Chapter 14

Gaz leaned on the wall, breathing deeply, holding her neck. It was the first time Gaz really actually saw death. Even if it wasn't even her own species, it kinda freaked her out. Zim turned to look at Gaz and walked over beside her. She looked up at him wide-eyed as he held out a hand.

"Are you alright?" He asked, pulling her up.

"Yea… I'm fine." Gaz held her arm close to her body. Zim looked at her bleeding cheek, which had already started scabbing over. Then slowly raised her arm, examining it. Gaz winced as he pulled her sleeve up. Tak had cut into it deeply, it still bled causing blood to drip down her arm and onto the floor. Zim turned around, taking the remote from where he fell from the ceiling, and walked over to his enormous computer monitor. He connected the remote to his controls and started typing commands.

"Access granted." Zim's computer whirled to life and the cables from the ceiling retreated.

"Computer, bring me a medical kit." Zim demanded, a bright light shone on a table, shining back and forth until a first aid kit materialized. Zim took the handle, and walked over to Gaz. He sat down, opened the kit and started working on the gash in her arm. He put a slab of blue jelly on his hand and smeared it on her wound, which started bubbling and turning green. Gaz clenched her fists and ground her teeth, fighting pain, but stayed still so Zim could fix her.

"I told you to run." Zim snapped at her as he put a dab of the jelly on the cut on her cheek, which felt more tingly than painful, he used a rag to wipe off the now dark green jelly off her arm when it stopped foaming. He prepared a little black box that looked like a clunky staple gun with an open end and held it over the top of her wound.

"And leave you to die?" She glared at Zim.

"I told you to RUN." Zim yelled at her, glaring back. "You could have died. I would have been fine. I had everything under control."

"I saved you-AHH!" Gaz countered before Zim started the machine, it pulled a hook around one side of her gash to the other with thread, sewing her skin back together. Gaz slammed her fist into the wall and shouted.

"Hold still." Zim said calmly. "I don't need you getting hurt any more."

Zim worked silently sliding the little black device down her arm, closing the gash, and stopping it from bleeding any more. Then he wrapped white gauze around her arm, wiped the jelly off her cheek and taped a little bandage to it.

Dib couldn't believe his eyes. He looked at the ground where Tak lay motionless.

I can't believe she's really gone. Dib thought. He couldn't decide whether he mourned her or not. She broke his heart and tried to kill him and Gaz, but he still felt a little remorse. He looked back at Zim who put a little band aid on Gaz's cheek.

Did Zim really care?

"Dib-beast." Zim called, getting up and turning to glare at Dib who still sat on the floor. "Explain yourself. Now."

"I… I called Tak." Dib said, sinking into his shoulders.

"What the FUCK DIB?!" Gaz shot up, walking toward her brother. Zim put out an arm, stopping Gaz.

"I am aware you do not approve of me, Dib-monkey. But contacting Tak, and endangering your sister's life is unacceptable." Zim spit.

"I DIDN'T KNOW SHE WAS GONNA TRY AND KILL GAZ!" Dib shot up.

"You have five seconds to tell me why I shouldn't doom you, Dib." Gaz yelled, pushing Zim's arm out of the way and facing her brother.

"I… I'm sorry." Dib retreated. "I was going to try and… get rid of Zim." He confessed.

Gaz scowled. "Four seconds."

"I-I saw you two… together… And I just… I got so mad."

"So you tried to kill him?" Gaz shouted pushing him back.

"I… I didn't think he actually cared about you Gaz! I thought he was using you… And when I saw that I… I don't know I snapped!"

"What is WRONG with you?" Gaz pushed him again. "What do you mean 'he doesn't care about me?' What like I'm just some freak nobody could care about? You think the only reason he's with me is because he's USING ME?"

"NO! That's not what I meant, Gaz!" Dib dodged another push, getting around her, and moving in between Zim and Gaz. "If it was anyone else, I would have been fine with it. But ZIM? You can't expect me NOT to get suspicious! It's ZIM!"

"What's that supposed to mean dirt-child?" Zim walked toward him, beside Gaz. They both started backing Dib into the wall.

"YOU'RE AN ALIEN INVADER!" Dib yelled, pushing Zim back angrily. "YOU'VE LIED, CHEATED, AND MANIPULATED BEFORE! How do you expect me to be OKAY with you dating my SISTER! OF COURSE I thought something was up! Since WHEN have YOU ever felt ANYTHING!" Dib pushed him again. Gaz growled and went to hit Dib, but Zim stopped her.

"I see." Zim said. Dib looked down at Gaz's wrapped up arm and sighed.

"But… now?… I don't know." Dib looked at Zim who still held Gaz back from dooming him.

Maybe I was wrong. Zim saved her. He tried to get Gaz to save herself and leave him behind, he protected her from Tak, he healed her arm, he seemed like… But...maybe...

"Can you look me in the eye and tell me, honestly, that you really like Gaz?"

Gaz stopped and looked at Zim, who became very serious, very quickly.

"Dib-human. As you know, I loathe humans. Especially you, especially now. But your sister is different than the rest of her race." Zim walked up close to Dib looking at him dead in the eye. Face to face.

"No, Dib-stink. I cannot say that I 'like' your sister. I can, however, say that I love her."

Dib's eyes widened.

He's serious.

"Your approval on the subject means nothing to me. But know this: If you ever endanger her life like this again. I. Will. End you." Zim stepped to the side and pointed a finger away. "Now get out." Dib paused for a couple seconds to really look at his alien foe, then his sister. He sighed and walked away from them both. Only looking back at Gaz, who watched him walk away into the elevator. He waved at her before going up to the house.

Zim and Gaz… Dib thought as he disappeared up the shoot.

"Computer. Set up a living quarters for Gaz." Gaz turned around and looked at Zim.

'What?" She asked, confused.

"I'm kidnapping you." Zim said, walking to his computer. "Or 'abducting' you, as your brother would say it."

"Why?" Gaz crossed her arms and leaned over.

"Your Dib-sibling is no longer worthy of your presence." Zim said, getting out a large box with a big purple button.

"So you want me to live with you?" Gaz asked, lifting an eyebrow. Zim froze, looking at her, then at the computer again.

"Well... yes. As it so happens, you would be living with me." He walked over to Gaz with the box and set it down beside her.

"Here. Just press this button and everything inside will shrink." He pushed the button and suddenly the large box became pocket sized.

"I should have done this much sooner. I just didn't think he would turn to just drastic measures."

"Woh. Woh. Woh. Wait, so… what? Just up and ditch my house? All my stuff? My dad?"

"No, you would bring your belongings here, in the box, and you've already said your father-unit pays no attention to you."

Gaz thought about it. Just… leave? For Zim?

Yeah… Gaz thought. Yeah… Why would Dad care? I'm older now, I can move out. And I've already spent a few nights here. Then she looked around, and back at Zim.

But can she really stand the alien enough to live with him? She would have to deal with GIR a lot more… But then again, she would have to deal with Dib a lot less… She looked down at the box.

What the hell? Gaz thought, then she bent down to put the little box in her pocket. Zim smiled and turned away from her, marching to the computer.

"Your quarters will be done by the time you return with your possessions. I'll be sure to allow some customizations to fit your needs."

Gaz smirked and rubbed her arm, looking at the elevator, then back at Zim. She walked up behind him and kissed his cheek before walking toward the elevator. Zim's antenna shot up and he tensed. He might never get used to human affection. He looked back at Gaz who flew up the shoot to the home base.

Gaz walked through the door to her home and went up to her room. She set the box in the middle of her bedroom and pressed the button again. It grew as large as it used to be, and Gaz opened it up. There was lots of space, it should hold everything she needed. She looked around her room and sighed.

Well… Where to start?

Dib heard some shuffling in Gaz's room and stopped. He knocked on the door, no answer.

"Gaz? You in there?" He asked, opening her door. He stopped and widened his eyes. Gaz was holding a stack of clothes, putting them in a big metal box. Half her room was empty.

"What are you doing?" He asked looking around, in shock.

"What does it look like?" She ignored him and continued to pack.

"You're leaving?" He looked at her sadly. The guilt in his gut twisted in a tighter knot.

"Zim wants me to move in with him." Gaz said picking up her stuffed animal defenses and tossing them in the box..

"So… you're going with him?"

"Yeah." She tossed the last one in and went to remove her bed sheets.

The last of Dib's heart shattered, anger started taking its place. Zim was taking his sister away.

"You… you can't! I mean… What about mankind? He's still gonna try to take over Earth!" Dib walked up to her as she folded her sheets, tossing them in the box.

"Maybe I'll help him." Gaz said a matter-of-factly. Humans weren't really her thing anyway.

"You don't mean that." Dib said wide eyed.

"Why not? I've never fit in around here. It'll be fun."

"You really don't mean that." Dib said, taken back. "So, what? You're just gonna renounce your humanity?"

"Yea… Probably." Gaz said packing the last of her belongings into the box, leaving her room empty.

"Gaz. Don't. Please." Dib took her wrist. "I'll try to get used to…. You and… Zim. But don't leave. Please." Gaz snapped her hand back, closed the box and pressed the button, making the box pint sized. She picked it up and put it in her pocket, completely weightless.

"Gaz…" Dib said. Watching her make her way to the door. He looked around her empty room.

No… This can't be happening. First Tak. Then Gaz? He followed her down the stairs to see Dad floating in a computer screen in the kitchen.

"Dad! Stop her!" Dib said pointing at Gaz.

"Why so glum daughter?" The professor asked, floating next to Gaz.

"I'm leaving." She said walking to the door.

"Alright, be sure to come home soon, It's almost curfew." He started floating away.

"I'm not coming home. I'm moving out." Gaz looked at her father, hoping for some kind of reaction. The floating screen turned to look at her. She couldn't see any emotion from under his lab coat and goggles.

"Alright. If that's what you want. Be sure to think of us!" Then the head turned and floated away.

"DAD!" Dib yelled. Gaz clenched her fists and swung open the door angrily.

Of course not. Why would he care?

"Gaz. Stop." Dib demanded. She stopped, holding the door, ready to walk out.

"If you go out that door. You're taking his side. And you'll become the enemy." He walked up behind her. "Don't do this."

Gaz paused, still holding the door. Then without another word, she stepped out and shut the door behind her.

Gaz walked to Zim's house with tears in her eyes.

Her own father just let her go like that. Without a word of remorse. Without a fight. Just… Bye! Did he even care that she was leaving forever?

And Dib. Calling her the enemy?

Fine. I don't care.

She felt a tear run down her cheek and she brushed it away. When she got to Zim's door she wiped her tears away, hoping it wasn't noticeable. She opened the door.

"SURPRISE!" Zim yelled, holding a pizza box out to Gaz with a huge grin on his face. Gaz froze, not expecting it.

"I had some of your pizza-foods delivered from the Bloaty's you like." He closed his eyes, wallowing in his own pride, still grinning.

"And… and look at this!" He took her hand and dragged her to the kitchen, setting the pizza on a counter. He opened the door of the fridge. It was full of all sorts of human food. Fruits and vegetables, soda and water bottles, milk, cheese, meats.

"I know you have to eat more than I do, so I stocked the fridge!" He grinned again. Gaz looked at all the food, her mouth agape. Zim dragged her away, still proud of his work.

"Computer. Open the entrance to Gaz-human's quarters!" He said standing in front of the couch. The couch disappeared under the floor, and the painting of a monkey slid up, revealing a little door, which slid open. Gaz stepped in, her eyes widened.

It was a big room with purple walls, and black carpeting with a round purple rug in the center. A closet door surrounded by drawers that opened out of the wall was on one side of the room, and a big bed sat on the other. There was a huge computer screen with an Irken symbol on a desk next to a sliding silver door. Gaz turned in place in the center of the room, then started at Zim, who couldn't contain his enjoyment.

He did all this… for me?

"Look at this!" He hopped over to the drawers in the wall and opened one on the bottom. It just kept coming out until it hit the bed on the other side of the room.

"I modified them from the storage space in my labs." Then he went into the closet. It was a longer room with hanging bars for her clothes, an open storage spot for shoes, and two more drawers on the bottom.

"I read that human females need a lot of space for their attire. Oh! And look at this!" He pulled her out of the closet and over to the silver door, which opened up into a bathroom. It looked like a pretty normal bathroom, white tile floors, a shower, a toilet, a cupboard, and a sink. Zim ran over to the sink.

"You humans need so much water." He scoffed, turning on the apparently working sink. "It's all in full working order for all of your human-needs!" He turned the sink off, glaring at the dripping faucet.

"Oh! And then this:" He pulled her out of the bathroom and started typing into her computer. He pulled a tab labeled "customize." And began poking at different functions, turning the walls red, the bed green, the floor brown and the rug blue.

"You can change anything you want," He said changing everything back. "So if you want to change something, you can. Whenever you wan-" Then Gaz hugged him, his antenna snapped up in surprise.

"Thank you." She said, squeezing him tighter, fighting more tears. He put his arms around his Gaz and hugged her back.

"You're welcome." He said, holding her tightly.

Who needs Dib? Who cares that Dad didn't care about her? Zim did. That's all she wanted. That's all she needed.

"OOOOO! PIZZA!" Gaz heard the little robot scream. Zim pushed Gaz away and ran out the door.

"GIR NO! That's not for YOU!"

Gaz looked around her new room and smiled, setting down her storage box with all her stuff in it. She reached into her pocket and removed a grey and white speckled, oval, rock and a battered dandelion head and set them on her desk before leaving the room.

The End.