Author's Note: Hello, my name is Hemogoblin. This is my first big story. I am not sure when the next chapter will be completed, but rest assured it will be completed. Criticism is welcome.
Sponge Out of Time
Chapter 1
"Been a long time," said Spongebob, tears gathering in his eyes. "I thought you were dead."
Sandy's face softened at this. She looked down at her hands where they lay on the table, fingers interlaced. Her knuckles were white from holding them together so hard.
"It was too late to come back then," she whispered.
Spongebob nodded, knowing that it had been a while since she'd left him in charge of the Krusty Krab. He remembered all the times that he had wanted to tell her everything that happened after she left, but knew that she would have thought less of him if he did.
"I could never get used to running this place without you," he said quietly.
There was another pause, just like there always was whenever they saw each other, with Sandy looking up at the ceiling and Spongebob staring at the floor.
"First Krabs, and then I thought I lost...you," he just barely managed to squeeze out. "I was lost. I didn't know what to do."
Sandy shook her head slowly, trying not to cry anymore. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, letting the tears fall freely down her cheeks.
"I should have been here sooner," she sobbed. "I'm sorry. I just couldn't find you..."
She sniffed loudly, wiping at her eyes with her sleeve.
"We're okay now though?" she asked. "You found me? You didn't forget about me?"
Sandy's words came quicker than they had before. Spongebob smiled and wiped at the tears on his cheeks again.
"Well, we haven't exactly...found each other yet," he admitted. "But I'm pretty sure that we will soon enough."
He reached across the table and wrapped his arms around Sandy's shoulders, pulling her into a hug. The Krusty Krab waitress gasped in surprise, but quickly relaxed into the embrace and returned it with equal fervor.
They stood like that for a few moments longer, both letting themselves cry freely, knowing that neither of them would be alone anymore. They were interrupted by a beep coming from Spongebob's communication device.
It was Patrick. 'Meet me under the rock.' was the message displayed.
"What is it?" Sandy asked.
Spongebob glanced down at his device again. It read: 'I've found something.'
"Go ahead," Sandy said. "I'll see you when you're done."
The two parted ways. Sandy turned the corner and walked toward the kitchen, humming softly to herself. Spongebob made his way to Patrick's rock and followed the sound of his voice. It was a great place to hold meetings, as normally it looked like any other big boulder on the ground. Even if someone else knew what was underneath the rock, the mechanism by which it opened was quite tricky, and only known by Patrick and a handful of those he deemed trustworthy.
Patrick was sitting cross-legged on the ground, typing away on his computer screen. The small light on it gave off an eerie glow in the darkness.
'Found something,' he typed. 'Need your help.'
"Sure!" replied Spongebob from behind him. "Just show me what you found."
"You scared me!" Said Patrick. "Remember to knock next time."
Spongebob grinned. "Right...sorry about that."
"Not really. But anyway, here's the thing." Patrick pushed his chair over and pulled his laptop closer to the edge of the stone. "I was checking some of my old files on the war against Plankton, and I found this."
He put his hand on the screen and the image froze. The camera zoomed in on a small group of people standing in front of a large building that looked suspiciously like the Krusty Krab.
"Whoa! That's the Krusty Krab!" said Spongebob.
"Yeah, but look at them."
"I think I can make out...no..." His eyes widened. "Is that Squidward? It's been forever since he went missing."
"Yeah," said Patrick. "And these aren't refugees."
"Then what are they?" asked Spongebob.
Patrick frowned. "Whoever they are, they're obviously not on our side. And Squidward's with them. Been with them for all this time."
"Why would he do that?"
"Because he's helping Plankton."
"That doesn't make any sense," said Spongebob. "After all he went through when Plankton started taking over. Krabs died because of Plankton, and Squidward just joins him?"
"It does if you think about how much Plankton has helped him," said Patrick. "He's got a new job, good pay, and it's safe. Plus, I imagine he's pretty lonely without anyone else around."
"So he's in love with Plankton?"
"More like he's in love with the idea of living a normal life again," said Patrick. "Of being able to go to work and come home without having to worry about getting beaten or captured. Life has been good to him until now. He probably sees joining Plankton as the best way to keep it that way."
"This is terrible," said Spongebob. "We need to talk to him!"
"I don't think he wants to be talked to," said Patrick. "He's a lot more stubborn than you give him credit for."
"I know," said Spongebob. "But we've got to try and convince him to join our side."
"Yeah," agreed Patrick. "He's too valuable to lose now."
"All right," said Spongebob, with a determined expression.
He left the rock and returned swiftly to the Krusty Krab, quickly putting together a plan of action. He set his hand on a framed picture. It was him, Squidward, and Mr. Krabs, before the war. "I've lost a lot." said Spongebob. "But I've gained a lot too." Sandy's humming was music to his ears. "I know you, Squidward, you may not have acted it most of the time, but you're loyal to a fault. You wouldn't work for Plankton for something as flimsy as a promise of a normal life." He brought up a fist. "I'll save you."
END