Chapter 3

Waking Up

(Dib's POV)

I lay on the couch with Zim for a long time, holding his slender frame to my body. I had never realized before now how skinny he was. His waist was small, and I could feel bones through his clothes and skin. His shivering finally slowed down and I could see the color returning to his skin. He was still a bit pale, but he was looking much better.

I was watching the flames dance in the fireplace when I felt him shift against me, a moan escaping his lips. I looked down to where his head rested against my chest, concern flitting through my mind.

Another moan sounded, alerting Sam, who stood nearby. He looked over at me, curious. "Is he waking?"

"I think so." I replied. I shifted my grip on him, moving him so I could see his face. "Zim?"

His eyes flickered open, the usually brilliant crimson color dull. "Dib-human?" He looked around, his eyes flitting around the room. "What happened? Where am I?"

"You're in the public library. I don't know what happened for sure, but I have a feeling your average body temperature is much higher than ours." I said softly.

"It's 105." Zim muttered.

I continued. "You were walking in the snow and you passed out, do you remember?" I asked, my hand moving his hood back so I could fully see his face.

I watched his eyes narrow in confusion. "I remember walking with Gir." He focused on me. "We were following you. To the library. Then," he shuddered. "So much water, Gir gone…." His hands clenched at my coat. "It was so cold. I couldn't feel my hands or feet. It hurt to breathe, to walk."

"I think you were freezing to death Zim." I said gently. The Irken had begun to shake in my arms again and I squeezed him lightly, trying to comfort him. He didn't seem to be in his right mind, he wasn't mad at me yet.

"I'm so tired," he murmured. His eyelids were beginning to droop, and his body was slowly growing heavier, a sign that he was relaxing.

I sat silently as his head fell back to my chest, those dull crimson eyes shutting in sleep. I sighed, then moved slowly out from under him, laying him on the couch. My muscles were cramping from lying there for so long.

Sam was the only one still awake. He glanced at me as I came to stand beside him at the fireplace. "Well? What happened to him?"

"He followed me here. The wave must have trapped him in one of the other buildings. According to him his average body temperature is 105, so the cold was killing him. He said that he couldn't feel his hands or feet and it hurt to breathe." I said softly, whispering so I wouldn't wake the others.

Sam glanced back to Zim's form on the couch. "How's he doing now?"

"He seems to be stabilized. He's still really pale and his eyes are dull, but he's warm." I replied. "He's sleeping again."

Sam smiled at me. "You should get some sleep yourself Dib, you look exhausted. I'll keep an eye on everyone, I couldn't sleep right now anyway."

I grinned back. "Thanks Sam. Wake me if you want to rest or if Zim wakes up. I'm the only one he knows."

Sam nodded as I settled onto an empty chair near Zim's couch. Sleep came soon, taking me from the nightmare I now lived in.


(Dib's POV, 2 hours later)

"Dib! Dib wake up!" A voice was calling my name, a hand shaking my shoulder.

"I'm up!" I said groggily, rubbing my eyes and sitting up. "What's wrong?"

Sam was the one waking me. "It's Zim." He pointed to the couch, where a shivering whimpering lump huddled in the center.

I got up quickly, pulling the curtain down to expose Zim. I shook him, bringing him into a sitting position. "Zim! Zim, it's only a nightmare! Wake up!"

With a gasp his eyes flew open, darting around the room to rest on my face. "Dib-stink?" His eyes narrowed and I sighed. He'd come to his senses. "What have you done!" he cried. Almost instantly the others in the room woke up.

"Release me! Release Zim!" he screamed, flailing madly in my grip. I now had the Irken in a tight hug, trying to keep him from running into the snow.

I tightened my grip for a split second, causing him to squeak. "Zim! Listen to me! We have to forget this rivalry!" He still continued to struggle, but I noticed a hesitation.

"You're going to do something to me, I know it!" he growled, still trying to wrench himself from my grasp.

"Zim, if you go outside you will freeze to death and die!" I cried.

That stopped him cold. (OHMIGOD! Pun so not intended!) "Wha-What did you say human?"

"From what you said earlier your average temperature is 105, right?" He nodded slowly and I continued. "It's cold outside, extremely cold. I would estimate about 20 degrees, but it's getting colder by the minute."

A slight shudder went through his body. I held him tight for a moment more, then my frown deepened as he went limp in my arms. "Zim?" I murmured softly.

"Are we going to die?" he whispered. It was so soft I had to strain to hear it.

I tightened my grip, resting my face against his shoulder. "Of course not Zim. We can get through this together." I had no idea what I was doing, but my heart was pumping madly in my chest and I could feel his going too.

"Put me down Dib," he said quietly. There was no threat in his voice, no edge of anger. And there was no nickname after my own name.

I set him down gently, then my eyes widened as he turned and threw his arms around my neck. I slowly returned the embrace. I think Zim had realized the severity of our situation, and he had finally cracked.