Dib will be getting in on the party a little.

Yay for Dib!

And all his Dib-like ways.

Dib.

I love that word.

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing!

Dib stared intently at his monitor, trying to make out what he was seeing exactly. He had planted spy cameras' all over Zim's house a few weeks ago, and things only gotten more interesting when Skoodge moved in. Zim seemed to treat Skoodge more like a servant or a wall decoration then an actual house mate, as Skoodge was either doing his bidding or staying in the background. He never necessarily cared about Skoodge, as he wasn't the threatening one. Zim was.

Zim was the one coming up with the schemes. Zim was the one making the threats. Zim was the one that was always up to something. Skoodge was just… there. And whenever Dib did look at the chubbier version of Zim, he seemed to either look dreadfully annoyed or bothered. It was disturbing. He simply couldn't figure out Skoodge, so he simply didn't try.

He had enough problems with Zim anyways.

But today was different. Actually, for the past three days, it was different. Skoodge hasn't been at skool, nor has he been running around with Zim outside. Zim seemed to be spending more time in his base, so he was convinced they were up to something huge. But according to his cameras, Skoodge was always in the living room and Zim was doing some innocent research on Earth. Well… As innocent as Zim can get anyways.

But when Zim claimed that his 'human' brother was dead, that really got his attention. He knew for a fact that Skoodge wasn't dead. Just a little sick. Don't Irkens get sick? Was this a lot more serious then he previously thought?

Today, on his monitor, he witnessed Skoodge actually losing it. He thought for a second that Skoodge was going to actually attack Zim, but it quickly became apparent that he was far too weak for that. Dib leaned back on his chair and scratched his head in confusion. "What was that all about…?" he muttered to himself.

Zim wasn't the type to take care of someone when they were sick, especially after yelling at them. They seemed to hate each other. More than Dib and Zim hated each other. And that was saying a lot coming from Dib. And yet, they seemed to be able to live together without killing each other. Did they know each other for a long time? Was 'smeethood' the same as childhood?

"…Wait. What!" Dib's eyes widened in angry realization that when whenever Zim called him a 'Smeet-Worm', or a 'Weak little Smeet', he was calling him a baby. He always assumed that it was just some insanely insulting curse word in Irken, but… wow. Zim was calling a child. That was huge blow to his ego.

He got up from his chair, ignoring how Computer was using its robotic arms to transfer Skoodge into the lower levels of the base. He was still a bit angry over this discovery of his. "That jerk! It's not like he is that much older than me!" he yelled at no one in particular. Dib paused, and thought for a moment though, after he said that.

Just how old was Zim anyways?

It's not like they just sent kids into space… Zim had to be an adult of some sort, he was sure of that. But how old was he? Twenty? Twenty-five? Certainly no more then thirty…

"Ugh… That isn't important!" Dib snapped to himself, trying to move away from the topic of age. "Skoodge is sick… If I can find out what he is sick with, I can wage biological warfare against Irk when they invade! They'll be so busy sneezing; the humans will blast through their defenses and win the war once and for all!"

"Shut up Dib!" Gaz yelled from the next room. "There isn't even anyone with you, go be crazy somewhere else!"

Dib frowned and looked at his feet. He was talking to himself again. He had to stop that.

XxXxX

'Ow… Ow… Ow…' Skoodge slowly becomes aware of his surroundings, but doesn't open his eyes. There was far too much pain for that. Instead, he started to move his fingers. He couldn't find the familiar texture of the rough fabric he was so used to sleeping on, and instead found that he was on something much more firm. There was more space too; he didn't have to squeeze himself to fit on this comfortable surface. 'Am I on a bed?'

"Are you awake yet?" barked a loud voice. Zim… It had to be Zim.

There was no one else.

Skoodge attempted to speak, but that came out was a small moan. Everything felt so strange, like he was floating, but at the same time, he knew he wasn't. Soft, but at the same time, hard. Light, yet heavy…

He felt a hand grip him harshly by the shoulder. "Listen to me…" Zim spoke again. Skoodge tensed up, preparing himself for whatever Zim might throw at him.

But nothing came. No hits. No words. Skoodge was listening, but there was nothing to listen to. All he felt was that hand squeezing him, tighter and tighter…

"…As your slave master… I command you to get better," Zim said finally. His voice seemed to soften. His grip loosens slightly. But suddenly, everything snapped back to normal. "Do you hear me? That is an order!"

'You can't just order someone to get better Zim!' Skoodge thought. 'I want to get better, I do… How much longer will I be like this?'

"…I refuse to expire on this dirtball alone."

'…What?'

But the hand already released Skoodge and Zim wasn't making anymore noises. He wasn't in the room anymore. He wasn't going to explain what he meant.

But that wouldn't matter anyways…

It was too exhausting to stay awake anyways.