Author's notes: Here goes what should have been the second part of chapter three. To the people who asked whether this was gonna be one sided ZADR or when the slashin' begins (oh, that sounds violent!) I have only one thing to say.......I'm gonna be real secretive and well, a bitch! Soon all will become clear. I'm just so bloody slow moving, aren't I?! I should probably take some caffeine or something to get this fic moving! Thanks everyone so much for reviewing. Crimsonobsession, I love all your fics to bits! You are just the queen of angst (my FAVOURITE genre!). Rav, you poked my writing arm! Why my writing arm?! Does a River Dance impression God, I've been Zim over loading lately, if that's possible. Thanks to everyone for their kind reviews, I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Disclaimer: Sob, not mine. (I love Zim so much!) Unfortunately, it's property of Jhonen Vasques and Nick studios/toons I dunno. What the real point is, is that I don't own them!

There was no more pain when Dib regained consciousness. He could breath easy and his heart no longer raced. Gentle sunlight caressed his skin. Gingerly he opened his eyes to find soft white light effusing the room. He felt at peace like never before, simply breathing without pain was the most pleasurable experience of his life. His mind began to slowly adjust to his new surroundings. Instantly he sat up straight checking his room. He was still in the hospital. Sighing he fell back against the pillows.

"Dib?"

Dib looked to the end of his bed where he found Gaz. "Hey" His voice sounded grainy and he coughed several times as a result of speaking.

"Here." She handed him a glass of ice chips.

Dib took it, marvelling at his new found strength. "What happened?"

"You had some kind of fit. The doctors don't know why." She took the seat next to him.

"Zim!" He sat up again, pulling on the heart rate sensors stuck to his chest.

"What?" Gaz eyed him sceptically.

"Zim came in here just after you left to get Dad!" Dib explained brining his elbow to his eyes, looking for the syringe Zim had used. He frowned when he found it missing but scrutinised the remaining needle.

"He can't have been, Dib. Only family was allowed." She frowned, looking to the door.

"He was-" Dib's ranting was interrupted as Prof. Membrane and his oncologist, Dr. Maher, entered the room. "He's been here the past three days now. Ask the nurse! I know he was here!"

"Who was here?" The doctor was intrigued by the unusual conversation he had just walked in on.

"Zim!" Dib turned to his father. "He was here! Seriously! He injected me with some...some thing, I don't know what it was."

The doctor looked around at Dib's father and sister. Surprisingly they seemed completely unfazed by Dib's ranting. "Who's Zim?"

"He's...he's an alien. He injected me with something. It's part of his plan to get rid of me. I'm the only one who can stop him!" Dib looked to Gaz for confirmation but she merely shrugged non-commitedly.

"Ooook. So you're saying someone snuck into the hospital and injected you with something to try and kill you." Dr. Maher eyed him wearily.

"I know how it sounds but-"

"Don't mind him, Doctor. It's a phase he's going through." Prof. Membrane moved closer to his son's bed and placed a calming hand on his shoulder.

"Dad I'm not crazy! Zim really was here, honestly. I have proof of what he's planing, proof of what he is! It's at home-"

"Now, now son. We can discuss your mental problems later. First lets listen to the doctor, ok?" He silenced his son and looked to the man eyeing Dib warily.

Dib sighed and reluctantly turned his attention to Maher.

Once the doctor saw he had the room's attention he stood straighter, clearing his throat. "How are you feeling, Dib?"

"Ok, well, great in fact. Maybe even better than before I got sick." Dib looked away from the doctor, his mind muddled.

"Yes." The doctor scribbled a few notes on Dib's chart before once more looking up at him. "Your heart rate and oxygen saturation have more or less normalised. We also took a blood sample. It seems...well, it looks like your lymphocyte level has returned to normal."

The three members of the Membrane family gaped at him.

"You understand what that means, of course?" The doctor felt a little nervous at the sudden silence from the unusual family.

"The cancer. It's..." Dib couldn't voice his greatest hopes.

"I don't want you all to get his hopes up, but it does seem as if Dib's cancer has disappeared. Sudden remissions are rare but not unheard of. We want to perform some more tests but it looks like you can go home, Dib." The doctor smiled at all present. It was unusual he ever got to give good news in his line of work but when he did, it was certainly all worth it.

Dib couldn't believe it. He was ok! He looked to Gaz and then his father. Gaz was blinking trying to dispel tears while his father merely stared at the doctor. Dib began laughing hysterically. He was going to be ok!

.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

Zim sat in class idly watching some squirrels play outside the window. Whatever about him feeling emotionally awful earlier, right now he really felt physically awful. His body temperature was unusual high, aches flashed like lightning through his skull and he had the constant need to throw up. The usual doom speeches from the guest lecturer (none other than Ms. Bitters) made him wanted to scream in frustration. He really wanted to go home but since he had skipped school the past two days he decided against it. Anyway, there was only an hour left until classes ended. Resting his head in is hands he attempted to zone out from the rest of the class. He didn't even bother to look up when he heard the door open and another person entered.

"Excuse me Ms. Bitters" Zim snapped to attention when he heard the familiar voice of counsellor Summers.

"Mmmm" Ms. Bitters glared at her, turning to the desk and ignoring the pretty counsellor.

"I have some good news for you all." Ms. Summers beamed down at the class. She caught Zim's eye and if possible smiled even wider at him. Zim immediately dropped his eyes and faked disinterest. "Principal Malfood was talking to Dib's father just moments ago and it seems that Dib's cancer has gone into remission."

Zim swallowed with great difficulty, dragging a shaky hand through his wig.

"So...he's not going to die then?" Torque asked sounding confused.

"So it seems. He's being released from hospital later today and hopefully will be back at school next week." Her sickeningly sweet voice dripped like syrup.

Zim felt his stomach lurch. He covered his hand with his mouth in an attempt to control his gag reflex. "Can I have a bathroom pass?" He blurted out, quickly getting to his feet.

"Sorry?" The counsellor looked to him, thrown of by his sudden out burst.

"Bathroom pass please?" Zim clutched his stomach while keeping one hand over his mouth.

"Eh, of course." She turned around and took up a bathroom pass, handing it to Zim. Zim grabbed it and quickly ran from the room. Summers watched him leave, narrowing her eyes in confusion.

Zim exited the classroom not even bothering to close the door behind him. He skidded into the bathroom. The putrid stench of urine and chemical disinfectants assaulted his senses. It caused his stomach to lurch once more and Zim barely made it to the cubicle before he vomited. He emptied the contents of his stomach into the toilet, dry heaving a few times after. Still feeling unsteady he slammed the door closed behind him with his foot. Even though it disgusted him he was forced to sit on the floor to regain his strength. He closed his eyes and leaned against the cubicle wall, panting. Reaching up and he grabbed a pile of toilet roll and wiped his mouth. A spider leg extended from his pack and deposited a bottle in his hand. He took a few gulps, swirling the liquid around his mouth, before spitting it down the toilet. Shakily he got to his feet and flushed the toilet.

He exited the cubicle and walked over to the sinks. Taking another drink, he glanced up at the mirror. He looked terrible. His eyes seemed dim, with dark circles and bags underneath them. He hadn't bothered to brush his wig and so the hair stood up in numerous directions. His normally vibrant jade skin looked faded and dry, with patches of sweat on his forehead.

"Zim?" A voice outside the door caught his attention.

He wiped his face before stepping outside to find the counsellor looking worried. "Are you ok, Zim?"

"I'm fine." He stared her down.

"I thought I heard you getting sick." She tried to appear calming.

Zim's heart raced, she would probably try and send him to the school nurse. "NO! No, I was...urinating. Urinating like a normal human would."

"Ok." She turned up her nose. "Well, I just thought...it doesn't matter. The principal has given the class the rest of the period off. You're free now for the rest of the skool day."

Zim nodded before abruptly walking past her.

"I thought you might want to talk about Dib." She called after him.

"I don't." Zim didn't bother turning to answer her.

"That's a pity." She paused briefly. "I've arranged a meeting for you in my office on Monday, last period. It's mandatory."

Zim paused, clenching his fists tightly. He turned around and glared at her before once more marching in the direction of his locker. He dumped his books inside before slamming the door shut. Quickly he turned and left the school through the front door. Right then he didn't care if he was seen. Frankly he was considering leaving the stupid institution. He really had enough of that idiotic woman, he should find some way to dispose of her. Maybe the same way he had got rid of Keef...

He stumbled all the way home. His joints screamed in pain with every step. He had to have contracted some kind of human illness, there was no other explanation. He fumbled with the lock for a few minutes before finally gaining access to the base. Once he entered the house he was forced to lean against a side table for support.

"MASTER" GIR ran to his side, hyper as usual. "Master, I made a new friend! He's a caterpillar. He's furry and tickley! We had TACOS. I ate more but he had one. Do you wan' a taco? Do you want to give Mr. Caterpillar a hug!" He thrust a large, black, hairy caterpillar in Zim's face.

Zim retracted in disgust. "Not now GIR" he mumbled before turning to the elevator to the lab. A wave of nausea over came him forcing him to his knees where he promptly emptied his stomach. He winced, repulsed at himself. Shakily he got to his feet and tried desperately to make his way to the lab, but he felt so weak. He fell to his knees again, before loosing consciousness completely.

GIR had been playing with his caterpillar the entire time and only looked over to his master once he collapsed to the floor. GIR ran over to him excitedly, think he was playing a game. He nudged Zim a few times, frowning when he failed to acknowledge his presence. "Master?" He lay down across from Zim watching him intently. "Master?" He poked him in the shoulder. Frowning he sat up. "I think Master's sick." He held the caterpillar up to his face. "Look after Master, Mr. Caterpillar. I'll go get help." He got up from the floor, depositing the caterpillar on Zim's arm in the process.

He pulled on his puppy suit on before heading out the door.

.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

Dib pulled his bag out of the trunk and walked round to the driver's window.

"Now son, I have to go back to work and just finish a few things in the lab. I'll be home around nine o'clock. Here-" He handed Dib a few notes. "Get yourselves a pizza or something." He smiled at his son before backing the car out of the drive and disappearing in the direction of his laboratories.

Dib sighed looking down at the wad of notes in his hand. Gaz walked by him playing her Game Slave. Almost without him noticing she relieved Dib of the money and disappeared into the house. Dib cast his eyes to heaven, not much had changed! He pulled his bag up on his shoulder as he turned around to enter the house. A jerk on the handle suddenly caught his attention. He whipped around to find GIR staring up at him, dressed in his puppy disguise.

"GIR! What are you doing here?" He scanned the area for any signs of Zim.

"Heeeeello Dibby!" GIR waved enthusiastically.

"Eh...hi." Dib looked down at the crazy robot. "Why are you here? Where's Zim?" He glanced around, trying to keep an eye on GIR while also looking out for his master.

"Ehhhhhhhh....he felled down." GIR frowned before perking up again. "I left Mr. Caterpillar to look after him!"

"Ok." Dib sighed. "Why did you come here?"

"He felled down." GIR stated again.

"Ok." Dib looked around for some kind of help. "Is he ok?"

"I dunno" GIR began getting distracted by a piece of lint dancing in the wind.

"GIR!" Dib took him by the shoulders. "Did he tell you to come here? Did he ask you to get my help?"

"No."

"So you just came over here without telling him?"

"I told him I was getting help, well I told Mr. Caterpillar."

"And what did he say?" Dib was starting to get very frustrated, it was like taking blood from a stone. "Zim, not the caterpillar."

"Nothin' " GIR smiled widely.

"So Zim doesn't mind that you've gone to get help from a human."

"I dunno, he was still lying on the floor."

"What's he doing on the floor?" Dib was getting really confused. This conversation was going no where.

"He has his eyes closed."

"So Zim is lying on the floor with his eyes closed. He...he fell down." Dib began to put the pieces of the puzzle together. "Did he knock himself unconscious?"

"Eh..." GIR chewed on his finger while he thought. Abruptly he grabbed Dib's hand and began pulling him in the direction of Zim's base.

"GIR, what are you doing?" Dib protested, dropping his bag as he was pulled out of his drive.

GIR ignored him and continued running until he reached his home. He let go of Dib's hand as he entered the house and slowly walked over to Zim, lying down next to him again. Dib stopped in the doorway. This was really suspicious. Zim certainly had changed his tactics. Cautiously he entered, keeping his eyes open for any traps. His attention was immediately brought to what looked liked a puddle of vomit on the floor. He scrunched his nose in disgust. Maybe there was some validity to what GIR was saying. He scanned the room and jumped when he saw Zim slumped on the floor. He darted forward but stalled just as quick. Maybe it was a trap. He couldn't trust Zim. He had done something to him in the hospital. Right now he wasn't exactly sure what it was, after all he seemed perfectly healthy right now... Sighing he simply eyed the unconscious alien.

"Master?" GIR reached out tenderly and shook Zim by the shoulder. His voice trembled and Dib could have sworn he saw tears glistening in his cyan eyes.

Taking a deep breath Dib slowly kneeled next to Zim. GIR jumped to attention and crawled in front of Dib. "What ya doin'?"

Dib sighed as the crazy robot obscured his sight of Zim and prevented him front inspecting the alien. "I'm going to see if he hurt his head when he fell." He gently pushed GIR out of his way. Unfortunately GIR didn't take the hint and he moved in front of Dib again. Dib sighed and rolled his eyes. Something black and fuzzy crawling across Zim's arm caught his attention. He looked down to find a large caterpillar moseying across Zim. A little hesitantly he picked it up and pretend to inspect it. "Oh no, GIR!" He glanced to the robot. "I think he might be getting sick...you know, like Zim. Maybe you should take him outside and let him get some air." Dib held the insect out to GIR.

"NNNNnnnnnnoooooooo! Mr. Caterpillar!" GIR grabbed his new friend and ran outside, still screeching.

Dib watched him go with raised eyebrows. Shaking his head he turned back to Zim. The green alien had not moved since he came in, even with GIR's screaming. Gingerly he reached forward and gently shook Zim by the shoulder. "Zim?" He whispered. Shaking a little rougher he began to get a little worried. It was starting to seem less and less like a trick. "Zim? Come on, wake up!" Zim failed to react. Dib began to get worried. It looked like Zim had been out for quite some time. If he didn't wake up soon....wait a minute why did he care? He could take advantage of the fact that Zim was unconscious. He promised himself he wouldn't pass up an opportunity like this again, not after that whole Peppi incident. But...what about the past few days? Zim had been acting really weird lately, Dib wanted to know why. But more than anything he wanted to know why Zim had injected him earlier. What had he done? For the first time he let himself dare to ponder the one thing he feared. Had Zim helped him recover? But that was ridiculous! Zim would never help him. It didn't make sense...but he had instantly, unexplainably recovered immediately after. It couldn't coincidence, could it?

Dib groaned out loud, feeling tempted to bash his head against the floor. There was only one way to find out, to discover the real answers. He had to leave Zim free and find some way of getting the information out of him. He knew the invader well enough to know he would never talk if captured. Dib looked back to Zim, taking a deep breath. "Come on, Zim." He shook him roughly and to his relief Zim began to stir. He sighed, before catching himself, now was certainly not the time to relax.

"Eugh." Zim groaned as he began to regain consciousness. He no longer felt sick but his limbs still ached. He felt weak like never before in his life. Coughing slightly, he opened his eyes and surveyed the situation. Dib staring down at him was the last thing he expected. "Agh!" He shouted in surprise, scooting back instinctively. The pain in his joints and muscles flared to new heights and he had to bite down furiously on his lip to contain a scream.

Dib jumped back in shock also. He watched Zim intently. He appeared to be in great pain. His conscience stirred; no matter how much he disliked the little alien he winced internally at his pain.

"What are you doing here, Dib-human?" Zim's voice was hoarse and dry. He tried to glare at Dib but he doubted it had much effect in his weakened state.

Dib contemplated what to say. He decided against telling Zim about GIR fetching him, he didn't really want the idiotic little robot to get into trouble. "I wanted to know what you did in the hospital earlier, why you visited me at all." Dib sat back on his knees.

To his surprise Zim's face fell blank. He stopped glaring and dropped his eyes to the floor. "You escaped the hospital?"

"No." Dib wanted desperately for Zim to look at him, he wanted to gauge his reactions. "I was released. I...I'm better now."

"You are no longer dying?" Zim asked flatly.

"No."

To his complete surprise Zim felt a surge of emotion run through his chest. He swallowed, feeling his face heat up. Why was he feeling like this? It had to have something to do with his illness.

Dib waited in silence for Zim to react verbally. He saw how he reacted physically, jumping slightly before swallowing and if Dib didn't know better, blushing, but Zim refused to speak. "Zim?" The alien still refused to look at him. "Zim!" No reaction. "Did you have something to do with it? What did you inject me with?" He finally stood up and moved menacingly towards Zim.

Zim eventually looked up as Dib towered over him. Shakily he also got to his feet, backing up to the wall for support. His legs screamed as they tried to support his lithe frame but he remained standing. There was no way he would let Dib try and intimidate him like that. "Why would I do that, stink-beast?" He poured all his confusion and frustration from the past few days into his voice, trying to make it as hate filled as possible. He was asking himself as much as Dib.

"I don't know, Zim, why? The same as why did you come visit me at all? What is happening, what is going on?!" Dib was frustrated too, but could not mask his feelings as easily as Zim.

Zim began laughing. Why? If only he could answer that question. He didn't know why. His actions of late were driving him crazy. There was no reason for him to do them yet he had no choice but to blindly follow his instincts.

Dib began to grow even more frustrated and angry. How dare Zim laugh at him. He had to know what was going on. "Damn it, Zim!" He moved forward quickly catching Zim off guard. Zim sidestepped Dib to avoid him but the pain over came him. He collapsed to the ground once more, gagging from the pain. Fires burned in his every joint, building to an agonising crescendo. Zim could contain it no longer, he threw his head back and screamed.

Dib fell back in shock as Zim fell crouched in a ball on the floor. His terrible screams terrified the boy. It sounded like unimaginable agony. Pity tugged at his heart and he knelt next to Zim, trying to think of a way to comfort him. Just as suddenly as his screaming started, Zim ceased and dropped his head silently to the floor. He knelt, rolled in a tight ball, panting, trying to gain control over the pain that was threatening to drive him insane. A gentle pressure on his shoulder startled him, but he fought the instinct to jerk away, knowing it would only bring more pain. Ever so slowly he looked to his shoulder to find Dib's hand resting there. Dib looked down at him, worry etched over his face. Again Zim felt what could almost be described as pleasure through his chest at the sight of the pale boy looking down at him, his brow furrowed in obvious concern. Immediately Zim seethed in contempt for himself for feeling such a way. Snarling he slapped at Dib's hand, ignoring the pain as he concentrated on other emotions, anger and fear. How dare Dib make him feel like this! In a flash he extended a spider leg clutching a laser gun from his pack. Still kneeling he aimed it at Dib. "Get out!" He whispered fiercely.

Dib eyed the laser before looking back to Zim. What was the idiot doing? He was trying to help him! He remained kneeling, trying to appear non-threatening. "Zim, I-"

"GET OUT!" Zim screamed, attempting to get to his feet. He failed the first time and was forced to use the wall for support again. He kept his eyes and the laser trailed on Dib the entire time.

Dib followed suit, slowly getting to his feet while keeping eye contact with Zim. "Why are you-" Dib jumped back, falling over the rug when Zim fired just short of his feet. Hastily he got to his feet backing away from Zim.

Zim advanced on Dib slowly, keeping one hand on the wall. "Get. Out." His voice was hushed, but the sentiment behind it was evident.

Dib took one last look at the laser. Zim lifted it higher so that it was now aiming at his head. Swallowing he backed out of the house, never once taking his eyes of Zim until the alien slammed the door in his face.

Zim fell to his knees, breathing hard and finally succumbed to the pain, falling limply to the ground.

.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

I had a line in there reading "He [Dib] could take advantage of Zim now that he was unconscious" but on a re-read, well, it speaks for it's self really doesn't it! Even subconsciously I have a dirty mind!

Oh yeah, I so can't write GIR, so just pretend what he said sounded good! There is a reason why he went to Dib's which I will address.