A/N: Hello all! I appreciate everyone's patience (or lack thereof P) but now that this semester is winding down and my term papers are officially complete, I will hopefully have more time to write and update. I'm currently working on a new story, and why? I got distracted, even though I have unfinished ones…what is wrong with me?!?

Anywho, I think this is the longest a/n I've ever written. Expect an update soon on either Ghost or In the Grey—their next chapters are almost done.

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Chapter 5

"Eww...vomit!"

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Zim was still tied to the bed, and had been, for a while now. Dib spent the night on the floor, sleeping so soundly that he probably wouldn't have heard Zim escape, not that he could. He bound Zim even tighter before going to bed and he was gagged to the nines so that his annoying voice wouldn't wake the dead.

Zim really wasn't aware of this...really. He had fallen asleep after shaking off the sickness in the bathroom, and he had been in a half-waking state ever since then. Sleep would come and then a minute later, he would be awake, or so he thought. Visions of stuff swam in his brain and he saw Dib's head more than once. Of course, the Dib-vision was simply Dib leaning over him. Dib was wondering what the hell was wrong with the alien. He had never seen Zim sleeping, and it didn't seem like a peaceful slumber for sure.

After a few hours, Dib was satisfied that Zim was still a little sick and he fell to sleep himself, hoping that Zim wouldn't wake up in the middle of the night and throw up all over his bed.

At six o'clock, the alarm rang. Its incessant beep-beep-beep woke both boys, and both had to reorient themselves to the situation. Dib yawned and casually rolled up his pallet, made exclusively out of his comforter, and threw it at the foot of the bed where it landed on Zim's feet.

Yes. Dib did scold himself for giving Zim the bed while he had the floor.

Zim stared back at him, realizing that he was gagged. He wasn't about to wiggle around and make muffled sounds at the Dib and making himself look foolish. Instead, he would wait for the human to make the first move. Last night, they had established something intimate by at least trying to talk about their encounter, as it were, so Zim knew that Dib, the sneaky creature that he was, would use that as a base to make him talk even more. But

Zim promised himself that he wasn't going to fall for any nice words the human might have.

He had nothing else to do right now but accept this situation.

Dib was looking at Zim and Zim was looking at Dib, and strangely, the first question that popped into Dib's brain was, "What day is it?" He answered himself, "Saturday!"

Dib had forgotten to turn his alarm off so he could sleep in. Dib sighed and turned his attention back to Zim.

"Well…I guess I really don't know what to do with you now." Dib sat on the bed, and Zim's body sank in the direction of Dib's weight on the mattress. Dib looped his fingers under the gag and tugged teasingly. Zim growled as Dib finally removed the restriction.

"Let me go Dib!" Zim spat immediately. "Don't think you can keep me here human," he sneered.

"Okay. Then go." Dib looked at his door.

"I don't see you trying to go, Zim," Dib mocked playfully. Zim scrunched up his face in the most contemptuous manner, like he'd seen something disgusting or some horrible act that he condemned, but he didn't say anything. He didn't move either. Remember, he doesn't want to look foolish in front of Dib! It was so tempting to test the bonds though.

Zim regretted his stupid sickness and being out of it during the night—he would have tried his best to get out. For a moment, the fear of being caught hit him. Dib didn't know that he wasn't an Invader, maybe he could tell just a little...

But, Dib would get suspicious. He would want to know more and more and MORE!!!

Dib watched Zim's face turn from anger to placid contemplation.

Zim turned to Dib, "You'll never take me alive human!"

"Ha, Zim, I don't think they'll care if you're alive or dead. I'm going to get some breakfast. Want anything?" Dib snickered as he redid the gag, not giving Zim a chance to reply. Of course, he would have said no to Dib's breakfasty offer.

Dib left the room, only giving Zim a spiteful backwards glace as he shut the door behind him. Dib crept down the quiet hall to the stairs. No one would be up at this hour, except for his dad, who was probably in his lab downtown. He sometimes stayed there several nights in a row.

The kitchen floor was cool beneath his feet, and the icy orange juice straight from the fridge sent a chill through him. He lingered in the room for a moment, then, he wandered into the living room and turned on the television to catch a few minutes of the early news. He didn't worry about Zim upstairs. He was confident that the alien was captured. That was the end of it.

There wouldn't be anymore Zim. There wouldn't be anymore of this...thing....that they had together. Whatever it was, it was gone. Dib turned off the TV, not having paid attention to it anyway, and slowly walked upstairs. His mind was not flooded with images of the past--images of him and Zim doing stuff and battling for the planet, rather, he only saw the future, and did not look on the past in any sentimental way. Those times were a means to an end, and here...here was the blissful end.

The end was all that really mattered. Dib didn't feel selfish at all.

But he did feel bad.

Zim might be out of his hands soon. Might. He still didn't know what he was actually going to do with him now that he was his. Maybe Dib had become too possessive with the alien, but as he had thought earlier, if Zim was turned over to any authority, access would be cut. Even though the Swollen Eyeballs knew he had been working on this case for a long time, when it came down to it, his dad would probably get the credit and the world would laud the professor's humanitarian efforts.

He could see it now...

Dib was at his door.

Oh. It was open. But…I shut this door behind me. Dib swallowed as a gush of butterflies swam in his stomach. His bed was empty. He hesitated crossing the threshold of his room, but he pushed himself in cautiously. At first glance, the room seemed devoid of any activity concerning the alien, save the ropes hanging uselessly from the bed. The window was still locked and it hadn't been broken.

Maybe he went out through another room, Dib thought. He turned to check the rest of the house, but as he did, his eye caught a flash of green come at him fast. Zim had been hiding behind the open door to ambush his captor, and now he had him in his strong, crushing (yet skinny) arms. Dib growled and struggled, but Zim had the advantage.

They fought only for an instant when Zim suddenly stopped. He let go and backed away. Dib was shocked by his sudden freedom, and he watched the alien unexpectedly turn and nearly trip over his own feet to get to the bathroom across the hall. He was immediately enlightened when Zim fell to his knees over the toilet.

Whatever had been in Zim's squeedily spooch was now in Dib's toilet. The painful heaving sound and choke of Zim being sick made Dib feel a little nauseous himself, but it didn't deter him from investigating though, and he approached Zim slowly.

Zim didn't even look up when Dib leaned over him. He was looking at his own vomit, intrigued by its lack of color. It had burned terribly coming up, but it left no taste in his mouth.

"Are you okay?" Dib asked with genuine concern. Zim answered by flushing the toilet with a quick flick of his shaking hand. He looked slowly in Dib's direction, hoping that the human wouldn't touch him…he feared that he would be sick again if he did. Zim stood with the help of the nearby sink. Dib held his hands out to help, but Zim glared at him silently to warn him to stay back.

"Maybe you should lie down?" Dib offered. He moved away from the door and gestured to his bed. Zim swallowed the thick feeling of dread in his throat. If he went back to bed like his body was demanding right now, then he might never escape.

Dib was standing in the hall now. Zim quickly planned to walk out of the bathroom and then turn and make a beeline for the stairs. He'd have at least a few feet advantage over the Dib.

Zim took one step and instantly felt nauseous again.

He wouldn't be running at all. He had agitated his squeedily spooch jumping on the Dib…Zim warily entered the hall and discreetly glanced down its length towards possible escape, but it was not meant to be.

Dib touched his arm and led him to the bed. Zim didn't get sick at his touch, in fact, he was grateful to his guide for holding him up. Zim barely made it to the bed without passing out, and as soon as he sat, his body became like rubber. His spine gave out and he crashed on his side, sighing heavily from the relief if offered.

Dib crossed his arms and observed Zim. Fatigue laced his eyes. Dib only had to wait a moment before red eyes succumbed to sleep and sickness.

Dib blamed himself for this. He'd been so stupid with that gas! He wasn't prepared to take care of Zim in case he was really, really sick, and even though he still hadn't decided what to do with him, Dib knew in the back of his brain—damn his "good conscience"—that he had to take care of Zim. He was his responsibility now, whether Zim liked it or not.

Dib mused over his options and came to the conclusion that since Zim was now in his possession, he could easily control him. Now would be a prime time to hack into his base and turn it over to his power while at the same time curing Zim of whatever disease or affliction he was suffering from. Dib could have the base, his base, keep Zim captured while he leisurely explored his new acquisitions. Of course, Zim would be very, very angry and demand the computer to release him, which it wouldn't…it was Dib's now!

First things first. Dib packed a bag with his laptop and other necessary things to hack the base's computer. He slung it over his shoulder and turned his attention back to Zim. Getting him to the base would be the tricky part because he could wake up any moment…the alien was in deep unconsciousness for the moment, and he didn't flinch when Dib lifted him easily into his arms. Zim was fairly light, and Dib caught himself gently cradling the body in spite of his recent feelings towards him.

Dib suffered an inexplicable emotion and a physical feeling when he held Zim like this…it passed quickly though, like a vague memory best forgotten.

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