Epilogue

Final chapter. For those of you who don't know what "Epilogue" means. It also means that it's a shorter one.

A few days later, Skipper pulled Private aside after training. It was the first time since Private had come back that they had practiced. The first two days after his return, Private had been bedridden with a high fever, an effect, Kowalski guessed, of the stress his body had been under. Kowalski ran some tests and determined that a few days of rest would be enough for him to recover. Skipper stopped pressing Kowalski for fancy medicines after that. But he did stay by Private's side for every minute that he was ill, occasionally pacing the HQ and putting a fresh wet washcloth on Private's head every few minutes. Private slept through this all, sometimes still and sometimes fitfully. He would cry out at times, something that caused the feathers on the back of Skipper's neck to stand on end. Kowalski had to force Skipper into bed as well for both nights that Private was sick.

"It won't help him one bit if you get sick too!" Kowalski insisted. On the third morning, however, Private had woken with his fever broken and his stomach growling. As he ate, Private was all apologies, saying again and again just how sorry he was for everything he had done from the time Kowalski's invention had zapped him. Eventually, Skipper, fed up with this, shouted, "Enough, Private, enough!" Of course, there was no real anger in his voice, "Seriously, soldier! None of what happened was your fault. So hush up about it!" Then, a bit softer, "Private, you saved my life. I think I could forgive you any crime just for that!"

Private scowled. "You're forgetting a crucial detail, Skipper. I could have killed you! That is hardly worth forgiveness."

"But you didn't kill me, Private," Skipper reminded him, "And that makes all the difference." Private had been about to protest when he'd suddenly gotten a splitting headache. Skipper had immediately rushed over to him, and tried to help Private into bed, but he'd refused, denying that he was in any terrible pain. Kowalski said that the headache was probably just another result of what Blowhole had done to him.

"I could probably fix it, if you'd like," Kowalski said, though his tone was doubtful, "But I'd need to look inside to see what damage had been done." Private refused him outright, and his answer was unchanged the next morning, even though his headache still persisted.

"Even if you were 100% sure that you'd be able to fix the problem," he said, "I wouldn't want you to. I don't want anyone else tampering around in my head. Besides," he continued with a crooked smile, "I think I've had enough of sharp objects for a lifetime. Hey, Skipper! Maybe you and I will become phobia buddies!" Skipper laughed, mostly for the fact that Private was able to joke at all. Private was definitely different, there was no question, but if he was able to joke like this, at least he wasn't depressed. And Skipper couldn't help but marvel at the strength Private must have to be able to remain happy after what he'd been through. It was for this reason that Skipper had wanted to speak with Private alone, after Rico and Kowalski had gone inside after training.

"What is it, Skipper?" Private said immediately. His tone was apprehensive, as if he was worried he was about to be yelled at.

"I just wanted to check up on you," Skipper replied, "You know, to see how you've been doing." Private smiled and rolled his eyes.

"I'm fine, Skipper. Really. I mean, I feel really guilty about everything I did, but like you said, it wasn't really my fault." Skipper smiled and let him continue, "You should know that nothing I said or did had anything to do with how I really feel."

"I've actually been wondering about that," Skipper said, "It seems to me that all Kowalski's invention should have done to you was make you more willing to stand up for yourself and speak your mind. So all those things you said…would be things you actually wanted to say."

Private suddenly looked uncomfortable, "Uh…Well, Skipper, I…uh…It can't be a surprise to you, that I don't like being slapped. I don't think Rico or Kowalski do either. But I do understand that it's a necessary part of discipline and part of being the leader. And I really, truly, don't want to be the leader," Private looked Skipper straight in the eye, "At least not now. I'm not ready."

"That may be so," Skipper said, "But as much as I'd hate to admit it, you did a pretty good job managing the team for a while."

"Did I?" Private said, "Honestly, Skipper, most of that was a blur for me. I think we did something with Fred…?"

"Well, I was impressed. And I think that even without that invention, you'd make one heck of a leader." Skipper said. Private shifted slightly, not sure of where the conversation was heading. Only Skipper knew that.

"If this was a movie, Skipper, I'm pretty sure this would be the point where you try to kill me off to ensure your continued role as the leader," Private said, smiling weakly.

"Yeah, well, this isn't a movie," Skipper said, unsure of whether to be amused or annoyed, "I'm just going to cut to the chase, Private. I want you to be my new second-in-command."

Private blinked, "What?"

"I want to make you my First Lieutenant," Skipper said, "If that's alright with you of course."

Private was thunderstruck. "But-but-but…but what about Kowalski?" he stuttered.

"I've already talked it over with him," Skipper said, "And he agrees. Even when you weren't zapped by his invention, you've shown excellent leadership qualities in the past. Kowalski understands that you'd do a much better job of being my second than he could."

"Skipper," Private began, "I already said I don't want to be the leader. I've got so much more to learn…I don't need to be promoted early…I shouldn't be promoted above Rico and Kowalski. They've got much more experience. I mean, I appreciate the gesture, but it's just not necessary. I'm just not ready."

"I think you're wrong. You're not a little kid anymore. And I wouldn't have requested you become my second-in-command if I didn't think you were ready. It's true you have a lot to learn. But you'll learn faster, I think, with a higher rank, a more demanding position on the team. And," Skipper continued, "There's no one I'd feel more comfortable with taking over my position."

Private's eyes boggled, "You're not leaving, are you, Skipper?"

Skipper chuckled. "No such luck. But if the time should come that I'm incapacitated or otherwise deemed unfit for command…I want you to take charge."

"I'd be honored, Skipper," Private said softly, "Thank you, sir."

"No problem, Lieutenant," Skipper answered with a salute.

"You'll still call me Private though, right?"

Skipper smirked, "That would be just fine by me."

The End

Thanks so much to everyone who reviewed and/or added "The Leader" to their favorites! I hope you all enjoyed reading it just as much as I did writing it! Also, I really appreciate everyone who stuck with this story even after I went several months without updating. Now onto my next project: Packing for college!