Abby was so still that even she herslef would have thought she was dead. she was so tired that she didn't even have the strength to open her eyes but she did hear something. "should we wake them K'walski?" it was Private and from the sounds of it so was Kowalski. "i don't know, normaly if we would have woken up Skipper he wouldn't mind but i dont' know what he'll do when he see's who he's with." Abby wondered what they were talking about, then it hit her. slowly moving her flipper she could feel the soft feathers of another bird, Skipper. Abby couldn't help it she could feel her face turning a bright red and the next thing she knew was that she was three feet in the air jumping from surprise with a shreek. hearing the sound Skipper shot up in his fighting pose and looked ready for a battle. "guess we don't have to wake them up after all." Skipper looked at Kowalksi curiously then he remembered who he had been with last night. turning around Skipper looked over the egde into the water to see Abby hiding under the water. "Um, Skippah?" turning his head back to his men Skipper saw that each of them had this weird look on their faces. "Uh ... Men down Below. Now!" with out even a second guess they all left running. Skipper watched as they left and turned his gaze back to Abigal. she still had not come up for air and Skipper knew why. jumping in, he saw Abigal sitting at the bottom of the water holding what little air she had. Skipper swam to her and took a hold of her flippers and swam to the surface. once up, each gasped for air and walked up on to the island. Skipper watched as Abigal never looked him in the eye and had this red face. "i'm so sorry Skipper. i didn't mean anything by it, i sware." Skipper walked over and placed a flipper on her shoulder, only to cause Abigal to turn an even brighter red. "it's nothing, you don't have to say your sorry for nothing." Abby looked at Skipper and smiled, a little. "sorry that your men had to see that." Skipper smiled, "i'll just tell them to never speak about it and it will be over." Abby didn't seem convinced but she would take anything to not hear what had just happened. "now come one lets go down and get somethign to eat." as Skipper made his way down the fish bowl door Abby tried to calm down enough so that her face wasn't as red. once inside, Skipper and Abby saw that each of the other three were off doing something, Private at the tv, Kowalksi working on a project, and Rico was scarfing down some fish. "Nothing happened, you hear?" everyone answered "what happened," or "didn't see anything." Skipper nodded and went over to make some fish coffee. Abby looked around, she didn't know what to do. she felt so imbarest. walking over to the tv, she took her normal place right next to Private. "Morning Abby." Abby turned to look at the small Penguin, "Morning Priv, what's up?" Abby mentally slapped herself for asking that. "well, uuhh, ... there's this new show coming on tonight and there's a ..." Abby smiled, Private was trying his best not to talk about what he saw up top. "it's okay Priv, you can stop now. you can ask if you want. just ask quietly so Skippy don't hear." Private let out a sigh and turned to see Skipper was reading the news paper. "what were you two doing outside this morning?" Abby smiled "we were talking last and we fell asleep. that's all." Private seemed pleased by the answer and turned his gaze back to the tv.

the rest of the day went by without any questions and everyone went about their own normal tasks. from the early morning till now skipper and Abby had not said no more the two words to each other and they had tried to stay away from each others path. by now it was 2200 hours and Skipper thought that it was a good time to go to bed, "okay men, lets go hit the hay. on the double." as the four made it to their bunks, Abby stayed behind at the table holding her locket. "Abigal, you coming?" turning around Abby saw that Skipper was waiting for her by her bunk, that Rico had made for her awhile back. "uh... i think i'll go up top side for a momento for some air. don't wait up for me Skippy." as Abby made her way to the door, Skipper had this feeling in him that said to go after her and maker sure she was okay but why, he didn't know WHY. making his way up the fish door, Skipper saw that Abigal was standing up looking at the stars. "hey, Abigal." Abby turnd around to see Skipper had followed her up and was now twiddling his flippers. "hey Skippy, what's up?" Skipper came over and gave a long sigh. "look, i am sorry about everything that happened." Abby looked surprised "'bout this morning? Skippy, it was nothing just," placing his flipper up Skipper stopped her. "that's not what i'm talking about." "then what?" Skipper took a big gulp of air. "about how they treated you, no one should ever have to go through what you did." Abby seemed a little taken back by this but she smiled anyway. "thanks Skippy, but i have been feeling sorry for myself for far to long." Skipper walked over to face her eye to eye. "what do you mean." "all the time i was feeling sorry for myself and what did it do me? i failed to do the simplest of things and cause of that i couldn't protect my daughter. if i had stopped feeling sorry for my stupid tail feathers and stood up to the elders, my little Linda Ann may still be alive with me today. it's all my fault, i'm the only one to blaim for it." Skipper frowned and looked at Abigal with anger. "listen to me soldier, you are not to blaim your self for any of that. none of it, you hear me!" Abby looked Skipper dead in the eyes and was almost in tears. "blaiming yourself isn't the answer, the ones who do deserve the blaims are the elders who did those things to you! their the ones who you should blaim, not yourself." Abby was now in tears and looked like the most miserable penguin on earth. "i just don't know what to think anymore?! am i doing the right thing or is this all just one big stupid dream!" Abby sat down on the ground with a thump and covered her eyes to hide her tears. Skipper frown disapeared as he saw how she cried. sitting down next to her, Skipper took her in his flippers and let her cry in his shoulder once again. "don't think about the past, what you do need to think about is the now and what happens today." Skipper took Abby by the beak so that they were face to face. "you know what i see? i see a strong soldier, a fighter, a friend, but more importantly, i see a beautiful woman who doesn't let anything or anyone get her down." Abby's face looked as wet as a towel by she also looked as peaceful as a spring breeze. skipper let her go and he to looked peacefully happy. before any of them could think they had each other in a blissful kiss. neither of them noticed until they opened their eyes and Abby pulled back. looking scared she back away from Skipper "i'm sorry! i just can't!" Running down the fish bowl door, Abby left Skipper in disbelief. Skipper looked almost surprised that Abby had turned tail and ran. did he do something wrong? he didn't know.

following suit, Skipper went down after Abby. looking over at her bunk, Skipper saw that she had slumped into bed and was facing the wall. walking over, Skipper placed a flipper on Abby's flipper only to have to gently squeezed and pushed away. "please Skipper, i can't . not now." Skipper sighed and jumped up to his bunk and settled into bed. closing their eyes, both knew it wasn't right to love each other and that it wasn't propper to feel like this for a teammate but they didn't want to push it away. they barely knew each others secrets but they had this weird feeling that neither had felt before. Later that night, while the zoo slept, Someone made a very important phone call. "Agent Pen. L5, do you copy?" Picking up the walkie, The agent answered. "Agent Pen. L5 here. What's your report master?" "Have you reached the zoo yet?" The agent looked over at the distant zoo, no more than 20 feet away. "Yes master, I have." "And do you have the package?" Looking down at its arms, the agent saw the small bundle it held. "Yes." "Good. Now go and leave those stupid Pen-gu-ins the package and return to base. The Agent there will pick it up and go on with her job." The agent nodded and turned off the walkie. "Soon. We will be together soon." And with that, the agent lept from the tree it was in and hurried off to the zoo.

if anyone out there has any idea as to who Blowhole was talking to and get it right by the next three or four CHPTRs, i just might give them a special gift.

Review Please!