Invader Zim - Lost Chronicles of Doom! - Continuous Novel

Chapter Forty-Five - Ohana Means Family...

(Um. No. The title totally wasn't copyrighted by the producers of Lilo and Stitch. At all.)

Dib was sitting on the steps at the entrance of the funeral home. The sun was already resting on the horizon, casting red and orange explosions of color across the sky. The perfect sunset.

Except it wasn't perfect. Dib knew that in a little bit, his father would leave the building too, sit down right next to him, and tell him--

"Son."

Professor Membrane crouched down next to Dib and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Son," he repeated. Dib smacked his father's hand away and turned away from him, tears welling up in his eyes. Don't you dare cry... Not in front of Dad... It was no use. As the tears fell, Dib grabbed his father by the shoulders and shouted,

"Happy now?! You don't have any kids anymore! At least, not any you want! If you wanted to ruin my life, you could've at least ruined Gaz's too! It's not fair...." The anger turned to a sickeningly indifferent feeling of recklessness. "So go ahead. Send me to an orphanage. At least they'll care whether I'm sick, or drunk, or dead in a car wreck."

"Son!" Professor Membrane snapped, a little panicked. What had he done?! He was a horrible father, he didn't even come home from work for months at a time, he--he.... "I came to say--"

"You don't have anything to say to me. You never have before. So why does this make any difference, huh? Because you don't have your precious favorite child?"

"I came to say I'm sorry," said his father, and though his eyes were masked by goggles, you could tell there was hurt in them. "I should've never called you insane, I should've never been so carried away in my work, and I should've never, ever left you to face this cruel, dark world alone. You're my son, Dib. And I love you."

Those were the words that Dib longed to hear, ever since he was a little kid. I love you, Dib. I care for you, Dib. You're not alone, Dib. He suddenly felt dizzy and, for the first time, hugged his father, replying, "I love you too, Dad." Father and son, reunited, just like it should be.

The perfect sunset was gone, and the sky was filled with twinkling stars. Though it was dark, there was just enough light for the pair of Membranes to find their way back to the hospital, in peaceful silence.

■■■■

Zim's condition deteriorated as he half climbed, half fell into his bed. Apparently, soda bottles are harder, sharper, and more dangerous than they appear. Irken blood oozed down his ribs; his bandage was full. Good Tallest, he thought, I'm going to die on this miserable planet, just because of Dib and his horrible sibling! He groaned and laid down flat on his back, staring at the ceiling lights. His chest hurt as though it were being cut open with a scalpel, and the lights were so bright, there might be scientists above him, examining the strange color of his blood, the maroon eyes, the green skin.... He shuddered violently and forced the thought out of his mind. If the doctors haven't made a big deal of his... differences... then they won't now. At least, he didn't think so. Right?

A nurse walked into the room carrying a tray with some steak and broccoli on it. She stopped and froze when she saw the blood dripping down Zim's side, her face expressionless. "Well, Mr. Zim. It seems you've had... a bad time at the showing for Gaz?" She giggled in a nervous way. Oh, Zim thought dully, she was the one I tried to bite in the ambulance...

"Not in the mood for chatting? Okay. I'll get Doctor Wightman in here as soon as possible, so just hang tight," the nurse explained, setting the food on the cupboard next to Zim. All the Irken could do was nod. He really, really, really hated that cursed Dr. Wightman. The man was terrible to him. Absolutely horrid.