lion in the world to be your spirit guide,' Private finally said between giggles.
'Well, I can see when I'm not wanted. Besides, you're back at the zoo safe and sound... and your boyfriend is recovering in the hospital. Looks like you don't need me anymore,' Alex commented, fading into a golden glow.
'Thanks hippy. You really saved my tail feathers,' Skipper called out, receiving a wink from the lion before he faded completely.
'I still want to run some tests,' Kowalski insisted, pushing his leader toward their habitat.
'Fine,' Skipper agreed, waving the other two to follow.
(the end... of the extra scene)