CHIP ON THE SHOULDERS xi
(By NeuroFabulous)
Karen watched, her hand tightly
gripping his, her breath shallow,
as the surgeon worked with a
precision that could only come from
years of practice.
Plankton remained still under
the anesthesia, his antennae
completely at ease. Rachel, the
hygienist, hovered nearby, her eyes
always on Plankton, ready to
assist if needed.
The surgery felt like
eternity, but it was over
sooner than she had feared.
Plankton's antennae remained
still, his breathing deep
and even. Dr. McSquinty
finished the last stitch, his
tentacles moving with a
sureness that was almost
hypnotic. "We're all done,"
he said, his voice a gentle
rumble.
Dr. McSquinty's tentacles moved
quickly and deftly, his focus
on the task at hand. Karen watched
as the surgeon's tentacles gently
placed the gauze into Plankton's
mouth.
The room was silent except
for the steady beep of the
heart rate monitor and the
slight snores from Plankton's
relaxed form. Rachel, the
hygienist, checked the gauze's
placement, her eyes meeting
Karen's. She nodded, her expression
serene. Karen takes a picture and
sends it to Sandy.
"He's doing well," Rachel
whispered, her eyes on the
monitor. "His vitals are all
normal." Karen nods, her
throat tight. "Thank you,"
she murmurs.
Plankton's antennae lay still,
his chest rising and falling
evenly. The anesthesia had
worked its magic, his mind
now free from the storm of
sensory input that had once
threatened to consume him.
Karen watched as Dr. McSquinty
removes the Iv,
but Plankton was oblivious,
his sleep deep and peaceful.
The anesthesia had done its
job, and Rachel, the hygienist,
remained there to wake him.
"Plankton, Plankton," Rachel's voice
was a lullaby, her hand light on
his shoulder. His antennae
twitched slightly, his eye
flickering open. "You're all
done, sweetheart," she murmured.
Plankton blinked, his gaze
unfocused. The room was dim,
his mouth feeling peculiar.
"Whath's happen'd?" he mumbled,
his voice slurred. Karen's screen
swam into view, her smile a beacon
in the fog of confusion.
"You had your wisdom teeth out,"
she said gently, her hand
still in his. "You're okay, Plankton."
Her voice was a balm to his
fuzzy mind. His antennae twitched
slightly, trying to process the
information.
Plankton's gaze flickered around
the room, the shapes and sounds
familiar yet foreign. He felt groggy,
his body weighted down by
the anesthesia. Rachel smiles. "You'll
be tired and a little numb for today Mr.
Plankton, but you can nap once Karen
takes you home!"
Karen's eyes searched his,
their depths filled with love and
concern. "How do you feel?" she
asked, her voice low and gentle.
Plankton's antennae twitched
slightly, his gaze unfocused.
"Tiwed," he murmured, his voice
slurred by the aftereffects of
the anesthesia. "But... it's done?"
Karen nodded, her smile gentle.
"Yes, it's done," she said, her voice
a soothing lilt. "You're so brave."
Plankton's antennae quivered
slightly as he tried to sit up,
his body protesting the sudden
movement. Karen's hand
was a steady anchor, helping
to ground him in reality. The
world spun for a moment, but
soon the fog began to clear.
"Easy," she murmured, her voice
a lifeline in the haze. "Take your
time, Plankton." Her eyes searched
his, looking for signs of distress.
His antennae drooped slightly,
his gaze drifting to the ceiling
above. The lights were dimmer now,
the sounds of the office
muffled.
With Rachel's help, they
managed to get Plankton to his
feet, his legs wobbly. Karen
wrapped an arm around his waist,
supporting him as they made their
way out.
"We'll take it slow," she
murmured, her voice gentle. His
antennas twitched in sleepy
agreement, his eye half-lidded.
The world felt thick and slow,
each step an effort. The pain in his
mouth was distant, muffled by
the fog of anesthesia.
Plankton leaned into Karen,
his antennae drooping with
grogginess. The gentle pressure
of her arm around his waist
was the only thing keeping him upright.
They moved through the office,
his sluggish steps echoing in the
silence. Rachel held the door
open for them, her smile warm.
"Take care of him, he'll be sleepy,"
she said, her voice
soft. Karen nodded, her gaze
never leaving Plankton's face.
The cool air outside was a
sharp contrast to the sterile
environment of the dental
office. Plankton's antennae
twitched slightly as he took
in the world around him,
his senses still dulled by
the lingering anesthesia.
Karen's arm remained
steadfast around his waist,
guiding him through the parking
lot. The sound of gravel crunching
underfoot was oddly soothing,
his mind still fuzzy from the
remaining effects of the surgery.
The car was a familiar
sanctuary, and Plankton
collapsed into the passenger seat
with a sigh, his antennae drooping.
Karen buckled him in with gentle
care, her eyes searching his
for any signs of pain or discomfort.
"Alright, love," she murmured,
her voice a soothing balm. "We're going
to get you home, and you can
sleep it off." Her hand rested
on his shoulder, her eyes on
his sleepy gaze.
But Plankton's eye kept
drooping, his antennae quivering
with the effort to stay conscious.
"Karen," he slurred, his voice
barely audible. "I'm... I'm tiwed."
"I know, sweetie," she said, her
voice soothing. "You just had surgery.
You need to rest. Now let's get home!"
But Plankton's body had other
ideas. His eyelid fluttered
closed, his antennae barely twitching.
Karen chuckled softly, her
heart swelling with affection.
"You can sleep in the car,"
she assured him. "But try to stay
awake for a little while longer."
Plankton's antennae shot up
with a valiant effort to comply,
his eye opening wide for a moment.
But the warmth of the car and the
gentle hum of the engine were
too much for him to resist.
Within seconds, his head
was lolling to the side,
his antennae drooping in defeat.
"Plankton," Karen whispered, her
voice a gentle prod. His antennae
twitched, his eye fluttering open.
"Stay with me, okay?" Her smile
was tired but filled with love.
He nodded, his antennae drooping
again. "M'trying," he mumbled, his
voice thick with sleep. Karen
chuckled softly, starting the
car. The engine's hum was
lulling, the vibrations soothing
to his overwhelmed senses.
As the car pulled out of the
parking lot, Plankton's antennae
twitched, trying to keep
alert. But the warmth of the
car and the gentle sway of the
seat were too much. His eye
closed again, his head lolling
back against the headrest.
Karen's voice was a steady
companion, her words a gentle
reminder of reality. "Stay
with me, Plankton," she said,
her tone filled with love.
Plankton's antennae twitched,
his eye sliding open with
difficulty. "M'trying," he murmured,
his voice thick with sleep.
The car's gentle rocking
lulled him back into
slumber, his antennae drooping
against the headrest. Karen's
voice was a soft melody, her
words a gentle nudge to stay
conscious. "Wake up, Plankton,"
she whispered. "We're going
home, and you can sleep there."
With each word, his antennae
wobbled in protest, his eye
fighting to stay open. "Mm," he
mumbled, his voice a sleepy
whisper. "Home." He was so tired,
his body begging for rest.
Karen's voice was a gentle
reminder of the world outside
his sleep-filled haze. "We're
almost there, Plankton," she
soothed, her eyes never leaving
the road. "Just stay with me a
little longer."
But the siren call of sleep
was too strong. His antennae
twitched one last time before
going still, his breathing
evening out as he gave in to the
warm embrace of unconsciousness.
Karen watched him with
a mix of concern and affection,
his peaceful expression a stark
contrast to the fear from before.
"Looks like you've had enough,"
she whispered to herself,
a hint of a smile playing on
her screen. She drove with care,
his head leaning against the
window, the soft snores echoing
in the quiet car.
The scenery outside the window
was a blur, the world moving
too fast for his sleep-laden
brain to process. Each bump in
the road jolted him slightly,
his antennae twitching in protest.
"Wake up, Plankton," Karen said,
keeping her voice low and calm.
He stirred, his antennae
perking up slightly. "We're almost
there."
But the lure of sleep was
powerful, pulling him back into
its embrace. His antennae
drooped, his breaths growing
even deeper. "Mmph," he mumbled,
his voice muffled by the gauze
still in his mouth.
"Just a few more minutes,
Plankton," Karen coaxed, her voice
soft. The car's gentle motion
was hypnotic, each turn and
bump in the road a siren's
song to his weary mind. "You can
sleep when we get home."
Plankton's antennae
twitched, his eye fluttering
open. He nodded slightly,
his head lolling to the side.
"M'trying," he murmured, his
voice barely audible. The anesthesia
still had a firm grip on
his consciousness, his body
craving the oblivion of sleep.
Karen's hand remained
steady on his shoulder,
her voice a gentle coaxing.
"Look, Plankton," she said,
her tone soft. "We're almost
home. Stay with me."
The world outside was a
blur of colors and shapes,
each passing tree and building
just another obstacle in
his battle against the
dragging weight of sleep.
Plankton's antennae quivered
slightly, his eye trying to focus.
"Mmhmm," he mumbled, his
voice thick with grogginess.
Karen's gentle voice was
his tether to reality, her
soothing words a lullaby
guiding him through the
hazy fog of anesthesia. "You're
doing so well, Plankton,"
she murmured, her grip on
his shoulder firm yet comforting.
"Almost there, buddy."
Plankton's antennae
twitched in response, his
eye opening briefly to meet
hers. He nodded, the effort
to stay awake etched on his
face. The world outside the
car was a blur of greens and
blues, the sun casting a warm
glow over everything. His
body felt heavy, each breath
a struggle against the
weight of his eyelid.
"Look, Plankton," Karen said,
her voice a whisper in the quiet
car. "We're home."