AN: I've had writer's block for the longest time. I have several in progress stories under another pen name that I know people would really like to see updates to but... I lost inspiration at the moment. So... here I am trying something out until inspiration strikes me on those other stories, a semi quasi filler bunny like story, if you will.

This is the first story of a series I intend on writing. For some strange reason I keep thinking of sewing-type things when I come up with titles o.O

FINALLY: This is a friendship story. I don't know if this will change or not, later in my plans I think it will but for the here and now... it's purely friend stuff. There is soo much I want to explore and I think if I keep Dib and Zim as *friends only* now I can get that done.

Disclaimer: I do not own Invader Zim, Dib Membrane or any other character that you recognize. They all belong to the Almighty Thinnest, Jhonen Vasquez. I am not making any money off this so don't sue me, I have nothing you would want except a battered old PowerBook that I would fight til the death for. I love my Mac *huggles laptop*

Like Finding a Needle in a Haystack

by D1b

Part One

His mouth was dry, his head throbbed, and this annoying beeping slowly but surely forced him to face reality. He opened one amber eye and waited a moment before feeling slight panic, where were his glasses? He half-sat up before a hand on his chest forced him back to the bed he laid on.

"I don't think that's a very good idea, Dib-worm." A very familiar voice spoke in an oddly quiet tone. "Those doctor slaves cut you open, slicing right through your muscles, you are injured."

Dib Membrane blinked a few times, trying to understand if there was anything Zim saying that actually held any meaning to help him figure out what the heck was going on. Sheer terror raced thorugh his body, old suspicions aroused and quickly in him as he screamed in quite a panicked tone.

"YOU DID A BIOPSY ON ME, DIDN'T YOU ALIEN SCUM?!" He had to squint to see the look of pure confusion on Zim's face but was not happy when the other started laughing.

"A biopsy on you... I wish I thought of that." Zim spoke after a moment of trying to gain control of himself. He snatched a pair of glasses from the bed stand and handed them over to one in bed. "No, Dib. I have not done such things to your stinky body. For all it's worth, you had an organ in you that wanted to explode; the doctor slaves have fixed you of your problem."

Dib put on his glasses, eyes never leaving the blurry green face of his arch rival and blinked when the words began registering. "An organ?" His hands went down to his abdomen and felt from under the hospital a scratchy gauze patch. "My appendix! I had appendicitis... but I didn't know. I mean I felt pains and everything but you and those laser mongooses--"

"WEASELS! Those were my laser weasels! But you and your filthy getting in my way with that wiener carrier thingy..."

"How did I get to the hospital? Gaz? My dad?" Dib was too busy trying to figure out who would care enough to get him help that couldn't keep up with Zim's pouting over his latest plan being foiled.

"Your family? You give them too much credit." Zim sneered. "Your father hasn't even approached this building that stinks of urine and antiseptic yet, everything is being faxed over to him. He told a nurse something along the lines that he was much too busy and he absolutely had no time for unplanned family emergencies. Your sister hung up on me and told me to never call her again or she would make my life miserable. I must say that she would have to get in line, you make it bad already with your big headed meddling."

"My head's not big." There was no conviction in Dib's soft whisper.

Zim found himself frowning. "That was a lame defense, Dib-beast."

Amber eyes filled with tears. "Go away, Zim."

The alien, in all his density suddenly realized that perhaps the wrong things were said just a few instances ago and they were bothering him. For all his worth, the one thing he didn't want to do was cause such pain to flash in those big honey colored eyes as they did just a moment ago. "Dib..."

"I know you're smart enough to understand English, Zim." The voice that cut the alien off from speaking was so cold, so... un Dib-like that it sent shivers down the invader's spine. "Go away."

"Do you seriously think you can get rid of Zim that easily you little Earth monkey!! I helped you. I'm sorry if I hurt you, it was not Zim's intentions!" Zim grabbed Dib's arm.

Dib tried to pull away. "Let go..."

"Not until you accept my apologies, stink beast."

"Fine, apology accepted. All is forgiven." He spoke in monotone before his voice turned a bit more desperate. "Leave. Now. I want to be alone." Zim hesitantly released his grip from Dib's limb and noticed that the human then paused for a moment. "After all, it's something I'm so used to." He cynically added. "I've always been alone, I always will be alone..."

"If you want to believe that, I cannot fight you." Zim spoke slowly. "Yet I always thought you were above the entire self pity level. Perhaps there was a lot about you I thought wrong." He got up and shut the door behind him as he left.

Dib stared at the door through his tears, wondering why it was now that he felt such loneliness that he was truly getting used to when just a few moments ago when his enemy was sitting at his bedside there was simply no trace of it.

A nurse then walked in a smiled at him She was actually pretty, kind brown eyes and dyed blonde job known due to the mousy brown of her natural color was showing at her roots. "I see you are awake now. How are you feeling, Dib?"

"Shouldn't you have had me awake right after the surgery?"

She gave him a quizzical look before laughing gently. "We did. You said you were fine, called your friend space scum and then promptly feel back asleep." She glanced around the room and after a moment her eyes returned to Dib. "I see he's gone now."

Dib was trying to figure things out but not much was going through his head right now. "Wait a second. You mean to tell me that Zim's been here all along?"

She nodded. "He carried you in, waited during the surgery and insisted on waiting at your bedside when we put you in a room. Do you need anything?"

"I'm thirsty."

"It's not wise for you to drink yet but... I'll be right back." She left the room, which was a good thing for Dib to sit back and try to get his thoughts in order. Zim brought him in... Zim waited for him... even though he was unconscious, he wasn't alone. Words from Zim came to his mind.

"If you want to believe that, I cannot fight you." What a... slam! He practically picked Zim up and threw him down with his words. But... I didn't know that he actually waited around. Despite his thoughts, Dib had never felt like more of an ass and felt like maybe he should just fall asleep and never wake up or something along those lines when the nurse returned.

"Here you go." She said in her sing song voice and handed him over a cup with ice. "This will have to do for a bit, until the doctor sees you again and gives us the okay that you can drink and eat."

Dib nodded. "Who are you?" He asked as he picked out an ice cube and put it in his mouth.

"Nurse Peace." She smiled. "Is there anything else you want or need?"

He shook his head.

"Okie dokie, then a couple things to show you before I leave." She pointed out the IV in his arm and explained how the morphine worked so he could give himself doses if he got uncomfortable with his incision. Told him a couple more things, like how the doctor would stop by in a few minutes and again asked Dib if there was anything she could help him with.

"No, that will do it." He said, eyeing the morphine and making a mental promise to himself that he would not use it unless he was really in a lot of pain.

"Well I have to finish off my rounds, then. I'll be seeing you later, Dib." She walked to the door and turned to smile at him once more. "You really do have a good friend with that Zim." She replied before leaving his room.

Once again the guilt of what he said to Zim came crashing back down on Dib's head. He couldn't help but start thinking about what this could possibly mean. Zim was there when no one else was, for just one little bit of his life, Dib had someone at his side. It felt weird to say one thing, just like the few times that the two united sides when their common interest aligned.

Yet to save Dib's life? That showed compassion... that made every little thought of Dib considering the invader a monster uncapable of feelings that held more depth than anger... Maybe there's other things about him I've been wrong when coming to my conclusions with him. Maybe... we don't have to fight like we do.

When I get out of here... I need to apologize to him. Dib thought as he bit his lower lip. And I hope… maybe… just maybe… Zim will accept it.

* * * * * * * * * *

A bit short, I realize but... it's a start *grinz* Anyone wanna see more? huh? huh? Anyone?