Author's Notes: Chapter seven now up! Ohhh. Hope everyone likes. This is kind of a short chapter but I've made a promise with myself to study and only do a write once I've fulfilled my quota of mineralogy for the day. What an exciting life I lead, eh? So, yeah, short chapter but if I put everything I'd originally planned into this chapter it would just be way to long. You guys understand right? No, CrimsonObsession, not Minimoose, I said sorry! Please no, No NOOOOOOOOO!!!!

Disclaimer: Not mine..yada yada yada. Check previous chapters for why!

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Zim woke as the first rays of sunlight danced across his face. He yawned, rubbing his eyes and snuggling back under the blankets, still not full awake. Something tickling his forehead alerted his attention. Glancing to the very head of the bed he was greeted by a mop of ebony hair. Dib must have fallen asleep while watching him. Zim quietly moved a little closer to the sleeping boy. Dib sniffled and shook his head slightly before settling back to sleep. He scrunched his nose several times as his messy hair played and tickled it. Tentatively Zim swept the few wisps from Dib's face. The human's skin was softer than he expected and pleasantly warm. He looked so calm and peaceful in sleep, not at all like his tense waking self. It's such a strange condition, he mused. Everyday humans loose consciousness for on average eight hours, loosing complete control over their body and their reactions. Zim didn't like it. He always wanted to be in control, sleeping was definitely something he would not miss once he reverted to his original form.

He shuddered as the images from last night flashed through his mind. A nightmare, Dib called it. He squeezed his eyes shut as he tried to banish the visions; horrible visions of doctors, scalpels, screams and blood, so much blood. He covered his eyes with his hands, shaking his head as the nightmare replayed with startling reality.

"Are you ok?" Dib's voice sounded husky in his morning drowsiness as he slowly became awake. He reached out and hesitantly took Zim's hands as the alien began clawing at his own eyes in desperation. "Zim, clam down." Dib inhaled sharply as Zim finally looked up at him. His eyes had changed completely. Instead of the solid red orbs they more resembled human eyes. The irises were a vibrant ruby red and lacked pupils but in all other respect they looked human.

Zim immediately noticed Dib's reaction. He sat up straight in the bed, his body tingling with nerves. "What? What is it?"

Dib sprang up right too but was impeded greatly as his muscles groaned in protest. Sleeping in such an awkward position, his head on Zim's bed and his body on the floor, had caused all his muscles to cramp. They screamed in protest as he jumped to attention. Slowly he came to a sitting position on the edge of Zim's bed, massaging his stiff neck.

"What happened!" Zim's voice was raised in anxiety. "What's wrong!" He grabbed Dib by the wrist to get his attention.

Dib turned his attention to Zim, unsure of how he would take these new changes. "Your eyes...they're different, changed."

A frightened look darkened Zim's features. He wasn't sure how much more of this he could take. Slowly he got up from the bed and walked pointedly to the mirror. He stared at a reflection he was having trouble recognising. While he was obviously not human he no longer looked fully Irken either. Dib coming to stand behind him showed he had ground a few more inches, being just short of Dib's shoulder. The short, stubbly, black/green hair of his head had grown somewhat, sticking up in odd directions. He thought for a moment his antennae had disappeared but realised they had been lying flat against his head as they did when he was worried. His skin was a paler green than usual, though he attributed this to his current state of worry. His eyes certainly were different and looking into their new, strangeness was disturbing him greatly. "We need to get to my lab. Now." He turned to Dib.

Dib merely nodded before turning to his wardrobe. He pulled out his usual clothes, black pants, non-descript T-shirt and long leather duster. He threw these on his desk before routing again trying to find something suitable for Zim. He retrieved an old T-shirt he had out grown but hadn't bothered to throw out. He had more difficulty finding him some pants. After some thought he turned to leave. "Put this on. I'll get you some pants." He handed the T-shirt to Zim before exiting the room. Retrieving a pair of Gaz's old combat pants from the linen closet he returned handing them to Zim. He turned from the demi-alien and began to undress.

"Are these Gaz's pants?" Zim narrowed his eyes at the black garment.

Dib, naked to the waist, turned scowling. "Yeah, so? They're unisex, ok? If you're so desperate to get to your lab you would wear a dress to get there." Dib pulled on his T-shirt, obscuring his view on Zim momentarily.

Zim made a face when Dib wasn't looking before removing his borrowed sweatpants and pulling on Gaz's combats.

"Do you need help with your T-shirt?" Dib jumped on one foot as he pulled on his pants.

Zim furrowed his brow. Did he need help? Irken healing was much faster than human. In all likeness his shoulder injury was healed by then. "Yes." Zim blushed. Why did he say that? He didn't need Dib's help but the thought was intoxicating, the thought of Dib's hand accidentally brushing against his own skin. He dropped his hands to his sides and waited for Dib to approach him.

The taller boy stood before Zim. "Put your arms up." Zim did as told, wincing slightly for show. Dib swiftly removed the crumpled T-shirt. Zim began breathing rapidly, he was playing a dangerous game here. He inhaled sharply when Dib's thumb lightly grazed his side and prayed to the Tallest it went unnoticed. Dib pulled the T-shirt up and over Zim's arms. Gingerly Zim dropped his arms to his side. He avoided looking at Dib, feeling instinctively how flushed his face was.

"Here, I'll check your wound." Dib put a hand on Zim's shoulder and turned him around. He arched his eyebrow in surprise when he felt Zim shiver under his touch. He supposed that even though Zim was turning into a human it didn't mean he hated them any less. Dib ran his fingers over the bandage, impressed that it had not fallen off during the night. Slowly he began to peal it off Zim's back. He was a little surprised that Zim didn't even flinch as the adhesive grudgingly came away from his green flesh but upon closer inspection he saw that Zim's skin appeared completely hairless and smooth, not like a human's where every part of their skin was covered in at least a downy covering save their palms and soles of their feet. He was tempted to touch Zim, to prove his theory but decided against it. Zim didn't seem too delighted with human contact. Once the adhesive dressing was removed Dib began to carefully remove the gauze, careful so as not to aggravate the injury. With Zim's back completely devoid of coverings, except his small ID pack, Dib inspected the burned area. It was still covered in antiseptic cream so he lightly rubbed the obscuring cream from the wound. Again Zim's breathing hitched but he otherwise did not comment. Dib frowned slightly. The burned and broken flesh seemed healed. It was bruised dark purple but had healed exceedingly well. "It's healed." Dib remarked, tracing the area with his index finger.

Zim jerked away from Dib's touch and reached round with the opposite arm to inspect the area. "Really?" Zim hoped Dib believed the lie, but he never had been very good when being creative with the truth.

"Does it still hurt though?" Whether or not Dib believed Zim did not register in his voice.

"Yes. The muscles must still be healing." He picked up the borrowed T-shirt and began to slowly pull it over his head. Dib shrugged and resumed dressing.

They both turned quizzically when a dull thud was heard. Zim immediately felt different. Feeling the material of the T-shirt moving against his back. All of his back. Spinning around he stared in horror as his ID pack lay rocking back and forth on Dib's floor. "NOOOOOOOOO!" He screamed falling to his knees and gently picking up his very means of survival. As quick as possible he ripped of the T-shirt. Looking down at the ID pack he concentrated on getting it to reattach to his back.

"Zim, what's wrong?" Dib kneeled beside him, concern evident on his face.

"My ID pack. I must reattach it otherwise this body will perish." Zim tried the direct approach, pressing the inert pack to his spine. Again no reaction. "Check the ports!" He presented his back to Dib.

Dib eyed Zim questioningly before examining his back. There we two small circular scars one beneath the other on Zim's spine. He pressed the highest one with his first two fingers eliciting a cry of pain from Zim. "Sorry!" He pulled his fingers back from Zim, genuinely sorry for causing him discomfort.

"What's it look like?" Zim strained his neck, trying to see the ports, before looking to Dib.

"Two little scars. One under the other." Dib glanced at Zim's back once more.

"They've closed up?" Zim reached around to where he knew his ID ports were. Accidentally he pressed the highest on and groaned at the contact.

"I guess so." Dib was unsure what Zim was so worried about.

Zim looked down at the ID pack cradled in his arms. The clock on it was counting down. "We need to get back to my lab, now!" Zim jumped up, pulling on his T-shirt.

Dib glanced down at the pack. "Before the time runs out? Zim, we'll never make it. Even if we didn't have to break through all of your security it would be impossible."

Zim considered this. "Do you have a lab here?"

"Yeah, my dad's got a small lab down stairs-" Before he finished that statement Zim had left the room running.

Dib took after him, running into a bleary eyed Gaz in the hall. "What's going on, Dib! It eight twenty on a Saturday morning."

"Sorry!" He called as he charged down the stairs following Zim to the basement. He found the alien rushing around the lab, picking up numerous instruments and bringing them to a large metal table. Dib ran over to him, looking for some way to help. He watched intrigued as Zim began working on the small spotted pack. He worked quickly but seemed to be struggling with what he considered primitive tools.

"Is there anything can do?" Dib hovered opposite Zim.

"You should leave." Zim continued to work on his pack as the count down ticker lowered even more.

"What? Why?" Dib felt slightly angry at Zim's harsh reaction.

"When this-" He indicated the lowering numbers. "-reaches zero it will seek out a new host, attach to them and then begin downloading my memories and personality into them." He looked up at Dib. "I assume you don't want to be that host."

Dib slowly backed off. "What will happen to you."

"My body cannot survive without the pack." Zim returned to the pack, not wanting to allow himself think about it.

"You'll die?" Dib moved back to the table.

"I just said that." Zim replied angrily.

"If I leave you'll be all alone." Dib desperately wished Zim would look at him. He wanted to see his reaction.

"That is irrelevant. Irken's do not fear death." Zim continued to work on his pack.

"That's not what I mean."

"Listen, Dib! Unless you want to be taken over by my mind in less than thirty seconds you should get the HELL out!" Zim returned to his work, purposefully ignoring Dib.

Dib watched Zim work for a few seconds, bouncing back and forth on his heals, before he eventually gave in and ran for the door. He banged it shut and then boarded it up with a small chest of drawers. He sat on the floor with his back to the sealed lab, his head cradled in his hands. He wondered how Zim was doing. He had been in there longer than the thirty seconds that was left. He was either dead or alive but Dib couldn't build up the courage to find out. He found himself concerned about Zim, something that scared him more than anything he had ever experienced in his life. He never thought he would be helping Zim for Zim's sake, that he'd be patching up Zim's wounds and he never ever imagined he would watch over the alien while he slept.

He looked up when he heard the stairs squeak to find Gaz staring down at him, a disdainful look on her face. Once she observed the unusual look in his eyes her mask of indifference melted away. "What's wrong?" She came all the way down the stairs and stood next to him.

Dib sighed. If he couldn't explain the current situation to himself, there was no way he'd be able to explain it to Gaz. "Nothing." He got up and began pushing the chest of drawers away from the lab.

Gaz shrugged her shoulders and proceeded to the kitchen. If Dib didn't want to talk, she wasn't going to push him. Anyway, she had only three levels to go on her latest Game Slave game.

Cautiously Dib entered the lab. Zim hadn't told him how long that pack thing would be looking for another host, he just hoped it was long enough. "Hello?" He silently entered the main lab, eyes open, searching for any sign of Zim. But the place seemed deserted and no one answered his calls. It looked like Zim hadn't made it, he hadn't had enough time after all. The threat to the Earth had been removed. But Dib didn't feel like rejoicing. He gripped the metal workstation hard, hoping to alleviate the shaking in his hands.

"Dib?" A small voice called from somewhere in the lab.

Dib's head snapped up and he looked around for any sign of Zim. "Zim? Where are you?" He moved to the other side of the table to find Zim sitting with his back to it, cradling the pack in his arms. "What happened?"

"I don't know." Zim looked down at the inert pack in his arms. It was no longer a vibrant pink and purple but rather a muted grey. The number on the count down dial read one second. "Irken's can't survive without their ID packs." His voice sounded very small and Dib saw the glistening of tears in his new eyes.

"We should get to your lab." Dib didn't want to comment on Zim's admission. He didn't know what to make of it. He stood up and as an after though held out a hand for Zim. Zim glanced at the offered hand for a moment before looking at Dib's face. Without speaking he gripped the out stretched hand and allowed himself to be hauled up. Dib sighed at Zim. He'd seen many 'negative' emotions in Zim, anger, hate, even fear but he had never in his life seen such wretched sorrow, such depression. "We'll figure this out." He smiled lopsidedly at the shorter boy.

Zim tilted his head to the side. "We?"

Dib felt his mouth go dry. Shaking his head he swallowed before speaking. "Come on." They exited the lab and both made their way back to Dib's room to retrieve the instruments needed for disabling Zim's lab. Once packed and ready they silently left Dib's room and made their way down stairs. "I just want to grab something to eat." Dib said as he made his way into the kitchen. "Do you want anything?" He glanced at Zim as he began searching through the cupboards.

"No." Zim's gazed remained fixed on the floor.

"You should eat something, Zim. You just had a shock and you haven't eaten in ages. Your blood sugar-"

"I said no, stink-beast!" Zim snapped, almost snarling at Dib. He expected Dib to shout back at him but he only received a pitiful stare. Feeling ashamed he let his gaze drop to the floor.

Dib looked away from Zim and grabbed a box of pop tarts. He noisily munched on one while walking over to the sink and pouring himself a glass of water. He looked up nervously as Zim approached him, a determined look on his face.

Zim took his wrist firmly in his hand and jerked it. "You realise I'll complete my mission once this is all taken care of. You won't convince me otherwise with any of you human emotions." He spat the last word, like a foul taste in his mouth.

Dib swallowed the water in his mouth before speaking. "I know that, Zim. I'm just levelling the playing field, like you did not so long ago." Dib felt he had to remind Zim of that, to show Zim that he was the one who start this...what ever it was that was temporarily between them.

Zim dropped Dib's hand instantly. Unfortunately Dib had not been expecting this and he dropped the glass of water on the counter top, shattering it. Water splashed the both of them. Zim's eyes became as wide as saucers as he watched the water soak his skin. Instantly he began screaming. He grabbed the dry material of Dib's shirt and began drying any of his exposed skin. Once he was sure he was dry, Zim dropped Dib's T-shirt and began examining his arm. Dib straightened his clothes, unconsciously rubbing his stomach where Zim had managed to scratch him in his desperation to remove the water. He glanced at Zim, who was staring pointedly at his arm. Dib moved slightly closer and observed what Zim found so fascinating. There was no sign of burns on Zim, not the slightest mark. Dib had soaked Zim enough before to know that was unusual.

"Have you any of that paste stuff on?" He asked, observing the unmarred flesh.

"No." Zim replied, rubbing the skin, seeing if he could at least feel the usual blisters associated with any contact with water. "There's not a mark at all."

"Did it hurt?" Dib nervously reached out and ran a finger over Zim's arm.

Zim watched the action intently before replying. "No...no it didn't." He glanced at Dib before looking at his arm again. His attention was caught by the tap. Before he could think it through properly he turned it on, allowing the water to gush out full force, and plunged his arm under the flow.

"ZIM!" Dib grabbed Zim by the wrist and pulled him away from the sink all together.

But Zim didn't scream like he expected. He looked down to the mint green arm to find steam rising from it but not burns. Zim's wet skin felt warmer than usual, almost human temperature. Dib took Zim's other wrist and found it at Zim's usual, slightly cool temperature. Zim allowed him this indulgence before gently pulling his arms form Dib's grasp. He too observed the unusual phenomenon. His skin didn't burn in agony, in fact it was almost a pleasant experience. He watched the tendrils of steam dance and melt from his arm.

"What do you think this means?" Dib was beginning to get really worried, which worried him for other reasons too. Zim was none of his concern, unless it was in a stopping-him-taking-over-the-world way.

"I don't know." Zim looked up as the remaining water evaporated from his skin. "We should really get to my lab."

Dib nodded in agreement. They both exited the kitchen. In the living room Dib told Gaz he wouldn't be late and not to worry. She merely grunted in reply, never taking her eyes of her Game Slave. They left the house and made their way to Zim's part of town, Dib still munching his pop tart. "That was a pretty stupid thing to do." He commented after the silence began to approach uncomfortable.

"What was?" Zim adjusted the bag on his back, the feeling of contact with his upper back unusual and slightly uncomfortable in it's strangeness.

"Putting your arm in the water. You could have been really hurt." Dib observed Zim's discomfort. "Do you need me to take that?"

Zim ignored the offer. He didn't like the feeling of material rubbing against the now exposed flesh of his back but Dib had helped him enough as it was. He didn't want to look weak. "I needed to prove a theory quickly. What would you have suggested hours of study?"

Dib shrugged as they turned the corner into Zim's estate. The unusual little house stood at the end of the drive, looking strange, yes, but completely innocent.

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Ok, I know what you must be thinking "Another chapter and they STILL haven't got to the lab!" Ok...I've no excuse. I just draw things out rrreeeaaalllyyy badly. Like study. Which reminds me, Hmm, I've exams in a week and I've spent the grand total of three hours of studying. Eep. Oh, well who needs a to get to third year anyway? On second thoughts who needs a degree at all....right? Thanks everyone who reviewed the last chapter. I LOVE ye! I hope you like this one and don't worry stuff actually starts to happen after this chapter! Don't believe me? Well....ok, I don't blame you!