Disclaimer: I do not own Invader Zim

Warning: Nothing for this chapter

Last Kiss

Chapter 2: Beyond the wall of sleep

I have frequently wondered if the majority of mankind ever pause to reflect upon the occasionally titanic significance of dreams, and of the obscure world to which they belong. -HP Lovecraft, Beyond the wall of Sleep.

"How are his vital signs?"

"Steady. Blood pressure is back to normal. We had to transfuse three pints of blood."

"I heard there was an incident as they brought him in."

The resident shifted nervously as his eyes shifted about the room, not wanting to linger long on the boy asleep under the heavy sedation.

"The patient had begun to regain consciousness as they brought him in. He reacted so fast and violently it took five of us to hold him down, by then he had ripped out the tubes and bandages already in place, causing extensive injuries to one wrist. He also bit one of the medics, took a nice chuck out of his arm. Another has some deep gashes from his nails that needed stitches, and even the nurse has a black eye. I know this sounds crazy, but I swear with the look in that kid's eyes he would have killed us all if he had had the chance."

The doctor's brows furrowed as he looked at the file in his hands. Yes he knew this one quite well, knew his father too. But he had never shown violent tendencies before. Was more of the delusional, whimsical fantasy type, not this disturbing vehement display of anger or rage.

"Has his family been contacted yet?"

"Not yet, though we did leave a message with his father's secretary to contact us as soon as possible."

"Who called it in?"

The resident just shook his head. "No one knows who it was. He was alone in the house when they found him. If they had been any later he may not have made it. "

The doctor looked back down at the report he had been given. Someone had been in that house. Someone had tried to stop the bleeding, had wrapped bandages around the wounds. It just didn't make any sense.

"Lessen the sedatives, but let's keep him restrained until I have time to assess him. I'll see if I can't contact his father again."

He felt strange. Heavy and light at the same time, alone but needed, a part of him wanted to drift but there was also something that anchored him down. Where was he? What happened? The laughter, the pleasure of..something. There was also something fearsome, terrifying, it was there for just a moment and just as quickly gone. He struggled to remember what it was. He shivered, but he wasn't cold. IT was there, IT wanted out. HE wanted out.

Dib struggled to open his eyes, why was it so hard? Shapes blurred before him, the soft whispers of voices. His thoughts and dreams drained away like water and forgotten.

Slowly the room came into focus, a nurse was taking his vital writing them down. He felt confused and it must have shown on his face.

"Hello Dib, how are you feeling?"

Dib blinked at the man that was sitting in the chair next to his bed. It took him a moment and then everything came flooding back. He hung his head and looked away from the doctor. Dr. Perkins, which meant he was back at the asylum. How did he fail yet again?

"I've contacted your family, I'm sure they will be here soon."

"Has my father even returned your call yet?" Dib quietly asked.

Silence, so not even this was enough. He felt disappointment even though he had expected it. No, they were tired of coming to this place just as he was. They wouldn't come.

"Would you like to talk about it?"

Dib just kept his face turned away, he tried to move his arms but they wouldn't move very far. He looked down to see that they had restrained him. He just relaxed his body back into the bed, he wasn't even going to fight it. Not anymore. He was too tired.

"Why did you attack the doctors and the nurses, the EMT's? They were only trying to help you."

"What?" Dib looked over at Dr. Perkins.

"When they brought you in and you started too wake up, started to attack them. You seriously injured a few of them."

Dib just stared at him trying to remember anything like that happening. His mind was a total blank.

"I don't remember anything like that." His voice was strained. He would never do that, was slightly sickened as Dr. Perkins told him the details. After all he had dedicated his whole life to protecting them. Well, until recently anyways. But he would never do something like that. "I would never hurt people like that on purpose." He added in a whisper.

Dr. Perkins looked at him a moment, then wrote some things down in his chart.

"Yes, with your past history I have never seen you act aggressive towards anyone in a harmful way. I am going to put you on some anti-depressants, perhaps a little ativan to help with your anxiety, help you sleep." He leaned over and undid the restraints on Dibs hands. They were still heavily bandage and had begun to throb. "Nurse Carla here will give you something for the pain. And if you need anything else you may ask Jared here for anything."

Dib looked over at Jared. He looked to be in his late twenties, his white standard hospital scrubs tight across his chest and arms. He stood leaning against the wall, arms crossed as he watched Dib. Looks like they weren't going to let him be alone anytime soon. Bummer.

"Whenever you feel like talking just have them page me. I will see you again later tonight." Dr. Perkins stood to leave and he was just about to the door when Dib asked him. Asked him the one question that had been bothering him.

"How did you know?" The question didn't need any other explanation.

"It was an anonymous phone call. We barely got to you in time. Do you know who it might have been?"

Dib only shook his head no.

Dad was gone, Gaz wouldn't have cared. There was no one else.

Zim?

Was that even possible? Zim hated him too. Or was he just mad because he wasn't the one killing him. Either way it didn't matter. He was only back at square one. There were always other options.

Dr. Perkins just looked at him a moment before he too turned and left.

Dib drifted back to sleep with the drugs still coursing through him. But it would be a long, long time before he ever got a peaceful night sleep again.

a/n: This is definately going to be a horror story just a warning. Thanks to Invader Ang and UxieSweetie!