Monsters and Ladybugs - Ch 50

Monsters and Ladybugs
By Kitteh and Neofox
Rating: R
Warnings: Violence and intense smooching
Disclaimer: Smeets will eat our souls if we dare claim Invader Zim.  So yeah, Jhonen can keep his smeets of DOOM!
Summary: DADR. Three years later Dwicky comes back to fix what he messed up. But the little boy he left behind is no longer the same energetic soul from before and now may just be too broken to reach.
Beta: sakura3091


Chapter 50

Dwicky froze, fear washing over him. He stared at the boy now huddled like some abused wild animal near the wall, but again that impatient pounding of a fist at the door interrupted. Dwicky pressed a hand to his heart, which felt like it leapt in his throat. He gestured to Dib. "Watch the video until I get back. Okay? Just stay put." He didn't need Dib running around in the state of mind he was in.

Dwicky stood from the couch and hurried to the door before the pounding could gain the attention of his neighbors. Wiping what tears still lingered from his cheeks, he threw opened the door and hissed at the familiar as quietly as he could, "Godamnit, Trec-please be more quiet."

Narrowed eyes with dark circles looked back at Dwicky. It was more than obvious by Trec's appearance that the man hadn't been getting the sleep he needed, nor did he look like he had been taking care of himself at all. The clothes he wore looked as if they had been picked up off the floor from some time ago and put back on just for the sake of something to wear. "I don't care how fucking loud I am, we need to talk. Now." Trec tried to make his voice sound even, but it just sounded more tired than anything.

Dwicky was taken aback by his friend's appearance, and all previous aggravation he had for Trec fell away. He dragged his fingers through his own shaggy hair and nodded in submissive agreement. Guilt and dread tightened his throat. "…Sure. Yeah. Come in." He stepped aside to let Trec in, shutting the door after them both. He led them into the kitchen, giving Dib the living room to himself.

As soon as they entered the kitchen Trec fell against one of the counters, leaning heavily against it for some sort of support as he spoke up. "It's a mess, Dwicky. A damn mess. I don't know what I'm doing anymore. One day I think things might get better, and the next… I'm not so sure anymore." He pushed away from the counter, not really able to stand still as he started walking around. "He's worse. I don't want to call him crazy because it's wrong to call someone you love crazy, isn't it? At the same time, with the way things have finally gotten, I'm not even sure Macks is Macks anymore. So I don't even know if it fucking matters." He looked back at Dwicky.

Dwicky opened his mouth but just as quickly shut it. Trec's state spoke volumes, and it proved all of Dwicky's worst fears; this wasn't getting better. He dragged his fingers through his hair again, unsure of what to make of any of this. There were too many problems and he was out of answers. "He's... is it really that bad?" It felt like such a stupid question and he felt like a heel immediately after those words left his mouth. But his eyes darted around as if Macks were to appear suddenly. "Where is he, anyway?"

"Is it that bad?!" The question was shouted back at Dwicky. "Fuck, Dwicky, what kind of question is that? I wouldn't be standing here, saying all of this to you, if it wasn't that bad!" As if realizing he had shouted at his friend, Trec tried to regain whatever little composure he had left, which wasn't much to begin with, and turned away from Dwicky to stare at the fridge. His hands shook at his sides, but he paid them no mind for the time being. "S-Sorry. Anyway, uh, Fwenn said I sounded like shit. She said I looked like it, too. He was asleep for once, so she promised to come over and stay with him as long as I got some air." Trec ran a hand through his hair, gripping the strands tightly. "I made her promise."

Dwicky was finding it hard to breathe. His hand went to his throat, and he could feel his heart race under the skin beneath his fingers. "P-promise what?" He felt himself swallow hard and thick underneath his palm.

"To keep him under control and not leave his sight once." Trec's hand fell away as he started speaking again, only to grip the back of his neck instead. "I told her that if anything happened to him while I was gone that it would be her fault and I didn't know what I would do." He gave a choked sound and turned to Dwicky again as his voice raised. "Damnit, Dwicky, I fucking threatened Fwenn! What the fuck is wrong with me?!"

Dwicky blinked, shocked. He stared at Trec with wet eyes; his heart ached for his friend, but it was more painful than just guilt. "...Y-you're stressed and worried," he started out oh-so-softly. "An understatement... I know." He couldn't hold Trec's gaze anymore and he looked away, backing up until he could support himself against the counter. He felt weak-kneed and sick.

At such words Trec let out a small laugh, hollower than any laugh he had ever given. "No kidding it's an understatement. 'Stressed' doesn't even begin to explain what I'm going through right now!" His voice was getting louder, but he didn't care. "He's so much worse. He won't stop screaming. He wakes up in the middle of the night and talks about things that leave me terrified!" Without warning Trec got closer to Dwicky, lashing out with a pointed finger at the other man's chest. He just couldn't keep it in anymore. "This is your problem! It shouldn't be ours! It shouldn't be happening to us, but no, right now everything is just peachy with you and your little boy toy while your two best friends have to fucking suffer because of it!"

Dwicky's eyes widened and he paled. He stared at the finger stabbed toward his chest and swallowed before he spoke, but his voice stayed quiet and shaken. "I know what you're going through... I've lived it. I'm sorry, Trec. I'm so... so sorry." But he knew that wouldn't be enough for Trec, not in this state of mind. Gently, he pushed Trec's hand from his chest and walked to the entrance of the living room, holding onto one of the kitchen chairs to keep himself standing on shaky legs. He wanted to help Trec, and at the same time he needed to check up on the boy in the living room. "But Dib isn't okay. He can't remember anything. It's like the past three years never happened and he still thinks he's in the asylum."

Those words drained only a fraction of the anger from Trec's mind and replaced it with confusion, but his next words still came out harsh. "What are you talking about?" He was right behind Dwicky, interested in what the man had to say, but he didn't expect to find the teenager in the other room as well since it was a Skool day and Dib shouldn't have even been there. Nor did he expect to find him in the state he was in.

In the far corner of the room sat the small bundle that Dib had become over time. The television no longer played the tape and instead there was only static, and gloves were tossed aside near the teen so nails could trace cruel lines up and down his pale arms. He didn't even hear Dwicky and Trec enter, too far off in his own personal space to notice.

"Oh no, Dib." Dwicky shook his head sadly at what he saw. "Dib. Dib don't do that. Sweetie," he softly chastised like some fretting parent. He walked over to fetch the gloves, kneeling in front of Dib after he had them in hand. "Dib, don't scratch yourself like that. That's bad. And hurts." He tried to take Dib's hand from his arm to stop him, and slip the glove back on. "Let's put these back on, okay?"

The sudden voice finally had Dib's eyes turning to Dwicky. There was fear in them once again and as Dwicky kneeled next to him Dib tried to scurry away, but the wall provided no real escape. "Get away from me! Don't touch me!" He looked around with panicked eyes until they landed on Trec as if somehow the man would make Dwicky go away.

Trec could only stare without really knowing what to do. It didn't make any sense to him why Dib was acting in such a way. He wasn't used to such behavior from the teen, especially towards Dwicky. "He's acting just like Macks..." The words were a whisper before he turned his gaze to the other man. "What's going on? Why's he so afraid of you?"

"He can't remember me. He thinks he's twelve again," Dwicky quietly explained, pausing at Dib's reaction. "He can't seem to remember; I mean… he can't seem to retain any memories after a few minutes. He just forgets it again." He offered Dib the gloves, giving the boy a firm look of authority. "Put these on." His voice left no place for questioning; he was tired, and just wanted some part of today to go his way. "I'll give you your space if you just put these on."

At Dwicky's stern voice Dib immediately stilled and looked down at the gloves. For the promise of being alone he took the restricting things from the man and went about putting them on even though he didn't like them. As soon as he was done his gaze went right back to Dwicky to make sure the man did as he said he would.

The information he was told caused every bit of the anger in Trec to just melt under a torrent of shock. He never knew such a thing was possible, but Dwicky had just outright said so and the proof was sitting huddled up against the wall. "He can't remember you? Everything is just gone?" He knew he was just repeating what was said, but his brain felt like it had left his head. "What kind of fucked-up shit is this?!"

Dwicky did as he promised Dib, stepping away and standing back up before he walked to Trec. "I don't know. This isn't a common thing in schizophrenia." It was hard to withhold the bite in his voice; he was tired of being the scapegoat for this situation. "Is Macks the same? Can he remember things?" A frown seemed to permanently etch his face.

Trec kept his eyes on Dib as he answered the question. "Yes… things about himself, but mostly things about Dib. I don't know what those things are saying to him, but they're messed up." He looked away from the teen and back to Dwicky, speaking with anger once again. "I don't know how we plan on fixing him, but however we plan on doing it we need to do it soon."

Dwicky chewed his lip, hard, but the pain and splitting of skin didn't remedy anything. He pressed his lips together in a hard, thin line. The man shook his head; helpless, so helpless. "... I really don't know, Trec," he said weakly.

"You don't know? A week and still nothing at all?" Trec was ready to pace the floors, throw something, or even punch something. With Dib in the state he was in right across the room, it probably wouldn't be a good idea. "How long is Macks supposed to stay that way, huh? Is he just supposed to keep suffering until he's the one locked up in some loony bin like Dib was? Because I'll tell you right now I'm not going to let that happen!"

"No one's going there, Trec," Dwicky gently spoke up. "No one is going to be locked up. I promise." His voice petered away; he was promising a lot of things, and his promises were holding little water in each. He gave a long, audible sigh, letting his tired eyelids shut. "This isn't easy to figure out. Especially since it's Macks who knows hypnosis."

Trec was about to open his mouth, to tell Dwicky to get someone else to do it, but there was no one else Trec trusted with Macks. The fact that he had threatened Fwenn was proof enough of that at the moment. Such a thing caused him to shut his mouth quickly and look away. With the sudden bout of anger gone for the time being he looked even more tired then before. "I just want it all to go away."

"Me too," Dwicky quite animatedly agreed. He glanced at Dib to make sure the boy still had his gloves on, and he did. He also had taken to picking every little bit of fuzz off the glove itself with the big, oversized fingers of the other. The action was taking him a lot of care, for it took many tries to do so.

Dwicky turned back to Trec, reaching over a hand to grip his friend's shoulder and give it a reassuring squeeze. "You look like shit now, but he's so damn lucky to have you. After all this is over... h-he'll see just how dedicated you are to him, and just how much you really love him." Dwicky tried to smile optimistically but he barely managed to tweak his lips crooked. "And I know that deep down somewhere beneath that mess Macks already knows." He gave a weak sound that was supposed to sound like a chuckle. "You know how Macks hates to show any real heart-felt emotion. He'd only do that around you. You're the only one he'd show just how much he really could love... and hurt." He gave Trec's shoulder a gentle shake of assurance. "We can figure this out."

Trec blinked wet eyes at Dwicky and when he realized it he quickly moved both hands up to dig palms into them. "I want to. I want to be able to figure everything out so badly, but I don't want him to have to go through it any more than he has to." As if just realizing what he just said, Trec raised his head up once more and let his hands drop only a little from his face. "What about Dib?" He turned his eyes away to the teen in the corner of the room.

At his name, Dib quickly looked up as if expecting to be scolded for what he was doing. It caused him to drop his hands and instead place them in his lap. When no shout of anger came he looked on puzzled until he dropped his eyes back down.

Dwicky watched Dib, his gaze falling as well. "…He isn't hurting anyone right now. He's so confused about what's going on... As long as he's watched, and he doesn't hurt himself... he should be alright for the moment." Dwicky looked back at his friend. "I don't think I can handle him not recognizing me every few minutes again, but... I'll deal. I need to think. Think, think, think." Dwicky knocked on his own head. "There's got to be a solution to this." His hands fell lifelessly at his sides. "...Somewhere."

"Then why isn't it making itself known?" Trec was obviously frustrated with the whole situation when the question left his lips. He walked away from Dwicky and over to the couch, needing to sit down for the moment. He just couldn't hold himself up anymore. It was all too much. He was about to take a seat when he spotted something black and leather. He picked it up and then sat. He remembered the small coat vaguely when he had visited Dwicky before, but before he could comment on it the piece of clothing was snatched away by small gloved hands, causing him to look towards the culprit.

Dib held the coat possessively while he stared hard at Trec. For a long moment he stayed silent until he moved back quickly towards the wall. "It's mine..." The words were spoken in a childish way, like a kindergartener not wanting to share their toys.

"Sorry..." It was the only thing Trec could think to say. Otherwise he was speechless.

Dwicky's hand went to his mouth, his brows creased, and for a long moment he couldn't take in nor let out a breath for fear of breaking into a thousand unfixable pieces. He backed up until he felt the sturdy flat of the wall against his back. Down he slid, like a lifeless doll that had no will or way to keep up. Clumsily he sat, gathered in his own limbs, and his eyes never left the boy who held no recognition nor care for his disorientation. The image of Dib blurred for Dwicky and he buried his face in his hands. The tears wouldn't stop, and he didn't bother to try.

With the sudden noises and movement, Trec's attention turned back on Dwicky. The other man looked about as broken as he himself felt. "Dwicky..." The name was spoken sadly, and he got up from the couch just as quickly as he had taken a seat to join his friend on the floor. Without any real word he wrapped an arm around his shoulder, trying his best to comfort the other while giving whatever space he needed at the same time.

Dwicky's shoulders shook under Trec's arm in stifled sobs. He gave in to his friend's offered comfort and leaned his head into Trec, unable to watch Dib in his current state any longer. His tearful sounds became more audible, but he was starting not to care. It wasn't like Dib would remember this sight in a few minutes anyway. All the same he was thankful for Trec's dropped anger and moment of comfort.
Dwicky gave a wet sniff, his eyes still buried in his hand. "M'sorry, Tr'c. I am. Sorry."

Trec could only nod his head at the broken words. He hadn't expected such a thing to happen when he came over Dwicky's place. He had expected himself to be the one to break down to Dwicky, not it turning the other way around. "Things are tough right now. You don't have to be sorry." He ran a hand up and down his friend's back. Anything to try and calm the state Dwicky was in. "Maybe we really will figure everything out. Then things will go back to normal." He was suddenly trying to be the calm one, but he was getting used to it with all the nights he had stayed up trying to calm Macks down.

Dwicky rubbed at his eyes, trying to settle down as he rested against Trec. He felt so beaten and used up; tired, despite the regular hours of sleep he'd gotten. Even a while after Trec's assuring, Dwicky stayed with his head bowed, feeling raw all over. He made a small noise before speaking. "...Strange... to hear you so optimistic." He sniffed again. "…You've really grown strong."

"I'm not as strong as you may think." Trec frowned at his own words, but quickly tried to cover them up with a shrug of his shoulders. "We all need someone to help us at some point. None of us can do any of this alone. It would be silly to think that." Trec tried to keep his own noise in, but it came out anyway, broken, as he tried to stop his own tears from showing at all. "I thought when I came over here everything would be fine, like always… that I would have a shoulder to cry on, so to speak. It's such a shock to see things just as messed up for the two of you just as they are for us." He shook his head. "Everything is fucked up."

"Damnit, Trec." Dwicky frowned at himself, feeling worse for unloading his own troubles on Trec when, despite his friend's previous anger, he'd come to Dwicky for comfort. "I fucked us all up." He moved onto his knees so he could be the one to wrap arms around the other, so used to providing Dib such forward comfort that he didn't give a second thought to hugging Trec. "You're right, this isn't your problem-it should never have been your problem. I shouldn't have dragged you and Macks into this-I shouldn't have asked-hell, I shouldn't have even told you."

Trec went rigid, not exactly expecting such a thing like a hug. Of course in the past, when things were at their worst, the two of them had only had each other to confide in. "Who else would you have had to rant about it to?" Trec gave a weak smirk. "I'd hate to see you break down to your parents about something like this and then ask them for money to run away with." He shook his head. "Those days are over, I'm afraid." He let out a sigh.

Dwicky let out a weak snicker. "I don't think my mom and dad would appreciate it... or understand as much as you do." He let his head heavily rest on Trec's shoulder. "They'd probably disown me and commit me to the loony bin... Hmm. They always threatened it. Wouldn't stop them now, especially." He rubbed Trec's back a moment, then stopped and sniffed wetly again. His tone went back to something solemn. "I really am so, so sorry about Macks. So sorry. I'm doing everything I can. I'm trying; I wish I could come up with something."

"An answer has to come sooner or later." Trec looked back over to Dib, who had started to poke at the wall with one lonely finger. "I'm sorry so much has happened to you as well, Dwicky. I should have stopped to think that you would be under just as much pressure because of all of this." He let out a sigh and raised a hand to rub at his eyes before looking back down at his friend. "We just have to put our heads together. Despite how messed up we are, we'll think of something."

Dwicky tightened his hug on his friend. "…Thanks, Trec." He nodded slowly against the other's shoulder. "You're right... We'll think of something." His worn voice petered off.

Trec pulled back a bit to look down at Dwicky with tired eyes of his own. "Try to stay together, alright? Dib may not remember anything, but he still needs you. Just like Macks needs me..." Those last few words were spoken a little more softly before he went on. "It's tough for both of us, but if we continue to fall apart… what will happen then?"

Dwicky raised his head up and weakly nodded. Trec was right again, and he knew it. This was no time to fall apart or to get angry and blame the other. With a long, exhausted sigh, Dwicky lifted his head back up and glanced at Dib. It was dangerous for Dib like this. They had to figure out something quick before the situation got worse.

As if feeling eyes on him, Dib looked away from the wall and towards the two men across the room. His hand fell instantly, as if he had been doing something wrong, and he curled both arms around his legs to bring them to his chest. He never once moved his gaze away from Dwicky and Trec.

"He's so different." Trec's voice broke the tense silence that had covered the room again. He had moved away from Dwicky to lean against the wall once the man moved around, just wanting to rest for a bit. "It's so strange to seem him like that. I'm not used to it at all."

"It's what he was like in the institution... except he used to scream before." Dwicky shook his head. "I don't want to go through that again." He rubbed his own arm, the other sneaking around to rub his side; he suddenly feeling cold after being so emotionally drained. "…I miss my lively, cheerful Dib." He kept his eyes on the boy as he spoke, and it was hard to tell if he was speaking to Trec or Dib.
Dwicky raised a weak hand and waved Dib's way, wondering just how many times the boy had forgotten him by now.

There was no greeting back. Only a widening of eyes before they narrowed hatefully. Dib refused to speak up to the man across from him and seemed to feel nothing for how worn down and stressed Dwicky looked. Instead he dropped his gaze down to his feet, which barely touched the sheet he had torn up much earlier.

Trec watched the exchange, feeling worse and worse for Dwicky. To see Dib act so coldly toward Dwicky weirded him out, and he needed an excuse to get away from it. Dwicky's body language gave him that excuse. "Hey man, you look like you're freezing. You want me to go in your room and get a blanket or something? Hell, maybe just a shirt."

"You should get Dib a shirt," Dwicky spoke up distantly, his eyes not leaving Dib's. "No wait, a sweater. Yeah. That would be better." Dwicky hugged himself loosely, a part of his conscious mind seeming to have leaked off to somewhere else. All the same, he made a weak gesture with his fingers. "Top left-hand drawer. Dresser. ......Yeah."

Trec kept his eyes on Dwicky until he realized the man's words were his final cue to actually get up. "Alright. I'll be right back, man." He got up, using the wall for support. As soon as he was sure he could stand on his own, he made his way down the small hall to Dwicky's room, leaving the two alone.

Dib had raised his head when Trec got up. It was on instinct that he did so, since he was afraid the tall man might do something to him on his way out of the living room. As soon as Trec was gone he dropped his gaze back down, but not before looking at Dwicky for a few seconds, no real expression in his stare as he did so.

"You don't hear any voices, do you?" Dwicky quietly broke the silence, purposely talking to Dib. Focus flitted back into his gaze and he looked at the boy. "They aren't telling you to do anything... so you aren't."

Dib's attention immediately went back to Dwicky at the man's voice. He scooted back a little and seemed afraid for a few seconds until he finally gave a slow shake of his head. "No..." The answer was quiet, as if he were afraid to speak too loudly. "They haven't said anything." He bowed his head. "Why do you care?"

"I do. A lot." Somehow Dwicky managed to smile weakly; he didn't know how he could still do it. He gave a shrug. "I thought about you all the time while I was gone. I even..." He took a quick breath. "I even recorded some things for you to see while I was on my trip." Dwicky kept his voice kind and optimistic, like he was talking to someone half Dib's age. "Space. Suns. Planets. Aliens. You opened my eyes to whole new worlds."

"Aliens..." The whispered word left Dib's lips before he turned his eyes back to Dwicky. "You saw all those things?" He chewed at his bottom lip and pulled at the gloves a little before going on. "That means you still have the proof. You can still help me with Zim, right? You have to, because I..."

Dwicky gently shook his head. "You've been institutionalized for years, Dib, and Zim hasn't taken over the planet. He's not going to now, and he's not going to ever." His brows furrowed as he looked at Dib with sorrow. "Just... let it go, Dib. Just let it go." He shut his eyes, going back to lean against the wall, so tired. "…It's time you just let all of it go."

Those words didn't seem to help Dib's state of mind. His eyes narrowed again and the anger came back out. "But I can't!" He stood up on much-too-shaky legs, but he seemed not to care if he fell over. "What happens when he succeeds?! It will be my fault!" He fell back against the wall and raised gloved hands to his head. "It'll be all my fault!"

Trec had come running out of Dwicky's room at the first few shouts. His eyes were wide and he almost dropped the sweater he held as he watched Dib's small breakdown.

Dwicky didn't even seem to notice Trec's reappearance; maybe he didn't care. "…You're just one little boy, Dib." He continued on just as quietly as before, "And it isn't your job to take care of everyone. The world isn't yours to take care of." Dwicky let his eyes open to look at the disheveled boy. "You can't save everyone, Dib. You can't save someone who doesn't want to be saved." Dwicky lifted his head from the wall to sit properly, his voice taking a firmer edge. "You can't save anyone if you can't even save yourself."

That had Dib's eyes snapping back to Dwicky again. They seemed to hit him hard and his next words were cruel as they were repeated for the second time that day. "I hate you!" It was like a child having a temper tantrum, but much, much worse. "You never wanted to help me. You only cared about yourself in the first place." Dib let his arms drop as he slid down the wall, broken. "I'll always be alone through this whole thing..."

The words had caused Trec to flinch, only because he knew the truth of Dib and Dwicky's relationship and knew such words would sting. The only thought in his mind was to stop whatever other words were to come out from either of them before things could get worse. "Uh, Dib..." He walked towards the small teen, but didn't approach closely enough to scare him. "I got you a sweater. You've gotta be cold, right?" When he got no response, Trec frowned, but didn't dare walk closer. Instead he put it on the arm of the couch for Dib to grab whenever he wanted, then made his way back over to Dwicky.

"You lie to protect people, Dib. To protect them from themselves. You're self destructive, Dib. You just can't see it. You wouldn't ever admit it." Dwicky leaned forward, knitting his fingers together in a habitual professional manner. "How many times have you screwed up, Dib? How many times have you made the wrong choices, thinking they were right? Didn't you want everyone to forgive you? How can you ask for something like that and not give the same…?" Dwicky shook his head with underlying sadness. "You're not neglectful like your father, Dib. You're so much better than all of this."

Dib had stared at the sweater that was placed down on the couch, but listened to Dwicky's words instead of picking it up. He continued to stay silent even after the man was finished speaking and finally moved towards the piece of fabric. His hands picked at it and he kept his head bowed so the tears in his eyes couldn't be seen. "You hurt me..."

"I know I did," Dwicky confessed softly. "And I know a hell of a lot of other people did, too. Especially your father."  He took in an audible breath. "But realize I'm one of the few, perhaps only, people who are trying, trying so hard to make up for what I did. Doesn't that prove I deserve another chance?" Dwicky leaned forward, almost moving to his knees, hands out in submission. "Please Dib. Please. I'm sorry. So very, very sorry. Please, will you forgive me? Give me one more chance."

Dib continued to stare down at the unfamiliar sweater until wet eyes moved back to Dwicky. With gloved hands he pulled the sweater with him as he started away from his small little safety zone and towards the man. He took tiny steps and stopped just inches from Dwicky, staring right into the man's face before he dropped to his knees and crawled forward to cling to Dwicky's front with the sweater in hand. He just wanted to feel comforted at the moment, and Dwicky seemed so willing to seek some form of forgiveness that he took the opportunity.

Trec stared, shocked. He didn't expect Dib to ever get close to Dwicky again. At least not any time soon. It was surprising to say the least, but as the shock wore off a serious expression came to his face, as he knew the moment wouldn't last long. "His memory might go soon..."

With a stifled noise Dwicky had his arms instantly around Dib. He was just as shocked as Trec-perhaps more so-but he didn't let it show; he just hugged the boy and gave him every bit of comfort he desired with utter complacence. "Trec," he quietly but calmly spoke, "get a pen and paper. Now."
Dwicky rubbed the boy's back; the same comforting gesture that came so naturally to him now. "Dib." He tried to gain the boy's attention. "I want you to concentrate on the situation. I need you to focus. Then we're going to write it down on paper, okay? So you don't forget."

Trec could only give a puzzled look at Dwicky's command, but did as he was told anyway. The words had really left no room for argument. "Alright, whatever you say."

Dib barely lifted his head to watch Trec search around the room, but Dwicky's voice brought his eyes back to the man. "Focus?" He blinked his eyes as if the word was something foreign. For a few more seconds he stared up at Dwicky before he rested his head back down, finding that both the situation and the comfortable man put him at ease.

"Pen and paper!" Trec spoke the few words as he handed the two things over to Dwicky. It hadn't been hard to find both supplies at all, and Trec leaned against the wall when his hands were free again. "What good is any of this going to do anyway?"

Dwicky stopped running his fingers through Dib's hair to take the pen and paper from Trec. "If Dib writes himself a note and he forgets, he'll recognize his own hand writing and perhaps that'll be enough to convince him to remember. Or at least believe that it did happen." He looked down at Dib. "Did you hear that, kiddo? I really need you to focus, okay? You have to write down something to help you remember this. Only you can write this. It has to be in your hand writing so you can recognize it." He sought Dib's hand, slipping the glove off so he could put the pen in the boy's fingers. He set the paper beside Dib on the floor. "You can do this. You need to do this, okay? So you can remember. I need you to remember, Dib."

Dib lifted his head once again to look at the pen handed to him. Since the glove had been taken off he couldn't help moving his fingers around while he clung to the writing implement. His other hand held the paper steady and looked at it. "I don't know what to write...." He glanced up at Dwicky for a quick second before he looked around the room with wide eyes. It seemed to come to him then, and he put the pen to the paper as he looked back down.

Dwicky continued to rub Dib's bare back, encouraging the boy and comforting him at the same time. He glanced at Trec's worried face before he looked down to see exactly what Dib had decided to write.

"You're at Dwicky's place. Dwicky really wants to help you and make things better this time around." Dib read his own childish scrawl aloud. When he was done he picked up the paper and turned it around for Dwicky to see. He almost pushed it completely in the other's face, but stopped short. "See." It was as if he were showing off a drawing instead of words.

Dwicky looked at the writing, the letters misshapen as if Dib hadn't written in years. All the same Dwicky nodded, looking on it with appreciation as if it were instead an awe inspiring drawing. "Very nice, Dib." He lowered the paper so he could look at Dib and give the boy's hair a friendly ruffle-pet. "Good job, kiddo. Now just keep thinking about what you wrote. Keep focus on your words. Hopefully you'll remember." He smiled weakly once more.

Dib flinched only a little at the small pet. It wasn't something he was used to. Afterwards he let the smallest of smiles come over his face because of the little nickname and easily did as told, looking over the words again and again. While he read he continued to stay close to Dwicky, keeping still near the man's lap.

Trec watched the scene in front of him with careful eyes. With Dib so calm and still, things seemed a little more normal. It wasn't meant to be, though and the slightest thing could probably set the teen off or jar his memory again.

Despite Trec's worries, Dwicky was pleased with what little fragile cooperation he was getting. His attention fell on the discarded sweater and he picked it up, laying it over Dib's shoulders and back with careful motions so he didn't startle the boy. After that was done Dwicky looked to Trec and gave the smallest of victorious smiles. "…Thanks, Trec," he said quietly, as if the sound of his voice could shatter the moment of triumph. "If you hadn't come by, I don't think I could have handled this as well."

Trec blinked his eyes, but in the end gave half a smile. "Never mind the fact I came over to give you a piece of my broken mind, right?" He stretched out against the wall while letting out a sigh. "Either way it's no problem, man. You would have been there for me just the same. That's the way it's always been." He looked back down to the boy that stayed so near Dwicky. "We'll find a way to fix him for you."

Dwicky gave a careful nod, looking back to Dib as well. "…And Macks." He wanted to reach out a hand to pet the boy's hair, maybe his back, to comfort both of them, but he was far too afraid that such a small, daring action would cause a consequence he just couldn't deal with again.

"Macks, too." Trec frowned at that. He still didn't know what to do for Macks, but he didn't want to voice that aloud anymore. Instead, he moved onto a different topic. "If Dib's memories keep relapsing over and over then how are you going to let him go back home?" Trec moved a hand back to scratch at his neck. "He can't exactly stay here every day, can he?" He raised a brow.

"Dad put me there. Dad doesn't want me back." The words were said in a sad voice from Dib's own mouth as he continued to read the words on the paper. "I can't go back home 'til I'm all better." He shook his head back and forth. "I'm not all better yet. I'm still crazy." The pen was used to doodle small little faces on the edge of the paper. "Still a crazy little boy."

A sad expression settled on Dwicky's face, though the frown shown in his eyes rather than on his mouth. He looked from Trec to Dib "Why don't you draw little ladybugs, Dib? Remember how so many of them gathered on your windowsill in the spring? Made you happy, didn't it. I'm sure drawing some of those little fellows would make you happy, hm?" He glanced back at Trec and shrugged; he hadn't a clue what he was going to do from here on end.

Dib looked up at Dwicky for a second with narrowed eyes. It was more than obvious he was wondering how the man could know such a thing. He was too content at the moment to really question it though, and the idea was something he didn't seem to mind. "Ladybugs..." He looked back down at the paper and slowly began to draw.

The simple shrug had Trec frowning. He would have hated to see Dwicky get in trouble over all of this horrible nonsense. They had to think of something… Dib couldn't go home. At least not in the state he was in. "Well, how was he able to be over here today?"

"He said he was spending the night at a friend's place." Dwicky paused, anger flitting through briefly on the topic of Dib's irresponsible father. "...Despite my better efforts, the man just doesn't seem to want to bother." He shook his head. "I don't know how long that excuse will fly. And... he has skool." Dwicky faltered, nervous about the next topic he was going on to. "T-Trec... this strange amnesia didn't start until recently. If Dib's mind is deteriorating now, w-what about Macks?" He had to look at Trec then, his forehead wrinkling with worry. "H-has he taken a recent turn for the worse lately?"

Everything about Trec stilled, and he couldn't look away for along time. His mouth was the only thing to move, and it only did so that he could actually answer Dwicky. "That's why I came over. It was hurting me to see him get worse and worse. Everything he wakes up from sounds more and more horrible." He finally shook his head and looked towards the far wall. "Sometimes I can't even tell what he's talking about, and I have to just calm him down until he passes back out."

Dwicky's expression went empathetic. "…So all he does is ramble and sleep?" he asked very gently.

"If he ever sleeps." Trec shook his head again. "Those times are few and far between. Half the time he has to take sleeping pills just to get through the night." The man scowled as he bowed his head to look down at his feet. "I don't like doping him up like that, so sometimes I just see if he can get through the night on his own." His face fell. "He can't."

Dwicky's gaze fell, heavily weighed by Trec's words. He wasn't sure what to say; he'd given as much advice as he could, and Trec was doing his damnedest through it all. As he opened his mouth to speak, what words would come he couldn't be sure of, the loud shriek of the telephone shattering their lulled moment.