Dib opened his eyes and sat up, yawning, when his alarm went off. He pressed the off button on his watch and looked at Zim in confusion. It took him a moment to recall all that had happened last night.

He had fallen asleep shortly after helping the alien, unable to stay awake since had been up late anyway.

Dib turned out his light and bookmarked the novel he had been reading before Zim came. It had been a long night, and he had been having trouble sleeping.

Zim seemed asleep as well, his lips parted slightly and his breathing slow and even. Dib shifted and checked on his wounds. They seemed to be healing. The PAK was now its normal color, but still pulsing slowly as it still worked.

"Zim?" Dib shook his good shoulder lightly. "Zim, wake up."

Zim cracked eyes open and blinked hazily. He closed them again as the morning sun glared in through the window at him.

"Hey, get up." Dib stood and pulled the shades down, darkening the room.

Zim opened his eyes again and started to sit up, but gasped and sunk back down against the comfortable bed, clutching a hand over his chest.

"You seem well enough, now I want you to leave," Dib said as he was putting his belt on.

Zim sat up slowly and coughed, looking at the boy.

"Why?" he asked.

"I only helped you because you seemed desperate. But I'm not going to house you, or get in trouble for being with you." Dib sat on the end of the bed and pulled his boots on.

Zim shifted to the edge of the bed and leaned over, rubbing his head.

"I have nowhere to go."

"That's not my problem."

Dib rose and turned to him. The alien was looking at the window distantly, seemingly in thought.
"Zim!"

Zim glanced at him, then rose and rubbed his shoulder, which had stiffened up during the night as it healed. He winced as he moved it.

Dib stepped over to his dresser and opened the top drawer. He pulled out a shirt and unfolded it, his back to the alien. He slipped the shirt on and then reached for his coat. He glanced at Zim as he did so and saw him still gazing at the shaded window. Dib took a small handgun from the drawer and aimed it at the alien.

"I seriously do not need to be arrested for this.." he growled. Zim glanced at him and, upon seeing the gun, stumbled back a few steps and bumped against the lamp. His eyes widened as they locked onto it, a cold chill falling over him. He wrapped his hand over his shoulder and clutched it tightly, thoughtlessly.

Dib lowered the gun slowly, feeling bad as he saw the alien's fear. He set it on the dresser and crossed his arms.

"Look, if what I think happened, then I am in serious shit by having you here."

Zim blinked and shifted his gaze up at the boy. "I have nowhere to go." he repeated. "I don't even have my disguise.."

"I'm sorry, I just can't—"

"They will find me if I go back out!" Zim cried. Terror crept into his eyes and he shivered. "They killed GIR.."

Dib stared at him, never having seen the alien in such a broken state. He began pacing around in tight circles, as he did when thinking hard.

"You can't stay here, that's for sure. Can't you call your leaders?"

Zim shook his head and sat on the edge of the bed again. "The humans will be all over my base. I can't. But.."

Zim extended the communicator and tried to call GIR again. Just more white noise and static. His antennae fell against his head sadly and he retracted the device slowly, sitting on the bed again.

Dib felt sorry for him, but didn't know how to help. He sat next to the alien silently.

"What did they look like?" he asked quietly.

"Police officers, mostly. But there were also some men in grey-and-white uniforms. I don't know who they were." Zim's head drooped as he spoke.

Dib nodded slowly. "Researchers. Lab workers. Paranormals investigators, perhaps. I'm not aware of any groups who wear such uniforms though." He sighed and rubbed his hands together absently.

"They killed him.. Fucking killed him." Zim's hands clenched into fists in his lap and he gritted his teeth. Dib glanced at him and held back a reply. He didn't blame the humans; they were doing their job, and it was about time. He was sad for the little robot's death though. He never had a problem with GIR, and even thought him rather cute.

The human now turned to Zim and started to say something, but stopped. He had no words. Here sat the creature he so loathed, yet he could not help but feel compassion for him as he imagined losing all he had.

Dib hesitantly reached over and patted the alien's shoulder, not one for giving comfort. He stopped and folded his hands in his lap awkwardly when Zim glanced at him.

"Don't touch me," Zim said quietly, looking down at his own gloved hands.

Dib nodded and rose, stepping over to the door. "I'm going to go eat breakfast."

"Alright."