EACH WISDOM ⅓ "Karen, we finished up your husband Plankton's wisdom teeth extraction. It went perfectly and he's doing well. He's not awake yet, but you can come in to see him now." Karen nods. She follows the nurse, a kind-faced woman named Becky. Becky smiles at Karen. "He'll be a bit groggy at first. Just talk to him calmly. He's still asleep." Karen steps into the recovery room. Plankton lies on a bed, his mouth slightly ajar. Karen approaches his bedside and takes his hand. She looks at Becky, who nods reassuringly. "He did great. After he wakes up, his mouth will still numb from the surgery. And he might act loopy from the lingering anesthesia. You can just talk to him calmly Karen." Becky says. The door opens, and the young dentist, Dr. Marlin, enters. He checks the monitors and nods to Karen. "Everything is normal," he says in a calm voice. "He should wake soon, but if you want to talk to him, that's fine. Sometimes hearing a familiar voice can help." Karen squeezes Plankton's hand and whispers, "You're ok, sweetie. It's all done now. You're going to be ok, Plankton. You're going to be ok." Yet Plankton's chest rises and falls gently, a soft snore escaping his mouth every few seconds. A droplet of saliva forms at the corner of Plankton's mouth, then slowly travels down his chin. Karen reaches over with a soft tissue and gently wipes it away. Her eyes are filled with affection, yet a hint of amusement flits across her screen. Plankton had been so nervous about the surgery, now he's snoring peacefully while she's the one worrying. Another droplet forms at the corner of his mouth. Karen reaches for the tissue once more, dabbing it away as gently as she would a tear. The action is almost maternal, and she can't help but feel a warmth spread through her chest. This tiny creature, her husband, so brave in his own way, even when unconscious. Dr. Marlin looks up from his clipboard, a slight smile playing on his lips. "He's really out, huh?" He says. "It's completely normal after wisdom tooth surgery." Karen nods, the smile lingering. "Never has been a heavy sleeper," she murmurs, squeezing Plankton's hand. The room remains hushed, the only sound the rhythmic hum of the heart monitor and the occasional snore. The drool starts to form a tiny puddle on the pillow. The nurse, Becky, glances up from her paperwork. "We can turn him onto his side if it bothering you," she suggests, sympathy in her voice. But Karen shakes her head, smiling softly. "It's okay," she whispers. "It's kind of...cute." Her screen never left Plankton's face, love unmistakable. The snores grow a little louder, and Dr. Marlin chuckles quietly. "It's the anesthesia," he explains. "It'll wear off soon." He checks his watch and makes a note. Karen continues to watch Plankton, the drool now forming a small river on the pillow. Her smile widens as she remembers their first date, his nervousness, his awkwardness, his endearing way of trying to impress her. And here he is, still making her laugh, even in his most vulnerable state. The nurse, Becky, finishes her notes and stands. She crosses the room, adjusting the IV tube. "If you want to talk to him, it's fine," she says. "Sometimes they can hear you even if they're asleep." Karen leans in closer. "You know what, Plankton?" She says, her eyes dancing with mirth. "I'm going to tell everyone how you snored through your wisdom teeth removal. It'll be our little secret." She giggles quietly. The snoring crescendos, and Plankton's head rolls to the side. The drool now forms a puddle, spilling onto the clean white linen. Karen's smile falters for a second, but she quickly recovers, using the tissue to absorb the moisture. The nurse, Becky, watches with a knowing look. "It's alright, dear," she says gently. "It's normal. It's just his body's way of dealing with the anesthesia as it wears off." Dr. Marlin returns with a roll of gauze. "Let's get him more upright," he says. They carefully elevate the back of Plankton's bed. The snoring subsides a bit, but doesn't disappear entirely. "This will help with any excess bleeding," the dentist says. Plankton's body tenses, but he doesn't wake as gauze is placed with precision, each pad strategically positioned to absorb the blood and encourage clotting. Karen watches, a mix of fascination and concern etched on her screen. "It's ok," she whispers, more to herself than to him. "Almost done." The gauze is in place, and Becky smiles. The snoring quiets to a gentle purr. Plankton's eye begins to flicker under his eyelid, a sign that consciousness is slowly seeping back into him. Karen sits up straight as she anticipates his awakening. She holds his hand tighter, eager to see his reaction to the successful surgery. Dr. Marlin nods at her, his eyes saying it's time to prepare. Plankton's eyelid flutters, and his snoring turns into a quiet moan. He starts to stir, his eye opening just a crack. The room seems to spin around him, but his gaze finally settles on Karen's. Her voice is the first thing he hears through the fog. "Hey, sleepyhead," she says, her tone filled with relief and affection. Plankton tries to speak, "Mmph?" He tries to sit up, but the world spins faster. Karen gently pushes him back down, her hand on his shoulder. "Take it easy, honey," she says. "Your mouth's numb. You just had your wisdom teeth out." Plankton's eye widens. "Wha..." he mumbles, thick and slurred. Karen giggles, the tension in the room dissipating as she sees his groggy state. "Your mouth is all numb," she explains, her voice soothing. "You had your wisdom teeth out, remember?" Plankton nods slowly, his eye still glazed over. He tries to speak again. "Ish ok?" Karen laughs lightly. "Yes, it's ok. You did great," she reassures. The nurse, Becky, chuckles at his slurred speech. "It's the medicine," she explains. "It'll wear off soon." "Karen, dish you thee the... the... big wight?" Plankton's voice is childlike. Karen's smile widens, and she nods. "Yes, I saw the light. It was beautiful, wasn't it?" she teases. Plankton looks confused. "Big... white... thing... wook... took... my teef!" He giggles. Becky and Dr. Marlin exchange amused glances. "Those were the surgical lights, Plankton," Dr. Marlin says. "Not heavenly beings." Plankton giggles again, his hands reaching up to feel his swollen jaw. "Ith... ith... sho fat!" He says, his speech slurred and slow. Karen can't help but laugh, the sound echoing in the sterile room. "Yeah, your mouth's pretty puffy," she says, her screen shining with amusement. "But it's okay, the swelling will go down soon." She squeezes his hand. Plankton tries to move his jaw, wincing at the pressure. "Can I... can I hash ish cweam?" Becky laughs and nods. "Once the bleeding stops, you can have all the ice cream you want." "Goog, 'cause I wanna eat ith all," he mumbles, his eye half-closed. "What fwavor?" Karen raises an eyebrow, her smile growing. "How about mint chocolate chip?" She suggests. Plankton nods eagerly. "Mith mint chocothate chip! Yesh!" "And remember, no straws," Dr. Marlin adds with a smile. "Sucking can dislodge the blood clots and delay healing." Plankton nods, his tongue playing with his numb cheek. "Ish okay," he slurs. "I don't wanna make ith wowse." Karen nods solemnly, suppressing a laugh. The nurse, Becky, brings over a wheelchair. "Here, let's get you to your car," she says, helping him into a slightly elevated position. Plankton's eye widens. "Weh... weh... weh... we're going foe ice cweam, wight?" his voice lilts with a childish innocence that's both endearing and comical. Karen nods, smothering a giggle. "First, we go home," she says firmly, but her voice is filled with affection. "Then, when the bleeding stops, we can have all the ice cream you want." Becky wheels him out. "Look, Karen! Ith a... a... a... bithy pithter!" he exclaims, pointing to a painting on the wall. Karen follows his gaze and sees a serene seascape, but she plays along, nodding and smiling. "Very pretty," she agrees. "Bithy, no?" he asks, grinning. The nurse laughs. "Very pretty," she repeats. They arrive at the elevator, and Plankton's eye widens as it opens with a soft ding. "Ish... an... elevathor!" his voice filled with wonder. Karen rolls her eyes, but her heart swells. He was always so reserved, but not now. They settle into the elevator, and Plankton's eye glue to the descending numbers. "Wook, Karen!" He points. "We're going down, down, down!" The doors open with a gentle whoosh, and Plankton clumsily claps his hands. "Wow!" He exclaims, looking around the lobby. Karen can't help but watch her usually stoic husband act like a toddler on a sugar rush. They make their way to the parking lot, Becky pushing the wheelchair. "Wheeee!" Plankton says, his voice squeaking. Karen laughs, her eyes sparkling with joy. Despite the circumstances, it's a refreshing change to see his usual seriousness replaced with such childlike wonder. They reach the car, and Becky helpfully opens the door. Plankton tries to climb out of the wheelchair, but his legs seem to have forgotten how to work. Karen helps him, her laughs mixing with his giggles. "Easy there, Plank..." "Ish okay," he says, interrupting her. "I got thish." Plankton tries to stand, but his legs wobble. Karen steadies him, her own laughter bubbling up as she watches his determined expression. "Let me help," she offers, taking his arm. He nods, leaning heavily on her as they make their way to the car. "Tank youw," he slurs. "Ish wike... wike... wike I'm talkin' wiff my mouf fowl of... fowl of marshmallows!"