Disclaimer: I can hope, wish and dream that I own SpongeBob, but it's just wishful thinking. Stephen Hilenburg is the owner.
A/N: I'M BACK! By the way, a cliché scene is used somewhere. Thank you readers for the reviews!
Title: I need you
"Thank Neptune it was me rather than you, Sandy."
The squirrel stiffened. The yellow-coloured sponge did not just say that, did he?
"Thank Neptune." she whispered, not understanding the cultural term. "Thank Neptune." she said as a curse. "Are you tellin' me...do y'all want me to thank 'Neptune' that you're in this state?" she questioned in fury. Her hands gestured at the numerous amount of bandages wrapped around his: torso, forehead, legs, arms and nose.
"Yes." he replied quietly. "Yes, I think you should."
SpongeBob winced as the vase besides his bed broke. Sandy clenched and held her hands at her sides, trying to restrain herself from cracking the next vase or breaking the window.
She cannot and will not accept his words.
She cannot understand why he still remains optimistic and she stubbornly will not let his words sink in, since she's the cause of his pain.
. . . .
The squirrel opened her eyes, sitting up also. She stood up, dusting herself off from the sand after having being pushed uncharacteristically by her supposedly yellow best friend.
'What is that dang sponge's problem?' she thought angrily. 'Why, I oughta wrang his lil'-' her mental rant was immediately cut off. Her hands covered her mouth in disbelief at the sight before her. 'Is that...no. No! It ain't him!' the squirrel asserted.
When pinching herself and realising that she was not dreaming; she lost it. She gasped, she choked, she crumpled down. Her legs lost their strength – unable to keep standing when the sight of her friend unmoving body crashed down on her shoulders. In addition to that, Sandy also had trouble controlling her frantic breathing. She didn't respond to the crowd that began to form, or even the comforting arms of an acquaintance around her.
She started connecting the dots.
SpongeBob. Sweet selfless SpongeBob was crushed under a piano.
A piano that wasn't intended for him, since he moved her out of the way.
That would mean that she was the piano's target, so...
SpongeBob pushed her out of the way.
Sweet selfless SpongeBob pushed her out of the way to save her.
He bravely risked his well-being once again.
He discarded his own life for the sake of hers.
She wished and prayed she could disconnect the dots now.
"SPONGEBOB!" she screeched out loud.
Her legs miraculously regained strength. Acknowledging this fact, Sandy swat away the arms around her, and ignored the sympathetic words.
She ran to him.
Heart bled and her eyes burned, but she continued running.
"SPONGEBOB!"
. . . .
She spoke after counting to ten. "SpongeBob...you nearly died. Died as in d-i-e-d. Y'all were close to biting the dust, meeting Davy Jones Locker." she explained as calmly as she can. "You were nearly gone out of this world and you want me to thank Neptune? Are you kiddin' me SpongeBob, cuz it ain't funny."
SpongeBob fiddles with his thumbs, not knowing how to respond to her words. Instead of speaking, he offers Sandy a sympathetic yet serious look which is enough to make her flinch. The reason as to why the squirrel winces is because he is giving her 'that' look. The look of no regrets.
She cannot and will not accept this.
Sandy counts to ten again due to the fear of exploding at him. She spoke again. Guiltier this time. "Because of me, y'all were nearly paralysed. Brain dead as the doctor put it. I'm the source of your pain. I-I'm...SpongeBob I-"
"-It's OK, Sandy." he cuts in, sensing the squirrel is feeling guilty due to his actions. In his opinion, she shouldn't be. He did what he had to do save a friend.
The squirrel doesn't comprehend this. "It's not okay!" she shouts. "Don't you dare! Don't ya dare speak cow dung like that." Sandy vehemently warns. "Whateva comfortin' words you fed Patrick and your parents won't work on me. Look at yerself! Is it really okay that yer left arm is ruined for a good year or two? Is it really okay that y'all lost some sight in yer right eye?" she questions knowingly. SpongeBob casts his eyes away from her. The truth in her words do touch him.
"You're right. You are absolutely right, Ms. Cheeks." he agreed. "It's not okay. Knowing that m-my arm is not working hurts, and knowing that I can't see the sun in it's glory with perfect eyesight hurts too, but-"
"-but what?" Sandy demanded - not entirely willing to her another point of view.
"I...I think it's all acceptable. I mean, weren't cha the one that said all actions have a consequence?" SpongeBob reminded her. "Well, I guess this is it."
"SpongeBob."
"Sandy." he threw back equally. "You're alive, that's all that matters." he explained.
Sandy's body began to shake. Something was bubbling. Something inside of her that would erupt more violently than a volcano could ever hope to be.
. . . .
SpongeBob winced as the second and third vase besides his bed broke. Was she really that mad?
"I ain't ever thought y'all could be more selfish than a shellfish." she commented. SpongeBob cringed at the insulting tone in her words. "Do ya have any idea at the number of people who'd be destroyed with you gone? Your mum is one of them, and so is yer Pa, Gary, Patrick, even that pompous squid, yer boss, Ms. Puff and me." she explains. "Me! Me, SpongeBob! I'd miss ya, and I'd never forgive myself."
He stared at her, drinking it in. "I didn't know you were affected this way."
A dry laugh escaped her mouth. "You were out cold for a month. Of course I was affected." she spat out. especially with dark thoughts circulatin' ma mind."
"Dark thoughts? What thoughts?"
"Well dreamin' was enough so I wished. I wished so badly our roles could've been reversed." SpongeBob stilled at her words. Was she implying that she could be..."I wished so badly that I'd be the one injured, the person hurt, the one on the verge of-"
"-STOP!" he yelled authoritatively, which startled her. "Stop it, Sandy. What're you sayin'? I don't wanna hear the end of that sentence. D-Don't you dare say that unfunny stuff." he controlled his breathing, realising he had been shouting and pointing. "No matter how b-bad it is...what's done is done." he folded his arms in all-seriousness.
Her eyes were beginning to sting. Sandy bit her lip, hating herself for provoking him to be frustrated rather than relaxed. Why do I keep hurting him?
He holds up his hand.
"I don't regret it. I'd do it again in a heartbeat if I had to." he stared straight into her terror- terror-stricken face. He sensed that she needed a further explanation. "I'd do for anyone I cared about. My family, Gary, Pat, Squiddy, Old Man K, Ms. Puff, Pearl, the mail man and with out a doubt you."
Sandy sat down, gripping on her heavy hurt. Within it, there's grief as well as happiness.
. . . .
SpongeBob watched the hand on the clock move. He noted that it had been precisely ten minutes since Sandy and him had spoke. When he looked at her, he decided to place his right hand on her shoulder in concern. She flinched at the action.
"Sorry."
He gives her look. "Why are ya sorry?"
"I-I haven't been doin' enough explain' to you, SpongeBob."
"Sandy, it's fine. You don't have to explain. Pat was angry too and-"
"-let me explain." she said, interrupting him.
He shut his mouth.
"Y'all may not realise it, but you're a puzzle piece in my life. An important one." she confessed. "You nearly d-dead, meant that I would lose a puzzle piece, and if I did then it wouldn't be complete. What I'm trying to say is that you not in my life wouldn't be good." her heart pounded at the next words she would say. "I-I need you. I need you with me; alive; breathing; smiling; laughing. SpongeBob...I need you."
SpongeBob blinked the tears that wanted to come. He feels the exact same way. He really wanted to put a brave front for Sandy when hers had began to weaken.
SpongeBob spoke gently. "Hey, Sandy. Sandy, please look at me." she did as he said. "Okay, uh...have ya ever realised that sometimes with you, I go a lil' overboard."
She sighed at that. "Do I ever?"
Inwardly, he smiles at the quirk in her mouth. "Well, when thinking 'bout that time when ya nearly left Bikini Bottom, or wanted to fight a bull worm. I just did whateva I had to do, because I need you too in my life." he confessed also. "You're a puzzle piece in my life too - an important one. I need you with me; alive; breathing; smiling; laughing. I need you, Sandy."
Throughout his explanation, somehow SpongeBob's hand had found hers. Right now, Sandy had squeezed it, signifying she accepted his words. Still...
"I feel guilty."
"Don't be."
"I owe you one."
"No you don't."
"Not even a Platinum Mermaid man and Barnacle Boy video game?"
"Not even...wait did ya just say, no! Not even that."
"I thought y'all wouldn't wake up."
"Well you thought wrong."
She gives him a 'look'. "Do ya hav'ta have an answer for everythin'?"
"Not everything."
"SpongeBob!"
He chuckled at that, slightly encouraging her to want to also. She refrained from doing so though.
"I meant what I said, SpongeBob Selfless Pant. I do need you."
When he felt his trailing tears, he let it be. "I know" he murmured, stroking her hand. "I need you too, Sandy the Solicitous Squirrel."
A/N: Finally, it's the tenth chapter. As some of you may have realised, or will realise...the title of this story has changed due to ideas and plan altered slightly. There'll be 40 chapters now! (That's a good thing right?) The first ten chapters were circulated around the ratings of K and T, but the next chapter will evolve to another rating...be ready. So, what d'ya as the reader think of this chapter? Criticism and advice is needed please.