＃ＫｎｅｅＳｕｒｇｅｒｙ pt. 16
The following
morning, Hanna
is the first to stir,
carefully rising
from the couch. She
pads down the
hallway, her
footsteps quiet
so as not to
disturb anyone.
Her eyes catch
the open door to Karen
and Plankton's room, and
she peers in,
seeing Karen has just
woken up. Plankton's
sleeping soundly
in his own bed, his
cast sticking out
from under the
covers as he
snores softly.
"He's okay," Karen
whispers, noticing
Hanna's concern.
Hanna nods,
swallowing a
lump in her
throat. "I know,"
she whispers back.
"But I just...wanted
to check." Karen
smiles, patting
the bed next to
her. "Why don't you
sit down?" she says.
"We can talk."
Hanna sits,
her eyes fixed
on Plankton's
sleeping form. His
casted leg is
propped on a
pillow, and
his antennae twitch
slightly, as if
he's dreaming.
"So, how do we
help him?" Hanna
asks, her voice
still hushed. Karen
sighs. "We give him space
and let him come to
us," she says. "But we
also need to be
ready when he does
want help."
Hanna nods,
thinking. "What
was the surgery like?"
she whispers. Karen
smiles sadly. "It was a
complicated one,"
she says. "They had to
use bone glue to
reattach his leg."
Hanna's eyes widen.
"Bone glue?" she
repeats, her voice
filled with horror.
"It's a thing," Karen
assures her. "It's not
as scary as it sounds.
They're just taking
extra precautions
to ensure he heals
properly."
Her curiosity
still piqued, Hanna
can't help but ask
more. "What was it
like when he was
under?" she says,
her voice barely a
breath. Karen's
expression turns
serious. "It's a delicate
procedure," she
explains. "They had to
make sure he was
completely numb to
the pain. That's why
he was asleep."
Hanna nods,
swallowing hard. "But
how?" she asks,
looking back at
Plankton.
"They used
general anesthesia."
Hanna's eyes
widen even more.
"And what did he
look like?"
Karen sighs,
knowing that
Hanna's questions
are a way for
her to process
what happened.
"He was unconscious,"
she says. "They
monitored him the
whole time to
make sure he was
okay. As they first
started the anesthesia
as it kicked in, I knew
Plankton was asleep as
his breathing evened
out and his
movements stopped.
It was...peaceful," she
adds, her voice
trailing off. "And upon
waking up, I was
there to help him
understand."
Hanna nods,
taking this in.
"And what was it
like when he
woke up?" she
asks, her voice
barely a whisper.
Karen looks at
Hanna, her gaze
filled with
compassion. "He was
confused at first,"
she says. "But I
explained everything
to him." Hanna nods,
still staring at
Plankton.
"How do we
talk to him?"
she asks. "What can
I do to make him
comfortable?"
Karen pauses,
thinking. "Just
be yourself," she
suggests. "But maybe
a little more...gentle.
He's dealing with a
lot of pain and
frustration. Try not
to take his snaps
personally." Hanna nods,
her eyes still on
Plankton. "What else?"
she whispers.
"Well," Karen
says, leaning in
closer. "You could
ask before doing,
and just maybe not
push so hard or make
it to obvious that you're
trying to help."
Hanna nods,
processing the
advice. "And when
he gets frustrated,
what should I do?"
she asks, her voice
barely above a
whisper. Karen
smiles gently. "Just
be there," she says.
"Let him know
you care without
smothering him. Give
him space to express
his feelings, even if
they're not pretty."
In the quiet
of the room, they
both watch as
Plankton stirs in
his sleep. His
antennas twitch,
and his casted
leg shifts slightly.
"Is he okay?"
she whispers.
"Yes, he's just
waking up," Karen
says, standing
carefully. "Let's
give him some
space." Hanna nods,
getting to her
feet as she leaves
Karen and Plankton's
bedroom.
In the living room,
she sits and takes
deep breaths,
trying to compose
herself. She hears
a shuffling noise
from the
hallway and
Plankton hobbles
in on his crutches,
his cast a stark
white. He lowers himself
carefully onto the
couch. "Morning," she
says tentatively.
He looks up, but
doesn't respond.
Hanna's heart
aches, but she
follows Karen's advice
and doesn't push.
Instead, she goes
to the kitchen,
preparing a
glass of chum juice.
When she brings
it back, Plankton
nods in thanks.
They sit in
silence for a
moment before
Hanna finally speaks.
"I'm sorry for
last night," she
says softly. "I didn't
mean to make you
upset." Plankton
looks at her, his
expression unreadable.
He takes a
sip of his chum
juice, the silence
stretching between
them. "I'll
try to be more
considerate," she
says. Plankton
sighs, leaning back
into the couch as
Karen comes in.
"How's everyone
doing?" she asks,
forcing cheer into
her voice. Plankton
shrugs. "I'm okay,"
he says, his tone
noncommittal. Karen
exchanges a look
with Hanna. "Why don't
we watch something
to keep our
minds off things?"
she suggests.
The TV flickers to
life, and the
sound of laugh track
fills the room. Plankton
shifts uncomfortably,
his cast a
reminder of his
new reality. Hanna
sits next to him,
keeping her distance
but still close enough
to be there if
needed. Karen sits
on the other side of him.
They watch a sitcom,
the laughter echoing
in the quiet room.
Plankton tries to
concentrate, but
his thoughts drift to
his surgery, his leg,
his new limitations.
His antennae droop,
and he takes a deep
breath. Hanna notices
his discomfort and
shifts closer.
"Do you want me
to get you anything?"
she asks quietly.
Plankton's eye
flits to her, and for
a moment, he
considers snapping
again. But he
swallows it down.
"No," he says, his
voice gruff.
They continue to
watch the TV, the
forced laughter
a stark contrast
to the tension
in the room. Karen
clears her throat. "Why
don't I get you your meds?"
Plankton nods,
his antennae
drooping. "That'd
be great," he mumbles.
Hanna watches as
Karen tends to him.