"I know your antenna
hurts, Plankton. Why
do you think I'm driving
you to the doctor?" Karen
exclaimed. The Bikini
Bottom Hospital looms
right up ahead.
Plankton winced as he
touched his antenna, which
was swollen. "Don't you
dare say 'I told you so'
to me," he mumbled.
"Why would I do that?"
Karen replied, feigning
innocence. They both
knew it was because of
his latest invention, a
crazy contraption that
was supposed to
harness the power of jellyfish
to make the perfect Krabby
Patty. But, as usual, it
went awry, and he wasn't
quick enough to get out of
the way.
They arrived at the
hospital. The receptionist
glanced up from her desk.
"Hello! How may I help you?"
"It's Plankton," Karen said,
nodding to her husband. "He's
got an antenna problem. It's
swollen and he's in pain. He
got it slammed in between..." "Karen
please.." Plankton interrupts.
The receptionist remained
professional. "Alright, let me get
you checked in. Have a seat
and will be with you
shortly."
The waiting room was filled with
the usual assortment of Bikini
Bottom residents nursing their
injuries. Plankton tried to ignore
the pain.
A few minutes later, a doctor with a
stethoscope around his neck called,
"Plankton?" Karen gave him a gentle nudge
and they followed into an
examination room. The doctor took a look at
his antenna, examining the swollen appendage, and
Plankton's face contorted with each touch.
The doctor spoke calmly, "We're going to need
to perform surgery to repair the damage.
It's nothing to worry about.
The surgery is scheduled for tomorrow
morning." Plankton's eye grew wide with
dread, while Karen took the news in stride,
already planning what she would need to
bring him for comfort during their stay.
Once outside the hospital, Plankton's mood
quickly soured. "Surgery? How could you let
this happen, Karen?" he snapped. "It's your
own fault for messing with those inventions,"
she retorted. They both knew the real culprit
was his relentless pursuit of the Krabby Patty
secret formula, but the pain made Plankton
more irritable than usual.
They went home in silence, the tension
between them thick enough to cut with a spatula.
As they approached the Chum Bucket, Plankton's
laboratory and their shared home, Karen finally
spoke up. "Look, Plankton, we need to get you
ready for tomorrow. You should
rest." Plankton nodded begrudgingly. Karen
sighed, knowing she had her work cut out for her
if she wanted to ensure Plankton's recovery went
smoothly. She helped him to their bedroom.
Karen began to pack a bag
filled with things to keep
his spirits high during their stay.
She tossed in a blanket, and a stack of comics
featuring Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy, and even
a teddy bear.
Karen couldn't help but reflect on
how Plankton's obsession with the Krabby Patty
formula had led to so many disasters. Despite
his constant failures, she couldn't help but feel
a twinge of pity for his never-ending quest.
It was clear that he was driven by something
deeper than mere greed; perhaps it was the desire
for respect or the thrill of the chase that kept
his tiny body and mind going.
The next morning she
got out of bed.
Plankton's surgery was
scheduled for 8 AM. She
needs to get him
up so they can go.
Plankton was lying
in bed. Karen sets the
bag by the door before
turning back to him, his
good antenna twitching in
his sleep as he continued to
snore. She sighed and sat
down on the edge of the bed.
Gently, she shook him.
"Plankton, it's time to
wake up," she whispered.
He groaned and opened
his eye, looking up at
her with a mix of fear
and resentment. She knew
the surgery was weighing
heavily on his mind.
The hospital was quiet
this early as they made
their way to
the surgery wing.
Plankton's heart raced
as they walked in,
his antenna throbbing.
He took a deep
breath to focus on the
comforting sound of
Karen's voice as the
doctors and nurses
prepared for the
procedure. Karen sat by
the bed with their bag
in her lap.
"Here," she said,
handing him the teddy
bear, "This will help you
feel better." Plankton took
it, feeling slightly
embarrassed but also some
comfort. He squeezed it
tightly to his chest as
the nurse draped the blanket
over him.
The nurse came
in to administer the
medication. Plankton's
grip tightened on the
teddy bear. "Just breathe
deep," they coached.
Karen watched as the
medicine began to take
effect. Plankton's eye grew
heavy and his breathing
slowed. He looked so
vulnerable lying there, his
defensive armor of anger
and sarcasm stripped away.
It was moments like these
that reminded her why she
put up with his shenanigans.
As the anesthesia took
hold, Plankton's grip on the
teddy bear loosened. His
body went slack, and he
was soon fast asleep, his
breaths deep and even as
his mind drifted into
oblivion. The doctors
and nurses moved swiftly
once he was out, preparing
the surgical instruments as
Plankton's snores echoed
gently through the sterile room
as Karen watches them begin
the operation on his antenna.
Her gaze was
firmly fixed on Plankton's
sleeping face, studying the way
his expression softened in slumber,
his mouth parted slightly in a way that
made him almost seem... peaceful.
When they finished the
procedure, the doctor
smiled. "Went perfectly,
he did so well," he said to
Karen. The nurse
nodded in agreement.
Karen felt a weight
lift from her shoulders.
They wheeled Plankton to
a recovery room, and she
followed closely behind, her
eyes never leaving his
tiny form. The room was
dimly lit, with a gentle
beep from the monitor
attached to him, keeping
track of his vital signs.
The nurse helped
transfer him to the bed,
his arm draped over
the side. She pulled the
blanket over him as the
teddy bear was placed
under his arm.
The nurse helped him
settle into the bed,
adjusting his pillows and
covering him with a warm
blanket. Plankton's chest
rose and fell rhythmically,
his snores now quiet. Karen
sat in the chair beside
his bed, holding his
hand, her thumb brushing
over his knuckles in a
soothing motion.
The room was dim,
the only light coming from
the glow of the medical
equipment. The steady
beep of the heart monitor
was the only sound in
the otherwise silent room.
It was a stark contrast to the
chaotic environment of the
Chum Bucket, filled with the
clanking and whirring of his
never-ending inventions.
Plankton stirred, his
single antenna waving slightly
as he woke up groggily. The
pain from his surgery was
managed by the drugs, but
his mind was a fog. He
blinked several times, trying
to bring the room into focus.
He felt a warm hand in his.
"Karen?" he croaked out.
Her eyes snapped to his,
relief flooding her face. "You're
awake," she said, her voice
soft. She squeezed his hand
back gently.
The doctor walked in, a
clipboard in hand. "How are
you feeling?" he asked,
looking at Plankton.
"Tired," Plankton replied,
his voice hoarse from the
surgery. Karen leaned over
the bed rail to get a better
look at him. The nurse
offered him a cup of water
with a straw, which he took
gratefully.
"Your antenna is going to
be okay," the doctor said,
his tone reassuring. "We've
managed to repair the damage.
You'll need to keep it
wrapped and protected
for a today, but it should
be as good as new soon."
Plankton nodded, still
feeling the fog of anesthesia.
His eye searched the room
slowly, taking in the
unfamiliar surroundings of
the recovery room. "You might
sleep for the rest of today, which
is normal and totally ok!"
The doctor left the room,
leaving Karen to watch
over Plankton. She sat in
the chair beside him, her hand
still holding his, feeling his
fingers tighten around hers
as he fought the urge to drift
back into sleep.
"What's the plan?"
Plankton mumbled, his
voice slurred from the anesthesia.
"Rest," Karen said firmly.
"Lots of it. That's what the
doctor ordered." She gave
his hand another squeeze.
The nurse checked
his bandages and
removed his IV. "Hah?"
"Alright, Plankton," she
said with a smile, "you're
all set to go home." Karen
stood up, feeling the
relief wash over her. She
helped him sit up, his
movements sluggish from
the lingering effects of the
anesthesia. He swung his
legs over the side of the bed
and she noticed his antenna
wobble slightly as he found
his balance.
With Karen's assistance, They
made their way slowly
down the corridor.
The hospital's bright lights
felt harsh to Plankton's
half-open eye, and the smell
of antiseptic made him
twitch. His antenna, now
wrapped in a fresh bandage,
pulsed with a dull ache, but
the pain was nothing compared
to the exhaustion that
weighed down his every
movement. Karen walked beside
him, her hand
ready to catch him if he
fell.
Outside, the early
afternoon sun shone down
on Bikini Bottom, casting
long shadows over the sidewalk.
Karen helped Plankton into
the car, making sure he
was buckled in tightly before
putting the bag in the back. She
got his blanket and leaned
his seat back, giving him
extra room to rest.
Plankton leaned his head
back, his eye already closing.
The gentle hum of the engine
was soothing, and he felt
his body begin to relax.
Karen started the car and
pulled out of the hospital's
parking lot. The drive home
was quiet, with only the
occasional snore from Plankton
to break the silence. She
glanced over at him, his chest
rising and falling steadily.