Mattie Scary- Thanks! I've been rewatching most of the shows and I see where they're coming from but still it strikes me more of family-like than romantic.
Porsche101- I have no idea why but the weird couples are my favorites...I like Juliene (JulianxMarlene) only after Otter Gone Wild though, but Skilene still tops it completely. I read your update and feel free to use that idea, it's an open observation. I can't copyright it, maybe I should. Hmmmm. XD
Gewlicious- Well, this chapter is more romance focused instead of Action, which is more or less out of my comfort zone as I suck at romance writing. But no time like the present to work on it, right?
Forever'nAlways- No! Don't creep your computer out! That's bad! Yep, you were right, which is why you got a smiley face. Don't worry about Skipper beating someone up, you'll get it.
Twighlight's Desire- Yay for agreement!
my-dear-fangirl- Private's a teenager. While in the movies, the little brother theory would make more sense, they strike me more as a father/son thing.
As in my catchphrase…wait for it…..TO THE STORY!!!!
A week of Athletic Rehab was too long for Skipper. The only running he need was chasing after Archai to catch the bastard. He did not need to be cooped up in the apartment, especially with Rodger there.
The guy wasn't so bad, it's just when he wasn't teasing Skipper or playing matchmaker with every person in New York City, he was around Marlene. This infuriated Skipper as his own feelings for the brunette caused every glance between the two friends to be analyzed to death to see what the real relationship between the two was. Problem was Skipper didn't even know the relationship between him and Marlene anyway. They weren't even much of friends before, now it was awkward for him to even say hello when she walked by. It didn't help either that no matter where he was, Marlene would somehow be there, leaving the two in an awkward silence until one of them decided to talk. Then either Rodger or Julian would appear, say or do something random, and disappear. Then one of them would say good-bye and disappear.
Yes, it had been awhile since he dated but he was sure this was not the way it was supposed to go.
Skipper had also just recently learned that Kowalski was dating Doris, making Skipper extremely jealous of the ease the two had in their relationship. Doris would show up one day, just to drag Kowalski away from rehab for a picnic in the park. Skipper couldn't even get up the nerve to knock on the object of his affection's door. Much to his horror, he found himself hating his teammate for this reason.
He was currently standing in front of Marlene's apartment, hand frozen in front of the door. He groaned and retracted his hand to slap his forehead. "I feel like an awkward teenager."
"You look like one too," Gloria appeared out of nowhere, making Skipper curse his lowered hearing sensitivity. The woman smiled and knocked on the door before leaving Skipper standing there, fuming.
There was a loud commotion behind the door before Marlene opened the door, "Hey Skippy, do you need anything?"
"Well, I just wanted to talk."
Marlene blinked, not even trying to hide her surprise. She stepped aside, allowing him room to come in. Her apartment always had an inviting glow about it, even with Rodger staying here. Speaking of which…
"Where's Rodger?" Skipper glanced around for the big guy.
"He went out to take in the town one last time; he's supposed to be leaving tomorrow."
"Too bad." He winced at the indifferent tone, but it was too late. Marlene had noticed it; luckily, she had brushed it off.
"What'd you want to talk about?" Skipper froze while staring at a glass otter. He had no idea what to say, conversations he had prepared in his head earlier were dispelled. He gulped and went with the first thing in his head.
"Um, well, Kowalski is dating Doris."
"Did you just hear that? Doris has had a crush on him forever. As to quote, 'He is just so cute!'" Marlene laughed, making Skipper turn and grin. She had somehow turned upside down in the recliner and was laughing her head off. Apparently, someone had a few too many Winky candies.
"Marlene, you okay?" Skipper grabbed her arm and tried to pull her upright in the chair. She yanked her arm free and returned to her original position.
"Of course! You make it sound like I'm crazy. If you're upside down in the chair, it's more comfortable. Anyway, going back to the subject we were on, Kowalski and Doris, they're really a cute couple. I'm really jealous of them, last relationship I had ended badly."
Skipper felt he back grow stiff and his reply sounded mechanical, "How badly?"
"Enough for me to move. He was a jerk, seems the only good taste I have in guys is in the friend category. Okay, let's get off of my love life, what about yours?"
Skipper felt his eyes widen and his palms started to sweat, "Uh, how about not?"
Marlene groaned and crossed her arms, looking more like a two year old than a twenty-something year old, "You have to be mysterious don't you? I mean, I know next to nothing about you! All I know is Private's your kid, proving that you once had a wife…or mistress if you're that kind of guy. Please tell me that part's wrong."
"That part's wrong."
"That's all you'll tell me?"
Skipper smiled at the girl's pouting and leaned down, to where his face was about three inches from hers, "If it is?"
"Then I'll ask Private." Marlene pushed his face up and away, falling off the chair and onto her feet, "I'll dig up files. It's just easier for both of us if you tell me right now." She set her hands on her hips and smirked at the detective, "So which way?"
"How about no way and we leave it at that?" Marlene's reaction was priceless as he pushed her back on the couch and sat by her, "It's personal, leave it at that."
"Well, fine, forget the love life thing. You have to tell me at least something."
"I like monster trucks." From Marlene's face, he could tell that wasn't something that counted, "Well…umm…"
Luckily, someone knocked on the door, breaking Skipper's train of non-thought. Marlene sighed and opened the door, letting Doris into the apartment. She stopped when she saw Skipper and glanced back to smile at Marlene. The brunette glared at her and shook her head.
"Sorry if I'm interrupting anything, I just need to borrow Marlene. Marley, I really need your help, Gloria's way more, you know, bigger than I am and I have absolutely nothing appropriate to wear tonight. So Marley?"
"Fine, fine. Go dig in my closet and you can borrow whatever you can find but don't mess anything up, got it?"
"Yep, thank you! Hey, where's Rodger?"
Marlene groaned, "I don't know, he's been gone for a while. He should've come back by now."
"Marlene, I think I should probably leave." Skipper stood up and shook her hand.
"That would be smart. Don't think you're getting out of talking about this."
"Wouldn't dream of it." Skipper patted her shoulder and left the apartment, extremely glad Gloria had knocked on the door in the first place.
It wasn't until two hours later that the detective team's apartment door was knocked on. Kowalski was out on his date with Doris but the other two were there when Skipper opened the door. He was tackled and nearly pushed down to the floor if he didn't grab the desk for support. He looked over to the other two that stared at the two and looked back down to Marlene. She was clutching his chest and was crying enough to fill the Hoover Dam.
"Marlene! What's wrong?"
The brunette looked up to him, tears rolling down her face, quickly falling to the floor as they were made. "There was a drive-by..." Marlene trailed off and burst out into a new set of tears. Even before she choked it out, he knew who it was, "Rodger was in the crossfire."
No, I did not enjoy making that ending.
Votes! Who thinks Rodger's dead? I'm not too sure myself.
And yes, if you sit upside down in a chair, it's comfy. Try it!
