Chapter 4
Fever
(Zim's POV)
I was afraid. Not terrified mind you, Zim is not that easy to scare. But despite these thoughts I still felt fear. Confusion lingered as well. Why had Dib helped me? What he had said had an impact on me, and a heavy one at that. 'Together' he had said. When that word had pierced my thoughts it had set my heart pumping madly. Why, I kept asking myself. Why was I getting these strange feelings?
I rolled over and pulled the curtain tighter around my shoulders. Without Dib's warm arms around me the cold had returned and I was shivering again. Dib was sleeping bundled up in a chair near me. I propped myself up on one elbow, watching his face, peaceful in sleep. A slight smile flickered across my face.
I sighed, settling back on the couch. Though I was exhausted no sleep would come. Irkens don't need to sleep very often, but I had been through a lot and it was wearing me out mentally and physically. I closed my eyes, once again pulling the curtain around my shoulders. It was so cold. I shivered, then stopped. Something was running down my face. I reached up and wiped it away, but my face was still damp. I was sweating.
I slowly got up to go to Dib, but as I rose to my feet a wave of nausea swept over me. I put my mechanical legs out, keeping me from falling. As my squeedily spooch did flip flops inside me realization sank in. I knew these symptoms.
I went quickly to one of the trash disposals, emptying what little I had in me. My four legs were trembling when I was through and I began to teeter towards Dib. I had to tell him, had to let him know……
(Dib's POV)
I jerked away as I heard a thump. I looked automatically to where Zim was laying, only to find him gone.
"Dib, what was that?" Bryan asked, sitting up.
"I don't know, but Zim is gone!" I replied quickly, leaping to my feet. I looked towards the door, then gasped. Zim was laying in a heap on the floor, his spider slowly retracting into his PAK of their own accord it seemed.
"Zim!" I cried, leaping over the couch to his side, picking him up. I lay gently on the couch, my hand gently running down his face. I flinched, yanking my hand away. "Oh god, he's burning up! I think he's got a fever." Sam came to my side. "Fever, cold sweat, he's awfully pale, too. Anything else?"
"Judging by the fact his legs were out he tried to collapse when he got up." I pointed to the floor in front of the couch. "Look at those gouges. He must have had trouble getting a grip when they did come out" I walked towards the door, where I had seen him lying only a moment before. Deep marks were in the floor around the garbage can, and a smell was coming to my nose. I set the cover, which had been knocked off haphazardly, back on. "I think he threw up as well."
Sam ticked it off on his fingers. "Weakness, nausea, fever, cold sweat. Sounds almost like the stomach flu." I sat on the edge of the couch, my fingers gently touching the Zim's heaving chest. His face was tense, and he was panting for air. I was so worried, my Irken was sick… wait, My Irken! I shook my head slightly, then jumped when I felt a hitch in Zim's breath.
"Dib?" His voice trembled, weak and soft. His crimson eyes were open barely a slit, and I could see both fear and pain in them. He saw my face and one hand came up, shaking horribly. I took it gently and he began to speak, but his voice was soft and wavering. "Dib, listen to me. The Fever, it comes when Irken body temperature drops quickly and severely. It happens rarely, but it's very dangerous. I need medical attention. My labs, they would heal me, but we are too far away." This was said haltingly, a breath taken every two words or so.
My eyes widened and I clutched at his hand. "Zim no! You must not lose faith!"
He shook his head gently, bringing my hands to his face. As his lips brushed the back of my hand I gasped slightly. "I will die Dib, if we don't make it to my labs within 2 weeks."
A few tears slipped down my cheeks. "No. No, please no." I caught him in a tight embrace, burying my face in his shoulder. "You can't leave me." I sobbed. "You can't. I, I love you." My voice ended in a whisper.
"Love?" he asked, surprise laced in his voice. I felt his arms go around my neck and he hugged me back. "I think, I think I love you too."
I smiled against his collar, then pulled back. As I watched his dull eyes fall shut again my eyes grew fearful. "Zim? Zim! Wake up! Please! ZIM!"
