WATP ch. 26- Trust me

Kenny still felt odd from the time shift. He was comfortably asleep that night until his bed turned into a jump house, courtesy of Barry Wheeler. Apparently, Allie forgot to mention Barry was coming over.

"It's noon, sleepyhead!" Barry shouted.

"Ungh!"

"To him, he went to bed at three in the morning." Ramona said. She had been dropped off for a sleepover the previous night.

"I thought you went to bed at ten or something?"

"Yeah, but a week in Britain messed with his internal clock. He got nine hours of sleep according to his body."

"Weird. Get up, Ken-Ken!"

"Did not agree to that name…" Kenny groaned.

"Yeah, you also didn't choose me as a roommate but too bad!"

"Oh brother."

"Get up!" Barry whipped the blanket and sheets off the bed and attempted to push Kenny out of bed with.

"Alright, alright. I'm coming."

Kenny slowly dragged himself out of bed. Barry pushed him to the bathroom impatiently.

Kenny purposely went slower while getting ready. He came out, apologizing to Allie's parents for oversleeping. They waved him away, stating that Allie's cousin did that all the time when he visited. He ate some toast before joining Barry. The energetic boy wanted to go ice skating.

Kenny tried his best and discovered that he was slightly better than Allie. He decided against telling Barry about the Cyclone and simply told his friends that he learned it in England. He spoke to Private by text, letting him know that he missed England. Private responded that his family and Ginger all missed having Kenny over as well. He made no indication as to whether he would be returning or not.

Ramona had to return home, saying that she would see them all on Friday. Barry left a little while later. Allie tried to get a glimpse of the driver to see if it was Barry's sister, but she couldn't see anything.

"Do you know something that I don't?" Allie asked.

"Yes, but I promised Barry I wouldn't tell." Kenny said apologetically.

"Gee, everyone has secrets and I want to know why."

"Do you have a secret?"

Allie blushed. "Forget I asked." She said. "It's not our business, anyway."

"You're funny." Kenny said.

Allie smiled.

Both of them were okay with hanging out with each other. Allie wasn't exactly the ideal friend to spend the rest of vacation with, but she was nice. Allie liked to curl up in her room and read, which put Kenny in an odd position. He didn't want to take up the TV, but also didn't want to seem like he was avoiding his friend. He decided to play games in Allie's room while she read. Occasionally, she would look at the game and offer some advice.

Kenny told Allie what he did over the break that he didn't even tell Private. She smiled and told him she hoped it would work.

The rest of Kenny's vacation went something similar to this. Allie's family found a spot in the crowded Times Square to celebrate New Years that year. Kenny cheered with the rest of them.

…

Kowalski, however, was trying not to get attached to his situation.

Skipper and Rocky had found the genius trying to slip back into the HQ, but caught him and practically forced him to come with them. He admitted that he spent the whole week and two days at the underground HQ. He hadn't come out until Kenny had texted him, asking who Maria was.

Kowalski had been trying to gather information to very little success. He managed to figure out that Maria Harrison was Talia's younger sister and the best friend of Stella, Rico's mother, but couldn't see what importance this made.

Sapphire Sorenson had given Kowalski quite a talking to when he arrived. Kowalski looked properly shamed. He tried to keep himself small and quiet.

His brother's outburst concerned him. He didn't want anyone figuring things out before he did. Kenny's thoughts of telling people the whole story concerned him. He may have sounded annoyed or upset, but he was frightened in reality. He had become good at hiding it, but he hadn't managed to protect his brother from emotions. He didn't want his brother to be like him.

In his opinion, no one should be like him. New York was their getaway, but not the way to freedom.

He distracted himself by helping Skipper investigate the possibility of Hans working for Blowhole.

A few days later, they were able to move back into the apartments.

Rico greeted them happily. He was shocked to hear that Hans was the primary suspect and might be linked to Blowhole. He gave Hans an angry look, which went unnoticed by the latter.

"Private?"

Skipper sighed. "No sign of him yet. But Alice hasn't called up for his stuff so…we'll just have to play it by ear."

A small knock on the door made Rico smile.

"Private!" He opened the door.

"Sorry."

Rico looked disappointed for a second, but smiled again. "Hey Kenny!"

"Is Kowalski mad at me?"

"No, I'm not." Kowalski said.

Kenny rushed over and hugged his brother.

"Why didn't you come with me?" Kenny asked.

"I didn't belong." Kowalski said. "Don't worry, I was fine."

Skipper snorted. "Yeah, sure, keep telling yourself that."

Rico shook his head.

"Have you heard from Private?" Kowalski asked, trying to change the subject.

"No, I thought you did." Kenny said. "What if he doesn't come back?"

"We just have to keep hoping he'll be fine." Skipper said. "My gut says everything will work out."

"Your…gut?"

"Trust me."

Kenny looked to Kowalski. Kowalski, in turn, looked critically at Skipper for a moment before turning back to Kenny.

"Trust him. I believe him."

Kenny nodded. "I have to go before Barry decides to unpack for me." He said.

Skipper waved and then crossed his arms as he stared at Kowalski.

"What?" The tallest said.

"Do you trust me?"

"He has trust issues and I was just assur-"

"I didn't ask about Kenny." The leader said. "I asked about you. Do you trust me?"

"I-I don't know…"

"Do you trust anyone?"

"Well-"

"Do you trust your brother?"

"Sort of."

"How about yourself?"

"Most of the time."

"Most of the time? Does that mean nine months out of the year?"

"Y-uh…I don't know."

"Kowalski, do you trust my family? Rico? Private?"

"I…can't say…"

"Why don't you know?"

"Because when you trust, you fall." Kowalski said firmly. He walked by Skipper and into his room, shutting the door behind him.

"Rico, do you trust me?"

"Yes sir."

"What's up with Kowalski?"

Rico shrugged.

"The Private asked me not to question him, but it's hard not to."

Rico raised an eyebrow. "Leader?"

"I know I'm the leader, but I respect his request if it means that we get to find out later. Kenny made a promise to Private that he'd spill. Apparently I'm the first one who would be contacted so I'm going to be ready this summer."

Rico nodded. "Me too."

"Good."

Rico brought up someone that his grandmother had mentioned. The two of them did a little digging of their own and by Sunday had come up with a small explanation as to who the mysterious person might be. Rico had told Skipper a story of Talia Harrison's son who was a family friend. They kept their research to themselves, deciding to wait and see where this was going.

Private, it transpired, had not returned by Sunday night, which concerned his roommates and friends. Marlene came by to ask if Private was coming by. Even Julien wandered over to them at dinner to ask where his newest worshipper was. Skipper nearly threw his fruit at the 'king'.

The youngest of the Penguins had not contacted them. They tried to contact him, but there was no answer. He hadn't even answered Allie and Ramona when they pleaded that he even just text them to say he was alright.

Daniel told them that he hadn't seen Private because school started for him and he hadn't had the chance to go over there. Ginger's school had started up around the same time and she had been unable to go. She did tell them that her mother reported Private was well, but there was no news on the hopeful return to New York.

Kenny had the bright idea of trying to use the chat system to contact Private. He sat in his room with Barry across from him, doing the same thing.

Kentaro: Blondbaker? Are you there?

DeBarrynator: Hey buddy, are you coming back?

Theotterlady: Have any of you heard from him?

Savetheseals: No, sorry, I wish I knew.

Dramaqueen: Darn, he has to come back. He's so fun to scare!

Biscuitsforwales: I don't recall seeing him on the plane. I assume he would have come from the same airport.

Kingcooldude: Oh Naaaaatalie!

Dramaqueen: Get. Out.

Petey D: Hey, no worries. I'm sure your friend is fine. And Julien, you really should stop flirting. Mason, I think you guys live too far apart to take the same plane.

Kingcooldude: Who the hecks are you?

DeBarrynator: Why do you have to mangle the language in text?

Dramaqueen: You already do that in real life.

Throbbingcerebellum: Hey, Petey, who are you?

Petey D: Petey.

Captain: Heads up, Alice is threatening to shut off the wifi if we don't go to bed. Apparently a couple of kids on the second floor were making a lot of noise.

Dolphins4life: She came by my room and yelled at me…I didn't even do anything.

Throbbingcerebellum: Doris, have you run into our roommate on the elevator?

Dolphins4life: Sorry, I haven't. And don't expect him to always run into me there.

Petey D: Have you heard from him?

Kentaro: No, but we're concerned.

Petey D: I think everything will work out. Don't worry; he seems like the kind of kid who doesn't give up.

Throbbingcerebellum: -

Kowalski blinked. The computer showed no signal.

"Told you!" Skipper said as he entered. "She shut off the wifi."

"Darn. Hey, do you know who Petey D is?"

"No, but I managed to look up where his signal is from. He made an account here in New York, but he's abroad."

"Really? Any specifications?"

"I can't get more specific without an internet connection."

"Oh, well too bad."

"Hey, what happened between Nat and Julien?"

Kowalski shook his head. "They kissed in a school play and Julien thought she meant it and thinks she's playing hard to get."

"Wow. That description was less dramatic than it seemed."

"Nat isn't just an actress. She eats, breathes, and lives drama."

"Oh, well. Just more background info for us."

"Background info?"

"We need to make sure we know these people better than they know themselves. Or at least better than Hans does. If any of them were to betray us or be used against us, we would know their weak points."

"You think someone like, say…Fred. You think Fred would be able to betray us?"

"No, but his brain's empty enough to be taken over. He might be a pretty strong kid even if he doesn't look like it."

"Alright, point taken. I'll help gather information. Will you need ours?"

"Eventually, I will need to put you and your brother into classified files."

"Classified?"

"Completely classified. For our eyes only."

"Skipper, I-"

"Kenny promised Private, but will you promise me the same? One day will you tell me everything? It's not just for the classified files, it's so we can assure the safety of each member of this team. We need the team to be unified in order to protect the city. We can't protect the civilians if we can't protect ourselves. Is it a promise? Will you trust me when that day comes?"

Kowalski took a deep breath. "Yes." He said.

"Then give your brother permission." The leader left without another word.

Kowalski sat in deep thought for a while. Thoughts swirled around his head like a tornado; he didn't know what to do. An answer popped up in his head, pushing its way through to the front of his mind. He silently argued with himself for a while about the risks of the idea. What if it left Kenny without anyone to care for him? What would become of them once it was out in the open? He didn't want anyone at school to know…but they could find out…there were already people who were suspicious…but maybe…just maybe…it could work. It could work even if it meant…he didn't want to think about that…

Trying not to shake, he took out his phone.

Kowalski: It's a deal.

Kenny: ?

Kowalski: One day, bro.

Kenny: This summer?

Kowalski: Yes. Might be sooner than I plan.

Kenny: You have a plan?

Kowalski: A stupid, reckless one, but yes.

Kenny: Be careful.

Kowalski: It'll happen in the summer. I plan on spending Spring Break at Skipper's.

Kenny: Thank you for taking care of yourself.

Kowalski: You'll be on the camping trip and I'll be alright.

Kenny: Okay.

Kowalski: Mrs. Sorenson 'invited' me to her house.

Kenny: Rocky driving you?

Kowalski: Yep. I'm going quietly so that Rocky and Skipper don't have to drag me into her car.

Kenny: Ha ha. Good night.

Kowalski: I'd like to have the family.

Kenny: They accepted before I asked. They accept you too.

Kowalski: Thanks.

Kenny: Love you, big brother.

Kowalski: Same, little bro.

Kowalski sighed, staring over at Private's bed.

Thanks for taking care of my brother.

With that thought, he drifted off to sleep.