Chapter 6

A/N yayyy,i finally updated c: So this chapter was murder to write,you can probably tell why after you read it,also I was wondering if i should change the rating,its getting a little more violent than i wanted Dx

As much as he hated to admit it, Private could hardly keep his eyes open. He dreaded the thought of meeting Kowalski again, but he was so tired. He slid the fishbowl over and quietly dropped to the HQ floor. He looked around and only spotted Rico sleeping in his bunk and let out a sigh of relief and climbed into his own bunk, quickly drifting off to sleep. He wasn't asleep long when he heard Kowalski.

"Wake up men!" Kowalski shouted, roughly pulling them out of their bunks. Private landed on the floor with a thud. "Hurry up and eat" Kowalski demanded. "We have to prepare!" He paced the HQ angrily. Private stood up and rubbed his sore bottom. Prepare for what? Kowalski's finally gone bonkers. He saw Kowalski eyeing him warily and quickly swallowed a couple fish. "Outside" Kowalski ordered. The younger followed meekly, while Rico made it obvious he was not happy.

Once they were outside, the taller turned to Rico. "Have you got a problem soldier?"

Rico glared at him "Hate 'walski!"

"You hate me? Well that's good, I'm not to fond of you either!" Kowalski shouted and launched himself at Rico. But Rico saw him coming and dodged out of the way. Kowalski landed sprawled on the concrete and let out a groan. Rico stood over and him and grinned wickedly. Private saw the look in Rico's eyes and became scared. He had never seen such pure violence and hatred before. Rico noticed Kowalski trying to stand up and quickly kicked him back down again. "Dirt belongs on ground!" Rico said angrily.

"NOBODY TALKES TO ME LIKE THAT!" Kowalski raged, pushing Rico off him and standing before him. He swiftly kicked Rico with such force Private instinctively backed up. Rico landed on he ground on his back and Kowalski leapt on top of him, expertly punching him. Private stood still, horrified. When had Kowalski learned to fight? And fight good? What was going on? Why was Kowalski so violent?

"Stop it Kowalski!" Private screeched, wanting to intervene but not wanting to deal with the angered scientist's wrath. Kowalski paid no attention Private's request and continued beating Rico. Private turned to go back to HQ, he couldn't stand this, it was horrible! The little penguin turned around when he heard Kowalski shrill voice.

"What? I don't understand you, you talk like a freak!" he sneered, referring to Rico's garbled protests. Private then heard a loud thump and saw Kowalski smash Rico's head off the concrete and his body went limp. Private gasped as he quickly backed up towards HQ.

Kowalski stood victorious over the other penguin and smirked. "Take that, nobody is ever going to mess with me anymore, I will be the most feared penguin ever!" he cackled, laughing evilly.

Private fell into HQ, his little body shaking in fear. He ran to his bunk for his Lunacorn but found it was not there. Private panicked until he remembered; he must have left it in the park. Private slowly waddled over to the hatch, peering out nervously, trying to steady his breathing and forget what he had witnessed. He saw Rico laying a few feet away, but no sign of Kowalski. Good. He quickly waddled over to Rico and knelt down next to his friend. He put his ear hole over Rico's chest. At least he's still breathing, thank god he's not dead. Private gave him a quick hug and started towards the park. He began crying as soon as he left the penguin habitat. He rushed to the park blinded by his tears, hoping to find Skipper.

Skipper paced back and forth, wondering if Private would come back. This stupid barrier. If only I could break it somehow. Suddenly his thoughts turned once again to Private. I hope Private comes back. Then again, I don't want him to come running to me all the time, do I? He mulled over this but pushed it out of his thoughts. No, the team needs to move on, what if I'm stuck here forever? Private should learn to deal with his own problems, ask Kowalski or Rico, they're Privates team now. Skipper looked down at the stuffed Lunacorn he held and couldn't help but smile when he thought of the little penguin.

His smile disappeared when he noticed a crying Private rushing towards him. He instinctively went towards Private, but was stopped. He sighed and glared at the invisible barrier with hate.

"Skippah!" Private cried, hugging his leader tightly.

"What's wrong Private?"

"Um" Private spotted the toy Skipper was holding. " I left my Lunacron here" Private said lamely, averting his gaze.

Skipper knew instantly Private was lying. Skipper couldn't help but let out a chuckle but then felt horrible.

Private looked up tearful.

"I'm sorry Private, but if your going to lie, at least to a half decent job at it." Private opened his beak to protest but Skipper shook his head and continued. "I'm fine if you don't want to talk about it, but if you do want to, I'm here for you, but just don't make up a silly excuse. I don't appreciate liars."

"I'm sorry Skippah, I... don't think I can talk about it." Private said, remembering Kowalski's sneering face and shivered. Skipper felt the younger's shiver and tightened his embrace.

"You sure your okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine now, thanks Skippah" Private said. Skipper looked at him worriedly but decided to drop the subject.

"Does Kowalski know your here? You just cant go running off anytime you want." Skipper scolded.

"Sorry Skippah"

"Don't apologize to me, its the team your hurting-" Skipper said but stopped when he heard a small whisper from the smaller.

"I...just missed you"

Skipper felt himself smile and wrapped a flipper around the younger again. "I miss you guys too." he admitted and awkwardly set Private down at the base of a tree. "You must be tired" he said abruptly and as if on cue Private yawned. "You sleep and I'll go get some food" Skipper said, walking away. Poor, tired Private drifted off to sleep immediately.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~dream~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Please don't hurt me Kowalski" Private whimpered, but the older kept walking towards him, saying those hateful words.

"You screwed up again Private, then again, when don't you mess up? Can you do anything right? Anything at all? We don't need you on the team, what do you do? You don't do anything at all, your not important! You could be replaced in an instant!" Kowalski kicked him then, making Private drop to the ground and cover his head from the blows. "You live in your own little world, not everything is unicorns and rainbows Private, not all fairytales have a happy ending, especially not this one!" Kowalski smirked and-

~~~~~~~~~~~~real time~~~~~~~~~~

"Private!" Private bolted up, startled from his nightmare. "Private" Skipper said again, this time calmer, putting a flipper on the younger's shoulder and looked down at him with concern. Private looked up at him with fear in his eyes. "It's okay Private, it was just a nightmare, everything's okay" Skipper said softly. Private buried his head in Skippers feathers and tried to slow his rapid heartbeat. Private felt himself relax as he was comforted by Skipper and smiled. Skipper stood up and handed Private two fish.

"Yum, thank you Skippah" Private said happily after swallowing them and rubbed his tummy. He stood up and said "Come on Skippah, I promised to help you, remember? And if you come back maybe everything, and Kowalski, will go back to normal.

Skipper stood up and walked side by side the smaller to the edge of the zoo.