＃ＫｎｅｅＳｕｒｇｅｒｙ pt. 14
Hanna wipes her
eyes, her voice
shaky. "I-I think I
should go," she says.
Karen stands up,
rushing over to her. "No,
wait. What happened?"
she asks, her
concern evident.
Hanna sniffs,
trying to compose
herself. "He just...
he doesn't want me
here," she manages.
Karen's face falls. "I'm
sorry," she says,
taking Hanna's hand.
"He's just in a lot
of pain. I know he can be
difficult," she says
gently. "But he's
just scared and
frustrated."
Hanna nods, her
lips pressed into
a thin line. "I know,"
she says. "But I can't
help if he won't
let me in." Karen
sighs, squeezing her
hand. "Give him some
time," she advises. "You
are staying with us, and
we all outta try getting
along. I'll go and
check on him."
With a nod,
Hanna releases
Karen's hand and
sits back down, her
thoughts racing. She
wonders if she's
overstepped or if
Plankton will ever
accept her help. The
silence in the room
stretches out, filled
only with the
ticking of a
clock on the
wall.
Meanwhile, Karen goes
to their bedroom door.
"Plankton?" she calls
out softly. "Can I come
in?" There's no answer
at first, just the
sound of his ragged
breathing. She opens
the door slowly,
finding him sitting
on the bed.
His antennae are
drooped and his eye
is red-rimmed. "What?"
he says, his voice
harsher than he
intended. Karen
sighs, sitting down
beside him. "Hanna's
upset," she says
simply. Plankton looks
away, his antennae
twitching.
"Good," he says, his
tone still icy. "I don't
want her here."
Karen sighs. "You
know she's only trying
to help," she says.
"And she's not the
only one. We all are."
Plankton's antennae
drop further. "I don't
want any of this,"
he says, his voice
smaller. "I don't want
to be the one who
needs help."
Karen sighs,
placing a hand
on his arm.
"But you do," she
says gently. "And that's
not a bad thing. How's
the leg feeling?"
Plankton glowers
but doesn't pull away.
"It hurts," he
admits. Karen nods.
"I'll get your meds,"
she says.
When she returns,
she finds Plankton
still sitting there,
his gaze fixed on
his cast. "Here," she
says, handing him the
pill bottle. He takes
them without a word,
swallowing them
quickly. Karen sits
back down next to
him. "You know,
sometimes letting
people in can make
the hard times
easier," she says. "Yet
it's also fine if you'd
like space." She kisses
his forehead. "Now, rest.."
Plankton's antennae
lift slightly. "I don't
want to be alone," he
admits, his voice
barely a whisper.
Karen's eyes widen
slightly, surprised
by his vulnerability.
"You don't have to
be," she says, taking
his hand. "We're all
here for you."
They sit in silence
for a few moments,
the tension in the
room slowly dissipating.
Then, with a sigh,
Plankton leans into her,
his antennae drooping
against her shoulder.
"Thank you," he whispers.
Karen wraps an
arm around him,
pulling him closer. "You're
welcome," she murmurs.
"We're a team."
As they sit
there, the tension
in Plankton's body
gradually eases, his
breathing slowing down.
Karen feels his grip
on her hand loosen,
his eyelid flicker closed.
The fight drains
out of him, and he
surrenders to sleep.
Karen shifts, so he's
more comfortable,
pulling a blanket over
his cast-covered leg.
The soft fabric
slides over the
plaster, and
she tucks him in.
When she returns
to the living
room, Hanna's eyes
are still red, but
she's composed
herself. "Is he okay?"
she asks, her voice
barely above a whisper.
Karen nods, sitting
beside her. "He's
asleep," she says.
"But he's...going through
a lot." Hanna nods, her
own eyes welling up
again. "What
can I do to help?"
she asks.
Karen looks at
her, her gaze
thoughtful. "Just be
patient with him,"
she advises. "He's not
used to being
dependent on
others." Hanna
nods, taking a deep
breath. "Okay," she says.
"How do you think
I can be of
help?" Karen smiles.
"Just be there,"
she says. "And maybe
find something
that doesn't
involve...babying him."
Hanna nods
determinedly.
Later, Plankton wakes
up, emerging out to
the living room where
Karen and Hanna sat,
hobbling as he navigates
with his crutches.
"What are we
watching?" he asks,
his tone softer.
They're on the couch,
a movie playing
on the TV, their heads
close together as
they whisper about
the plot. Karen looks
up, her smile
genuine. "Just a
little something to
pass the time," she
says, patting the
cushion next to
Hanna. "You wanna join?"
Plankton hesitates,
his antennae
twitching. Then, with
a sigh, he nods, moving
towards them.
Hanna looks up
at him, her smile
slightly tentative. "It's
an adventure film,"
she says. "It's got a
little of everything."
Plankton eases
himself onto the
couch, his cast
thumping against
the cushions. He
sits between
them, his crutches
propped against
the side.
Hanna's eyes
dart to him
before returning
quickly to the
television.
Karen gives him
a side hug, her
hand resting
comfortably on
his shoulder.
"Thanks," he murmurs.
The film plays,
and they sit in
relative quiet,
the occasional
laugh or gasp
filling the room.
Hanna glances
at him every so
often.
During a
particularly intense
scene, she reaches
for the bowl of
popcorn. "Want
some?" she asks
quietly. Plankton
nods, extending
his arm. She carefully
picks out a few
kernels, placing
them in his hand.
The gesture is
small, but it feels
like a peace offering.
He munches
on them, his gaze
still on the
screen, but
his antennae
relaxing. Karen
notices the
ease in the
atmosphere and
smiles to herself.
Maybe this
was what they
needed, she thinks.
As the
credits roll,
Hanna jumps
up, her
expression hopeful.
"How about we
play a game?" she
suggests, her voice
careful not to
disrupt the peace.
Plankton looks
at her, his
eye assessing. "What
kind of game?" he
asks, his voice
still guarded.
Hanna stands up.
"How about something
easy?" she says. "Like
charades? It'll keep us
entertained without
being too strenuous
for Plankto-"
"I can still think,
you know," Plankton
snaps, his antennae
waving in irritation.
Hanna's smile falters,
but she nods. "Of course,"
she says. "It's just
that I don't wa-"
"To sit around doing
nothing," he
finishes for her.
"I know, I know. You
just think it's all fun
and games." Hanna
swallows her
retort, nodding.
"Okay, I get it," she
says. "How about
something else? Maybe
a puzzle?"
Karen interjects,
sensing the tension.
"That sounds
like a great idea,"
she says brightly.
"Let's all do it
together on the
floor."
With a grumble,
Plankton starts to
stand, using his
crutches to balance
his weight. Hanna
quickly moves to
his side, offering
her arm for support.
He glares at her.
"I can do it
myself," he snaps.
Karen watches
them, a smile
tugging at her lips.
"It's okay," she says,
picking up a puzzle
box from the
coffee table. "Let's
just get started."
Plankton lowers himself
to the floor, setting
the crutches down.
He grimaces, his
leg muscles
protesting as he
shifts his weight
to his good side.
Using his arms
for leverage, he
crawls over to
the space they've
cleared for the
puzzle.
Hanna watches,
worry etched on
her face. "Do you
want me to help?
Here, le-"
"I've got it,"
Plankton says
quickly, cutting her
off. He doesn't
want to admit
how much the
simple act of
getting to the floor
has exhausted him.
His pride won't allow it.
With a grunt,
he reaches the
puzzle area and
flops down, his cast
scraping against
the carpet. Karen
sets the box down,
her eyes filled with
concern. "Are you
sure you're okay?" Hanna
asks.
"I said I've got it,"
he repeats,
his voice firm.
He grabs a puzzle
piece, his
small hands
shaking slightly
as he tries to
fit it into place.
Hanna opens her
mouth to protest,
but Karen gives her
a look, silencing
her. They watch
as Plankton struggles,
his face contorted
with effort. His
leg feels like a
dead weight,
but he refuses to
show.