＃ＫｎｅｅＳｕｒｇｅｒｙ pt. 17
When Karen
returns, she
hands him the pill
and a glass of water.
Plankton takes them
without a word,
swallows hard, and
sets the glass down.
The medication
doesn't kick in
right away, but
his expression
eases slightly.
Hanna watches
from the
corner of her eye.
Plankton shifts, his
cast knocking against
her side. Hanna moves
back slightly. "What do you
wanna watch?"
she asks, trying to
fill the void.
He shrugs.
"How about we
find something we
can all enjoy?" Karen
suggests, settling on a
movie with a mix of
action and humor. They
watch in silence, the
tension in the room
slowly dissipating.
As the movie plays,
Plankton's eyelid
starts to droop, the
medication finally
taking hold.
Without realizing
it, his head slowly
slumps to the side,
until it's resting on
Hanna's shoulder.
Hanna freezes.
Her heart thumps
in her chest. This is
a moment she never
expected. She glances
at Karen, whose
expression is a mix
of amusement and
sympathy. Karen nods
slightly, and Hanna
understands the silent
message: let him be.
The movie plays on,
the sound of explosions
and laughter
filling the room.
But all Hanna can
focus on is the
warmth of Plankton's
head on her
shoulder. His breathing
steadies into a
soft snore, and she
can't help but smile.
Her arm is
pinned awkwardly, but
she doesn't dare
move. Instead, she
adjusts her position
slightly, trying
to find comfort
without disturbing him.
Karen notices, a
smile tugging at
the corners of her
mouth, and she
whispers, "Let him sleep.
He needs it."
Plankton's head remained
nestled on Hanna's shoulder,
his antennae twitching
slightly with each snore.
Hanna felt a warmth
spread through her,
despite the awkwardness.
She looked over at
him, his face
relaxed in sleep.
Plankton's snores
were deep and
even, his body
completely relaxed
against Hanna, his
mouth agape. Karen
chuckled quietly.
"Looks like he's
out for the count,"
she whispered. Hanna
nodded, her smile
widening. She didn't
move an inch, afraid
of waking him. They
watched the movie
in silence, the
comfort of Plankton's
weight on her
shoulder growing
familiar. Karen
put a finger to
her lips,
shushing her.
As the credits
started to roll,
Hanna glanced at
Plankton again as
she reached for the
remote, hitting the
off button to
avoid waking him.
Karen chuckled,
seeing Hanna's
concern. "I think
he's out cold," she
whispered. Hanna
swallowed a
laugh, her eyes
twinkling. Karen
stood. "Let's get him
comfortable," she
whispered.
Together, they
managed to lift
his casted leg and
place it on the
ottoman. Hanna
carefully shifted
his head to a
pillow, his snores
barely changing
pitch. Plankton
moved slightly,
his snores grew
little louder as
his head found the
cushion. Hanna
couldn't resist a
soft giggle, which
caused Plankton to
shuffle slightly
but not wake.
Karen shot her
a look that
clearly said 'not
another sound'.
They both
settled in,
exhaustion from
the long night
still lingering.
The living room
was bathed in
the soft glow of
morning light,
the curtains
filtering the
brightness.
Plankton's chest
moved up and
down in a
steady rhythm,
his snores
fading as he
moved deeper into
sleep. Hanna
couldn't help but
feel a pang of
guilt for her
earlier actions.
But as she watched
his peaceful
expression, she
knew she had to
make amends.
Karen
nudged her. "Why
don't you sit with
him for a bit?"
she suggested.
Hanna nodded,
swapping places
with Karen. She sat
carefully, making
sure not to disturb
his sleep. His
breathing was
even, and she
could see the
exhaustion etched
on his face.
She studied his
features, feeling a
surge of
compassion. Plankton
wasn't just a
nemesis or a
challenge; he was
someone in pain,
someone who needed
support. Hanna
vowed to be
more considerate,
more sensitive to
his feelings.
Her eyes drifted to
his cast, the stark
white a
contrast to the
soft pillow. It
was a stark
reminder of his
vulnerability.
Hanna's thoughts were
interrupted by a
soft knock
on the door. She
turned to see
SpongeBob
peeking his head
inside. He saw
Plankton sleeping
and his expression
changed to one of
concern. "How's
he doing?" he
asked in a low
voice. Karen
smiled, feeling a
warmth in her
chest. "He's okay,"
she whispered. "Just
sleeping."
Sponge Bob
padded over to
the couch,
his eyes on
Plankton.
"Can I sit?"
he asked Hanna,
his eyes hopeful.
She nodded, scooting
over to make room.
The three of them
sat in quiet
companionship,
each lost in
their own
thoughts. Sponge Bob
reached out a hand,
his eyes never
leaving Plankton's
face, and placed it
gently on his
cast, his
thumb tracing
the edge of
Plankton's cast. Plankton
stirred, his snores
becoming softer.
Sponge Bob's
expression was one
of pure empathy,
his eyes
reflecting the
concern he felt
for his friend.
Hanna watched,
touched by the
genuine care.
The silence
was broken by
another knock on
the door. This time
it was Patrick,
his face scrunched
in confusion.
"What's going on?"
he asked, his voice
low. Karen
whispered, "Plankton's
sleeping."
Patrick's eyes
widened, and he
looked at the
crutches propped
against the wall.
"Oh," he said,
his voice
hushed. He sat
down on the floor,
his gaze
following theirs
to Plankton.
"How'd he get
the big white
stick on his leg?"
Patrick whispered.
Hanna and Karen
shared a look,
then Hanna
explained, "It's a
cast, Pat. He broke
his leg and the
doctors put it on
to help him heal,
remember?"
Patrick nodded
slowly, his eyes
still wide. "Oh, right.
But why's he sleeping?"
"He's taking a
nap," Karen
said gently. "The
medicine makes him
tired."
Patrick nodded,
his eyes still
on Plankton. "Can I
see?" he asked,
his voice filled with
a mix of curiosity
and concern.
Hanna and Karen
shared a look,
then nodded in
unison. "Just be
careful," Karen
whispered.
Patrick
crawled closer, his
body moving with
the grace of a
bull in a china
shop, despite his
intention to be
gentle. He studied
Plankton's cast with
intense interest,
his finger
poised just above
it. "What happens
if I to-"
Hanna's hand
snapped out,
stopping him. "Don't
touch it," she
whispered firmly.
Patrick's eyes
widened in surprise.
"But I just
wanted to-"
"Patrick," Karen
interrupted, her
tone gentle but
firm. "Plankton's leg
is very sore. We have
to be careful."
He nodded, his
face a picture of
understanding. "Oh,"
he said, sitting
back on his
heels. "Is it gonna
fall off?"
Hanna and Karen
shared a look,
their expressions a mix
of amusement and
concern. "No, Patrick,"
Hanna said, keeping
her voice low. "The cast
will stay on until
his leg is all better."
Patrick nodded
slowly, his eyes
still glued to
Plankton's cast. "Can
I tell him I'm sorry?"
he asked. Hanna
looked at Karen,
who nodded. "Yes,
you can," she said. "But
you'll have to wait
until he wakes up."
Patrick leaned in,
his face just
inches from
Plankton's as
he whispered,
"Hey, Plankton.
You okay?"
Plankton's snores
continued unabated.
"I think he's
comfortable,"
Hanna said,
keeping her voice
low. "Let's not
wake him."
Patrick nodded,
his curiosity
now focused
on the cast.
He reached out
his hand and
tapped it lightly.
The sudden
contact made
Plankton flinch,
his eye shooting
open. "Whaa-"
He took in
his surroundings
quickly, his eye
widening when he
saw Hanna, Karen,
and Sponge Bob
sitting around him.
"What's going on!"
he croaked, his
voice groggy from
sleep and pain
medication.
"You were
sleeping," Karen
explained, her
voice soft. Plankton
blinked, his mind
fuzzy. "Is the movie
over?"
"Yes," Hanna said,
smiling gently. "You
fell asleep, on my sh-
I mean, you fell
asleep during it."
Plankton's gaze
shifted to Hanna,
his expression
uncertain.