NOTHING BUT THE WISDOM TRUTH iii
Just as Karen's about to leave the room to let him sleep, the doorbell rang. It was Mr. Krabs, eyes
looking concerned. She opened the door, whispering, "Shh, he's asleep."
Mr. Krabs nodded, his usual gruffness replaced with a rare display of compassion. He held a bag of ice.
"Thought he might need these," he said.
Karen took the bag gratefully. "Thank you," she whispered. "He's in the living room."
Mr. Krabs nodded again and followed her into the room. He took in the sight of Plankton, sprawled out on the
couch with his mouth slightly open, snoring softly. "Tough day, eh?" he murmured.
"You have no idea," Karen replied, her voice tinged with exhaustion. She took the gauze out of Plankton's
swollen cheeks. He stirred but didn't wake.
Mr. Krabs took a seat in the chair opposite the couch, fidgeting nervously. "How's he been?" he asked.
"In and out," Karen replied, watching as Plankton shifted slightly.
Mr. Krabs leaned forward, his eyes narrowing with curiosity. "And what'd they say?"
Karen sighed, the weight of the day settling on her shoulders. "It went well, the doctor said. They had to
remove all four of his wisdom teeth. It wasn't easy, but he was pretty out of it. They had to give him extra
sedative."
Mr. Krabs' eyebrows shot up. "Plankton, out of it?"
Karen nodded, a small smile playing on her lips despite the situation. "Just sleeping, drooling a bit.."
Mr. Krabs chuckled quietly. "I think this really knocked him out."
Karen nodded, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "Yeah, he's been pretty out of it since he went under," she
whispered. "But it's ok, it's just til the anesthesia wears off."
Mr. Krabs leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving Plankton's sleeping form. "I can't believe I'm saying
this, but...he looks peaceful."
Karen chuckled softly. "He's not one to sit still, so it's definitely a rare sight." She took the bag of ice from Mr.
Krabs and placed it gently on Plankton's swollen cheek. He didn't even flinch, lost in a world of drug-induced
slumber.
They sat in companionable silence for a few minutes, the only sound being Plankton's rhythmic snores.
Eventually, Plankton's eye opens. "K-Krabs?" he slurred, his voice groggy.
Mr. Krabs jolted upright, his claws clutching the chair's armrests. "Yes, yes, it's me," he said, his voice a mix of
surprise and awkwardness.
Plankton's eye searched the room, his gaze landing on the bag of ice on his cheek. He reached up to touch it,
his hand wobbly. "What...happened?"
"You had your wisdom teeth out, honey," Karen said, her voice soothing. "Remember?"
Plankton's expression grew comically confused. "Wish-dish...teef?"
Mr. Krabs coughed, clearing his throat. "Ah, yes, your wisdom teeth," he said. "Yes, those pesky things," he said.
"But don't worry, they're gone now."
Plankton's eye widened slightly, and he tried to sit up, only to wince in pain. "Oh, wight," he murmured, his hand
moving to his mouth.
Karen quickly leaned over and pushed him back down gently. "Easy, you need to rest," she said.
Plankton's eye searched the room again before focusing on Mr. Krabs. "K-Krabs?" he slurred, a hint of a smile
forming. "Youw here?"
Mr. Krabs nodded, his expression a mix of amusement and concern. "Yes, I am. Thought I'd check on my
favorite...uh, rival."
Karen couldn't help but chuckle at the awkwardness, but Plankton's face lit up. "You're my best fwiend," he
slurred, his arm reaching out to pat Mr. Krabs' hand.
Mr. Krabs looked down at the small, tentacle-like hand on his arm, and for a brief moment, his usual stern
expression softened. "Plankton, I...I'm just here to check on you," he said, his voice gruff but not unkind.
Plankton's smile grew wider, his one eye shining with what could only be described as affection. "Mr. Kwabs,
you're the best," he slurred, his voice thick with the remnants of the anesthesia.
Mr. Krabs looked at Karen, his beady eyes wide with surprise. "Is he...is he okay?" he whispered.
Karen nodded, her own smile growing. "It's just the anesthesia. He'll be back to his usual self in no time."
Plankton's hand remained on Mr. Krabs' arm, his grip tightening slightly.
Mr. Krabs' shell flushed, unused to such affection from his nemesis. "Th-thank you, Plankton," he stuttered. "Just get some rest now."
Just something endearing about Plankton's vulnerability in this state. She knew Mr.
Krabs felt it too, his gruff exterior melting away like the ice on Plankton's cheek.
"Mr. Kwabs," Plankton mumbled again.
Mr. Krabs cleared his throat, his pinchers fidgeting with the chair's armrest. "Yes, Plankton?"
"Can you...tell me a stowwy?" Plankton's voice was barely audible, his one eye pleading.
Mr. Krabs' eyebrows shot up. "A story?" he repeated, surprised.
"It'd help him relax," Karen shrugs. "Just something simple."
Mr. Krabs took a deep breath, his mind racing for a suitable tale. "Once upon a time," he began, his voice softer
than usual, "there was a tiny plankton named... Sheldon."
Plankton's eye fluttered open, a smile spreading across his swollen face. "Thath's me!" he exclaimed, his voice
still slurred.
Mr. Krabs chuckled, his usual stern expression replaced with a warm smile. "Indeed it is," he said, his eyes
crinkling at the edges. He took a deep breath and continued, "Sheldon Plankton lived in a big, blue sea. And he
had the most amazing plan."
Plankton's eye remained open, focusing on Mr. Krabs as best he could. "Whath's the plan?" he mumbled.
Mr. Krabs paused, surprised by Plankton's interest. "Well, Plankton had the most ingenious plan to become the
best chef in the sea," he said, his voice taking on a storytelling lilt.
Plankton's eye fluttered, his gaze fixed on Mr. Krabs. "Chef?" he repeated, his voice a hopeful murmur.
Mr. Krabs nodded, his smile growing. "Yes, a chef," he said. "And every day, Sheldon would try new recipes,
searching for the perfect Krabby Patty secret."
Plankton's grip on Mr. Krabs' tightened.
"Mr. Kwabs," he slurred again, his voice thick with emotion. "You're...you're the besht...the beth...chef."
Mr. Krabs blinked, his eyes misting over. It was the closest thing to a compliment he had ever received from
Plankton, and it was enough to make his heart swell. "Why, thank you, Plankton," he said, his voice cracking slightly.
Karen watched the scene unfold with a warm smile. It was clear that despite their rivalry, Plankton looked up
to Mr. Krabs in some way. It anesthetic loopiness was a side of him she had never seen before. "You...you're
wike a fath-ther to me," he mumbled, his grip on Mr. Krabs' arm tightening.
Mr. Krabs was taken aback, his claws patting Plankton's awkwardly. "Plankton," he said, his voice thick with
emotion. "You're like...a...a...uh, a...uh, a...challenge," he finished lamely, not quite able to express the feelings
that Plankton's words had stirred in him.
Plankton's smile grew, his one eye gleaming with happiness. "I wike you."
Mr. Krabs nodded, his heart feeling lighter than it had in a long time. "So, Sheldon Plankton," he began, his
voice soothing. "He worked tirelessly, trying to outdo the Krabby Patty with his own secret recipe."
Plankton's head lolled back against Mr. Krabs' arm, his breathing growing shallower. His grip on Mr. Krabs'
hand loosened, and his eyelid began to droop again. Mr. Krabs noticed the change and paused his story,
watching him carefully.
"Don't stop," Karen whispered, brimming with tears. "It's helping him relax."
Mr. Krabs nodded, understanding the unspoken request. He took a deep breath and resumed the tale. "But no
matter how hard Sheldon Plankton tried, he just couldn't crack the code. One day, he stumbled upon an
ancient scroll..." Mr. Krabs' voice droned on. Plankton's breathing grew more rhythmic, his grip on Mr. Krabs'
arm loosening. His head slowly sank against Mr. Krabs' chest, and his eye closed completely. Mr. Krabs felt
the weight of his rival, his own heart beating a little faster. He'd never had Plankton this close, this...trusting.
The room grew quiet, only the occasional snore from Plankton piercing the silence. Mr. Krabs paused in his
storytelling, his pinchers hovering over the bowl of soup. He looked down at Plankton, his expression a mix of
confusion and something else. Something he couldn't quite put his claw on.
"Should we get him to bed?" he whispered to Karen.
"Yes," she said, pixelated eyes shining with unshed tears. "Let's get him comfortable."
They carefully lifted Plankton from the couch. Karen picked up Spot, cradling him in her arms as they moved
to the bedroom.
Mr. Krabs took the lead. Plankton's snores grew louder as they climbed the stairs, each step a test of their
coordination.
Karen followed closely behind, her eyes never leaving Plankton's peaceful face. She couldn't remember the
last time she had seen him so at ease, so vulnerable. It was a side of him she had rarely glimpsed, and it filled
her with a warmth she hadn't expected.
They laid Plankton down gently, his body sinking into the mattress with a sigh. Spot squirmed in Karen's arms,
sensing the shift in his owner's condition. She placed the amoeba pup on the bed beside Plankton, who
automatically curled into the warm blob, his snores growing quieter.
Mr. Krabs hovered over the bed, his claws twitching as he surveyed the scene. "Is he...is he okay?" he asked,
his voice a whisper.
Karen nodded, a gentle smile playing on her lips. "He's just sleeping," she assured him. "Thanks for staying."
Mr. Krabs nodded, his eyes lingering on the sleeping Plankton. "Of course," he said gruffly. "Can't have you two
dealing with this alone."
Karen tucked the blankets around him, smoothing out the wrinkles with a gentle hand.