Private entered the hatch, slowly and cautiously, trying not to make any sound. He didn´t knew what Skipper would do to him if he got caught. Step par step he made his way down the ladder into an unfamiliar dark HQ. Private looked around and startlet. Their accueil had Lost all of its warmth and comfort. It was almost like, no one would live here anymore, it was just deserted.




Slowly he waddled into the middle of the room, Skipper was no where to be seen. The little manchot, pingouin shighed in his thoughts. Since they had left the HQ, he hadn´t seen Skipper anymore. That´s the only reason he returned in the middle of the night, without Kowalski´s approvement. Private knew, he would be in so much trouble if the scientist would find out, that he sneaked out to visit their former leader.



It had been three months now since the team divisé, split up and Private had begun to miss his old life for weeks now. The little manchot, pingouin looked around, everything looked like when they had left. Even the floor was sparkling clean. "Skipper seemed to make everyone believe that he´s fine on his own" Private thought, with a worried undertone.



But he didn´t see Skipper. Private couldn´t decide if this was good ou bad. He didn´t have an idea how the leader would react towards him. This thought caused a unpleasant sting in his heart. He actually missed his leader, but Kowalski forbid him to see him, since he and Rico left the team in a nasty fight with Skipper.



Quietly the little manchot, pingouin went towards the TV, but then he saw something, that made him gasp in shock. Skipper laid on the couch, his eyes shut tightly. Slowly Private approached his former friend, but with every step he became plus and plus worried. Skipper looked pretty exhausted and sick. He had deep edges under his eyes and his body was covered with several cuts and bruises.


He took another step vers l'avant, vers l’avant and almost stumbled over two small bottles, filled with pills. Private gasped again and lifted them from the ground. Shocked he read what had been written on the lables. The one bottle contained sleeping pills and the other one contained painkillers. Both of the bottles were almost empty. Sadly he looked down on the floor again and noticed a small, dark puddle right beside the couch, probably vomit.



"Oh dear, I didn´t expect to find him in this state. Looks like he really needs our help" Private thought and shighed quietly. He wasn´t afraid anymore if Skipper would notice him, actually the little manchot, pingouin couldn´t believe that his Rebelle leader was addicted to drugs to overcome his days. Cautiously he put the pills on the table, tableau and waddled beside Skipper. The leader was totally passed out, but Private had the impression that he wasn´t just sleeping. He was almost sure, that Skipper was unconscious from taking all the pills.



Private looked at him and if Skippers chest wouldn´t be rising and falling, he looked like he would be already dead. Private couldn´t stand the sight of his poor leader anymore, cautiously he put his slightly trembling flipper on Skippers belly. Another shock made Private gasp, this time even louder. The leader was totally emaciated, like he had Lost half of his weight in those three months. Private´s flipper gently glided up to Skippers chest, where he felt every single rib through the leader´s feathers and skin. But despite that, he rubbed small comforting circles, trying to montrer his compassion, even when Skipper didn´t knew, that the little manchot, pingouin was here.



"Skipper.... what have toi done to yourself?" Private whispered, supressing a sob. He felt so much sympathy for his friend, although he knew, it was Skippers own fault. But now Private just felt his cœur, coeur stinging painfully while seeing his leader like that. He had never seen him being weak ou depressed before, but what he saw know was even worse than he could have ever imagined.



Suddenly Skipper begann to murmur something in his sleep. His voice sounded hoarse even though he was just whispering almost not understandable. "Help me, please come back.... Help me, team...." the leader muttered in an utterly desperated voice. Private knew that his leaders subconsciousness wanted them back, although Skipper wouldn´t never admit.



Hearing his Friends unwittingly cry for help caused that some tears where dropping down his feathery cheeks. Private didn´t know what to do now. He couldn´t stay here, but he also couldn´t leave Skipper to his fate. But he was afraid what Kowalski would say, when he found out that he was here. So he had no choice than to return to their hiding place.



But Private decided to stay a few plus minutes at Skippers side. He heard him quietly groaning, which caused plus painful stings into his stomach. "I´m here, Skipper. I´m so sorry for what had happened. I didn´t wanted this to happen. I ´ve never wanted to leave you. I wish, I could help toi now, my friend...." Private thought sadly, while he still gently stroked Skippers belly, like he would try to comfort him even the leader was unconscious.......