A/N: Hide and seek. Title: Catch Me If You Can by Matt Pokora

Chapter 4 - Catch Me If You Can

~Skipper's POV~

So...Rico leads me to Marlene's habitat, claiming that she needs my help. A moment ago she showed me the rage of hell and now...something is fishy...bad fishy.

~Kowalski's POV~

Still standing on the artificial island I noticed that Private was rushing towards me.

"A leak at Doris's! Please, please, help, K'walski!" I was about to answer that by the time Alice probably had already seen it and called for GUS but before I was able to open my beak he attacked me with his puppy eyes and I had to give in.

Seriously, no one can resist Private's power of persuasion. Maybe if I ask him, he will teach me some of his techniques?

When we came to the aquarium, we witnessed a small leak, a middle-sized paddle of water and a big panic of one dolphin. I jumped on the barrier, Private was next to me. "Could you try to calm her down, Private?"
"Me? Why me?!" The penguin seemed as if I had insulted him, I just asked to make her stop crying. What was wrong with him? I finally answered more forcefully: "You're good at it. I need to think." He glared at me but I decided to ignore it. However, I couldn't stay blind to the fact that the hole in the pool wasn't at a point of contact. "It didn't happen by itself..." Accident or sabotage? Skipper would bet his flipper on the second option. But who and why? I took a look around, every zooster could have done it.

Diving, I estimated the state of the damage. The hole wasn't big but the pressure of the escaping water was so high that in a second my body was drawn in by it and I found my beak in the hole. The good thing – the water stopped pouring, the bad thing – I couldn't breathe. Failing at freeing myself, I tried to call for help but only mumbles were audible. Then, I felt being pulled and lifted up.
"Roger?" I coughed up the excess of water.
"Hello. I was just passing by. Actually, I live here and saw you and thought that it's not right what you do..."
"Yeah, I should try from the other side." I eyed thoughtfully the pool and the leak which appeared again.
"No! I mean...no. It's not about the leak that Private did. I mean partly yes, because in my opinion your plan to win Doris's heart by destroying her pool is...wrong...don't feel offended, please, but I see it like that."
"Wait what?!" Too much information for me. Private did the sabotage? But why? I hadn't asked for it!
"I know there is an unwritten rule that a man doesn't...try with his friend's girlfriend. But she's not your girlfriend and I wanted to ask...no, not to ask...I wanted to beg you if you...no, it's stupid...I'm sorry." The alligator bent, almost throwing me back to the water.
"No, it's okay Roger. You have feelings for Doris, don't you?" I observed him for a good while, there was no other option.
"Yes...but you..."
"Don't worry about me. Try." I sent him a reassuring smile, as much as my uncomfortable position allowed me to and it wasn't that easy considering that the alligator started to squeeze me out of pure happiness. "Really?!"
"Yes, I think you have quite big chances with her." I could tell him probably everything just so he would stop pressing me like a lemon.
"Yeah!" Roger nodded enthusiastically, finally putting me down. "She's a star and I'm too...I mean...I'm more a starlight. But we both are fabulous."
"You do are." I smiled at him again since it seemed much easier as he didn't hold me any longer. "Could you place your tail in the hole? I'll just get my tools." I waved to Private and Doris to come closer. "Doris, Roger offered his help and with him on our side we'll repair your place in no time. Come Private."
"But..." The younger penguin wanted to oppose, probably to continue his plan, however, this time I sent him a glare. Slowly heading back to the HQ to give Roger and Doris some privacy.

If he wooed Skipper, I would drown him in that pool...well maybe not, because Roger is a nice guy and he wouldn't do that but still, I wouldn't agree.

"Why Private?" I stopped halfway and sighed loudly. "Why did you do the leak?"
"Me?" Private's eyes widened, he played dumb obviously. However, he would have to wake up earlier to fool me. "No, the unicorn. I know it was you. But why?"
He shifted from one feet to the other, nervously and eventually explained: "Me and Marlene...we wanted to help you...help you and Skipper."
"And what Skipper has to do with it?!" I shouted loud, too loud. "Uhm, apologies..."
"Marlene and him...you know..." Private gesticulated with his flippers, forming a small heart sign. What did he mean by that? Heart transplantation? Probably not. "No, I don't know. What Marlene and him?"
"They are...well, should, be together."
"Who said so?" It was so hard to get intel out of the younger penguin. He could simply tell me everything but no, he took the hard way.
"Marlene." He whispered, probably scared that she would hear him, although there was no sign of her anywhere.
I knew she was wrong and I would prove it because I still had the power of veto.

~Skipper's POV~

"Marlene, I really don't see the point of me standing guard in front of your home. The badgers moved out of the zoo a month ago..." I sighed and tried to go away for the third time.
"No, no! I'm sure someone is hiding in the bushes." The otter made few nervous moves. "Kowalski!"
"Kowalski is hiding in the bushes?!" I sent her a skeptical gaze.
"No! A badger, you know they look similar..."
"...Kowalski looks like a badger to you?" What got into her? I even started to wonder if it weren't wise to take her to the doc's.
"No! I mean...yes...a little? Nevermind! Just follow her!" The otter pushed me towards the zoo entrance.

~Private's POV~

Kowalski was speeding towards Marlene's place. I was next to him, completely lost. When we reached our destination, no one was there.
"I swear I have seen Marlene like a second ago." Kowalski mumbled, looking around.
"So...you like Marlene, K'walski?"
"No! I mean I do like her but not like her. And now I'm not even sure anymore."
"Why?" Kowalski's strange behaviour puzzled me. So, did he like her or not? I couldn't tell anymore.
"Because she's after Skipper!"
"You're after Skipper."
"What?" He looked at me with eyes wide open.
"Right now. You look for him." I explained to put him at his ease.
"Yeah, true." Kowalski put flippers on his beak, trying to calm down. "Next time, Private, please don't try to help me, at least in the love sphere. Because I have a feeling that thanks to your and Marlene's plan everything is lost...better take care of the leak you did." And with that he slid towards the park.

In the telly everything seemed more simple. And how on earth I'm supposed to repair a leak alone?!