＃ＫｎｅｅＳｕｒｇｅｒｙ pt. 8
Sandy returns with
Patrick, and Plankton
seems to deflate.
Patrick looks
around, his gaze
falling on the cast.
"Hey, Plankton," he
says, his voice
loud. "What's with
the...uh, whatchamacallit?"
He points at the cast.
Sandy winces. "It's for
his leg, Patrick," she says.
But Patrick's
curiosity isn't deterred.
He squats down, his
eyes wide. "Can I see?"
Plankton's antennae
twitch in annoyance. "It's
a cast, Patrick," he says
sharply.
Patrick reaches out, his
finger poking. "Does it tickle?"
Plankton jolts back,
his antennae standing
on end. "What are you
doing?" he snaps.
Sponge Bob watches
the exchange, his
concern for Plankton
growing. He knows
his friend's temper
can flare up quickly,
and he doesn't want
this visit to cause
more stress.
"Patrick, maybe we
should let Plankton
rest," Sponge Bob
suggests gently,
his eyes pleading.
Patrick looks
disappointed, his
hand retreating from the
cast. "But I just
wanted to..."
"Patrick," Sandy
sighs, her voice
patient. "Let's go play
with the jellyfish," she
says, guiding him
away from Plankton.
Patrick pouts but
follows, casting a
backward glance at
his cast.
With the
distraction gone,
Plankton's mood
improves marginally.
He shifts on the
floor, trying to get
comfortable. Sponge
Bob looks at him
with understanding.
"Is there anything
I can do to make
this easier?" he asks.
Plankton's antennae
twitch in thought.
"Could you...help me
to the wheelchair?"
Sponge Bob nods,
his spongy hands
wrapping around the
wheelchair handles. He
lifts Plankton
carefully, mindful
of his injury.
He helps Plankton
into the chair,
his friend wincing
slightly as he adjusts
his leg.
Once Plankton's
comfortable, Sponge
Bob nods. "I've got an
idea," he says, his
eyes bright. "How about
we go out and get
Kelp shakes," Sponge Bob says,
his voice filled with
excitement.
Plankton's antennae
perk up at the
suggestion. "Really?" he
asks, his voice
weak with hope. "But I
can't go any-"
"Don't worry," Sponge
Bob says. He turns to
Karen. "Is that okay?"
Karen nods, her
relief at the change
in Plankton's demeanor
evident. "That sounds
like a wonderful
idea," she says.
As they arrive
at the Kelp Shake
restaurant, Sponge
Bob's cheerful
demeanor doesn't
waver. He waves
hello to Larry the Lobster,
his enthusiasm contagious.
Plankton, though still
in pain, tries to
smile. "Thanks for
doing this, Sponge Bob,"
he says, his voice
grateful. "It's
the least I could do,"
his friend responds,
his eyes genuine, when
SpongeBob's friend Larry
comes over. "Hey, Larry!"
Sponge Bob calls out,
his voice cheerful,
Larry's gaze
flicking to Plankton's
cast.
"Plankton, what's with
the new look?" Larry asks,
his tone teasing.
Plankton sighs. "It's
a cast," he says. "A cast?
For what?" "For my leg,"
Plankton says, his voice
flat.
Larry looks at him,
his smile fading. "Oh man,
I'm sorry to hear that.
What happened?"
Plankton sighs, his
shoulders slumping.
"We're here for the
shakes," Sponge Bob
says, his tone light.
"Can we get two,
please?" Larry nods at the
waiter, Larry's eyes
still on Plankton. "Sure
thing, Sponge Bob. And
Plankton, if you ever
need to talk abou–"
"No, I don't," Plankton
interrupts, his voice
sharp.
Sponge Bob's eyes
widen slightly at his
friend's tone.
"Okay, okay," Larry says,
his claws up.
"Take it easy, bud..."
The waiter returns with
the kelp shakes,
interrupting the
moment. Sponge Bob
quickly takes a sip,
his eyes closing in
appreciation. "Ah,
this is just what
we needed," he says.
Plankton nods, taking
a cautious sip. "It's
not bad," he admits,
his tone more subdued.
The cool, minty
flavor soothes him
slightly, and he takes
another sip, watching
as Larry goes standing
up so as to leave, when
he accidentally runs into
the wheelchair, causing
Plankton's leg to bump
into the table.
"W-whoa, sorry, Plankton!"
Larry says, his eyes
wide with alarm.
Plankton hisses in pain,
as Sponge Bob quickly
grabs hold of the
wheelchair.
"You okay?" Sponge
Bob asks, his eyes
filled with concern.
Plankton nods stiffly, his
face contorted. "It'll be fine,"
he says through gritted
teeth. "It was just a
bump. But it's still sensitive
and now hurt-"
"Let's get you home,"
Sponge Bob says, his
face etched with worry.
Plankton nods,
his grip tightening
on the armrests of the
wheelchair as they both
head back home.
Karen sees them return back
also notices Plankton's
pained expression.
"What happened?" she
asks, rushing over.
Sponge Bob explains
quickly, his voice
filled with apology.
"It was just an accident,"
Plankton says, his voice
strained. Karen
moves to get his
medication. "Here,"
she says, her hand
shaking slightly as she
hands him a pill and a
cup of water.
He takes it gratefully,
swallowing it down
without a word.
Sponge Bob's eyes are
filled with guilt.
"I'm sorry," he says,
his voice barely a whisper.
"It's not your fault,"
Plankton says, his voice
still tight with pain.
"It's just...it's hard
being like this."
Sponge Bob's gaze
flicks to the cast
once more. "Is there
anything else I can do?"
he asks. Plankton
sighs. "Just...keep me
company," he says,
his antennae drooping.
Sponge Bob nods, his
spirits visibly lifting.
"You got it," he says. "How
about we-"
But before he can
finish his sentence,
the door swings open
and in comes Patrick
Star, his eyes wide
with excitement. "Hi!"
Sponge Bob's heart
sinks. He knows what's
coming next.
"Patrick, what are
you doing here?" Plankton
snaps, his pain
obvious.
Patrick's smile
doesn't fade. "I heard
about your boo-boo!" he
says, pointing at the
cast. "And I brought
you some jelly!"
Sponge Bob sighs,
his eyes darting to
Karen, who gives him a
tiny nod of encouragement.
"Thanks, Patrick," he says,
his voice strained. "But
right now, Plankton
needs to rest."
Patrick's expression
falls, his eyes wide
and innocent. "But...but
I just wanted to help
make him feel better!"
Plankton's antennae
twitch with frustration.
"You can help by
letting me rest," he
says, feeling the effects
of the meds kick in.
Patrick nods, his
head bobbing. "Okay,"
he says. "But what if I sit
quietly?" Plankton sighs.
"Fine," he says, his
exhaustion evident.
"Just don't touch the cast."
Sponge Bob nods
gratefully at Patrick,
his eyes silently
thanking him. They sit
quietly Plankton's eye
begins to droop.
"Looks like you're
getting sleepy," Patrick
teases Plankton.
Plankton opens his
eye with a glare. "I'm
not sleepy," he says,
his eyelid dropping
again, Karen
watching over them
from the kitchen.
Sponge Bob and Patrick
sit down, their
energy levels
contrasting with
Plankton's fatigue.
Plankton's eye
grows heavier, the
medication doing its
job. Patrick's gaze
is on Plankton, who's
eyelid is fluttering.
"You're totally
sleepy," Patrick says,
his voice a mix of
amusement and concern.
"I'm not," Plankton
mutters, his voice
slurred. But it's clear
that Plankton's fighting
a losing battle, and
Patrick's now giggling.
Sponge Bob watches
his friend, his heart
heavy. He knows
Plankton's stubbornness
all too well. He turns
to Karen, who nods.
"Why don't you two
keep him company?" she suggests.
"I'll just be in the kitchen."
Patrick nods,
his eyes still on
Plankton. "I'll sit
right here," he says,
plonking down next to
his sleepy friend. Sponge
Bob sits opposite,
his eyes never leaving
Plankton's blinking one.