Chapter 2

"A Hard Decision"

Gir had gotten Zim upstairs and onto the couch. This wouldn't be easy, as Zim was just as stubborn as ever. He had continuously insisted that he could walk by himself. But whenever Gir would let go, Zim would lose his balance and fall to the ground, his PAK sparking in protest to all the strain that Zim was putting on himself.

Zim, was very upset. He hated this, so much. He hated the fact that he couldn't even walk properly. He wanted to cling onto his dignity as best as he could, and for as long as possible. He just curled up tightly on the couch, feeling tired, and sick. Pain shot down his spine as his PAK sparked again.

Gir noticed Zim's painful grimaces, it was hard seeing him this way. His health was just deteriorating too quickly. Gir was suddenly feeling angry with himself for not noticing this sooner. If he had just picked it up when Zim had his head down all the time... ' Why didn't I realize? What the heck have I been doing?!' The computer had told him that a skilled engineer or medic could fix his PAK. The problem was, who would want to help Zim? Everyone hated him...

Zim knew this as well, Ever since the Tallest called a few weeks ago and... He didn't want to think about that now... He just sighed, sitting up, and ignored the dizzy feeling, the spark in his pack, or Gir's warning look. "I don't need you're help, Gir. I'm fine... I just ack-"

He cringed as pain shot through his spine, as his PAK electrocuted his spine, and up into his head. Zim just moaned, feeling dizzy, then laid down again, defeated. 'I'm gonna die... I don't want to...' Zim hadn't realized that he began to say this out loud, "Don't... want... to... don't die... I'm dying...I..." The Irken slid into unconsciousness as his PAK threw itself into a repair, putting Zim to sleep to repair itself, which it was sparking as it did so.

Gir sighed, a bit unnerved at the sound of Zim saying he was dying... 'He's not dying... He's got a while yet... I have to relax...'

Just as he thought this he heard a knock at the door. With a heavy sigh, Gir stood up, then walked to the door, Answering it. He saw Dib, standing there with a camera and a notepad. "Hey, I just wanted to-" Gir glared at him, "I know, spy on my master. He doesn't feel well. Go away."

Dib glared, "Hey, I don't take orders from you! Where is Zim? Be serious." Gir gave another heavy sigh, "I am serious. Does it look like I'm joking to you? Anyway, he's sick... Now leave." Gir turned to shut the door, when Dib caught it, and pulled himself inside.

"I just wanted to know why Zim is acting so weird. Also, why hasn't he been in school for a month, Huh? What's he planning- Oh! There he is." Dib turned to walk up to Zim, when Gir blocked his path. "Stop. I told you. He's sick. How many times do I have to say it?"

Dib just stared at Zim, the Irken's PAK was sparking. "What's the matter with that thing on his back... his... PAK? That thing keeps him alive, doesn't it?" Dib sounded genuinely concerned, Gir sighed, "Yeah. It does, now leave."

Dib put his hands up "Alright, alright.. Settle down.. I just want to know what happened!" Losing his temper, Gir screamed in reply, "I SAID HE'S SICK! NOW WHAT PART OF GET OUT OF MY HOUSE DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND!?" Dib glared, "I know! I meant how is he sick!? Sheesh..."

Gir just growled, then looked up at the ceiling, "If I tell you, will you leave?" Dib nodded, "Yeah, sure. Just tell me what's wrong." Gir sighed, "His PAK is broken, and he's really sick. He won't survive if it doesn't get fixed... and... I don't know what to do..."

Dib blinked, "Wow... So Zim doesn't have the strength to do anything?" Gir glared at him, "If you're planning on capturing him... If you lay a hand on him, I'll attack you!" Gir sounded a lot bolder than he really was.

Dib flinched... then thought about it, if indeed Zim was too weak do do anything, then Dib could easily capture him and bring him to the SEN. But... was that really fair? Zim wasn't able to do anything... And honestly, it wouldn't be as rewarding if Dib had defeated Zim in such a harsh and sorry state.

Dib crouched over Zim for a moment, Gir stiffly stood beside him, watching Dib intently, making sure he made no move to hurt his master. Dib just stared, putting a hand on the Irken's metal PAK. The metal was hot, and felt as though it were throbbing.

"Jeez... I never thought...I..." 'I never thought I'd feel sorry for him... wait what?' Dib had no clue where that came from... But... 'I can't expose him yet... Can I? Sure. Why should this change anything... Why do I feel so guilty every time I think about exposing him while he's sick and dying? Is it just because it wouldn't be as satisfying... Or...'

Dib just stared at Zim, then eyed Gir, who was glowering at him, as though he were some evil monster. "I'm not doing anything wrong, you know? Am I really so wrong to try to protect my race?!" Gir flinched, then glared, "Well... Yes. Name one thing he's done to you!"

"What hasn't he done!? He tried to destroy my brain, he tried to ruin my dad's generator, made a giant hamster that could destroy the planet, tried to drown me in sewage, tried to run tests on me! He tried to kill me with rubber pigs, tried to kill me with a giant death robot, used giant pants to try to take over the world, he showed my comeback work out to the entire universe and humiliated me and not to mention he tried to stab me to death with Tak's ship's spikes! He's hurt me a lot! He is nowhere near perfect!"

Gir blinked, "Well... That still doesn't give you the right to kill him." Dib stared at him, "It doesn't? Really? Well... I- I... I don't know... I can't..." Dib sighed, 'What can I do? Do I really want to expose him, when he's like this? I never thought I'd have to think about it this hard... Maybe I should just leave him alone for now...'

Dib just stared at the ceiling for a moment, then turned to Gir. "Alright. I'll leave him alone. For now... I have to think about it..." Gir glared at him, "Well, then the door is that way. Get out. Now." Dib rolled his eyes, "Fine, But I'll be back. Remember that."

Gir just pointed to the door, having quite enough of this discussion, Dib just shrugged, then left. Gir turned to Zim, who was conscious again, glowering at the front door. Gir just stared as Zim tried to get up again, this time finally succeeding, though he was basically hugging the wall for support. Gir flinched, "Master D-"

"I'm fine." Zim growled darkly. He dragged himself over to the front door, "D- Dib!" The boy turned around, glaring at Zim, "I know you have to be planning something big. I don't know what it is but I'll find out!" Zim stared at Dib, gaze narrowed and gleaming with rage, "Oh, Y- Yes... I- I have a... Ugh..." He stopped, groaning as shock waves tore through his PAK and he knelt to the ground.

Dib stood, then turned around, walking back over to Zim. Before he could lay a hand on the Irken, Gir rushed to his side, swatting the human's hand away, "Get away from him! I'm not joking, Mary!" Dib raised an eyebrow, "Mary? Ugh, whatever..."

Zim weakly tried to swat at Dib, but missed, and his head almost collided with the ground. At least it would have if Gir had not caught him beforehand. Angry and more embarrassed than ever, Zim lowered his head to the concrete. He was weakening right in front of Dib, which made matters even worse. He growled under his breath.

Dib knelt down, "Zim? What happened to you? How come-" Zim lifted his head enough to slur out, "W- What's going on w- with me... is none... of your... business..." Dib rolled his eyes, and Zim glared at the boy, "L- Leave... Now..."

Dib just stared at the Irken, whatever was going on, Zim clearly was trying hard to hold onto his pride, no how hard it was. He shrugged, "Fine, Zim. I can tell you don't have any plans. Something's wrong with you... Which is the perfect example of the fact that I've won... Bye." He walked down the street, confused about the pang of guilt he had for saying that.

Zim just grabbed Gir's shoulder to pull himself to his feet. Gir gently helped him up, but as soon as Zim was standing, he pulled away from his robot, not wanting help. He could do it himself. 'I don't need help. I don't... I don't want it... I can...' Just after this, Zim fell to the ground again, yelping as his head made a hard contact with the hard tile on the floor.

Gir rushed to Zim's side again, gently pulling the Irken upright into a sitting position. He sighed softly as Zim finally gave in and allowed Gir to help him back to the couch. After laying his master back down, Gir jumped up and sat beside him. "What are we gonna do?" Zim just stayed silent, shivering as his PAK sparked yet again.

Gir lifted his head to the ceiling, "George? Can I talk to you again?" "My name isn't George" The Computer said flatly. Gir sighed, "Could you look after him for me? I gotta go get stuff from the store." "...Ugh... Fine..." Gir smiled, "Thanks, George. You're such a nice monkey." Before the computer could respond to this statement, Gir left.

Zim watched him go through half closed eyes. He was resenting the fact that he could feel fear twinging in his chest at the thought of being left alone. 'What the hell am I scared for!? I am an Invader... or was... Doesn't matter... Invaders need no one.' Zim pulled himself into a sitting position and the computer spoke up, "I was supposed to watch you. But I don't feel like it. So whatever."

Zim glared up at the ceiling, "Then don't bother. I don't want you to." He stood up, dizzily swaying for a moment, then regained his balance by holding onto the side of the couch. He'd find his own help. He'd fix his own PAK. He didn't need help... He didn't want help. His PAK sparked again, and Zim grunted, almost falling to the floor, but caught himself. He dragged himself over to the elevator, but fell short of it and passed out.

Gir came home about three hours later, and yelped as he realized that Zim was missing. "AHH! WHERE'D HE GO?! COMPUTER, YOU SAID YOU'D WATCH HIM! WHERE IS HE?!" "How should I know, I didn't feel like looking after him." Gir sighed heavily, "Well, that's just great..." He grumbled. He stormed into the kitchen, slamming bags down on the table, feeling anger, an emotion that did not come to him easily.

He flinched as he saw Zim laying on the kitchen floor, trying to drag himself to the elevator. "Master... Stop..." Zim didn't listen, instead continuing to try to stand up, and Gir lost his patience, "STOP TRYING! YOU CAN'T DO IT! YOU CAN'T GET UP! YOU'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO STAND AGAIN! CAN'T YOU GET THE FACT THAT YOU'RE DYING THROUGH YOUR THICK SKULL?!"

He silenced himself immediately after the outburst, guilt causing him to look away from Zim. Zim just laid on the floor. "I- I know..." Zim's voice shook as he spoke. "I- I don't need you to tell me that I can't do it..." Zim shivered, speaking no more, except to let out a groan of pain at yet another sparking from his PAK.

Gir sighed softly, "I- I'm sorry... I- I didn't mean..." He trailed off. Instead, he again, walked over to Zim, and gently helped him up and back to the couch. Zim curled up tightly, shaking slowly. He slowly began to realize that he was hungry, and he'd have to ask Gir for help.

Zim would honestly sooner starve, but he didn't want to die. 'Maybe I should let myself die before it gets to to point where I can't do anything at all...' Gir just watched T.V again, turning to Zim every now and then, but Zim had closed his eyes, his PAK relentlessly sparking.

After a few hours, it became apparent that Zim could not ignore how hungry he was anymore. Gir was asleep, so Zim dragged himself to the kitchen, literally crawling there, so he didn't fall over. After pulling some food out of the fridge, Zim attempted to eat on the floor, which was pretty disgusting, but at this point, he didn't care. At the very least, this would prove to Gir that he didn't need any sort of help feeding himself.

Zim was beginning to feel nauseous and dizzy as he tried to eat, most of the food dribbled out of his mouth, and it made him feel like a smeet. It made him feel even more useless than ever. His pride seemed to break down more and more by the second. He attempted to lick it back up from the side of his jaws, but that proved hard for some reason.

Gir woke up, looking around, noticing that Zim was missing again. Sighing, Gir went straight to the kitchen, finding Zim trying hard to eat, but most of the food was getting onto the floor, rather than into his mouth. Sighing again, Gir just knelt down beside Zim, "Do you need any-"

"Don't need help..." Zim slurred. Gir sighed, "You're not even-" "NO!" Zim snapped. He didn't want help. He wanted Gir to see that he could do it himself. Couldn't he? As Zim attempted to eat again, more of it dribbled to the kitchen floor. As if Zim thought it couldn't get any more humiliating, when he sat up to try to eat better, he vomited all over himself.

Frustrated beyond believe, Zim roughly smacked the bowl of food, causing it to spill all over the floor, then unable to sit up any longer, Zim fell backwards, smacking the back of his head onto the floor. Humiliated and defeated, Zim began to cry.