A/N: SORRY SORRY SORRY OMGGG. I've had no motivation to write and I've been super busy :( School doesn't let out until the 19th.

Professor Membrane woke up the next morning dazed and confused.

Had a car hit him?

His body throbbed. He tried to groan, but a mask was blocking his face and he didn't have enough lung power to produce any sounds.

"Dad," Dib whispered, grabbing Professor Membrane's hand. Professor Membrane looked at his son, dazed and confused. "You were really out of it last night, but you seem better right now—"

Dib was interrupted by a man possessing a smile and voice too cheery for the tired professor.

"Hello, professor," the man said. "We performed the surgery and it went well!" The man's patronizing grin grew wider, and Professor Membrane would've probably punched him if he wasn't so exhausted. "You were pretty dazed last night! You sort of collapsed after you returned from… your leave? We aren't sure why you left, and we're concerned for your safety."

The man put his hand on the professor's shoulder, and Professor Membrane glared at him with all he had. The man didn't get the memo, though, and kept right on talking.

"We're going to keep you where until we're… sure you can take care of yourself when you leave, both physically and mentally."

Professor Membrane glared. They thought he'd lost his mind. No! He was suffering here!

Professor Membrane coughed and placed his hand on his chest, surprised. He hadn't expected it to be so painful.

"Pain after the surgery is normal," the man said. "Just rest up. I'll check on you soon, Professor!"

The man left, and Professor Membrane relaxed, that is until another fit of coughing wracked his body with pain. He cringed; his breath in the mask smelled like blood.

"Dad, can you speak to me?" Dib asked, still holding his father's hand.

But Professor Membrane found that he couldn't. The mask kept him from doing so, and he didn't have enough lung power anyway. He hardly had enough energy to speak.

Why? Why did I ever deny you, Son? Why did I deny you when you told me that aliens were real? I'm probably going to die now, and it is my fault. It is all my fault.

Professor Membrane began to cry. Every sob made his lungs hurt, but he couldn't control himself.

"No, no, Dad! Please don't cry!" Dib gave his father's hand a small squeeze. He took a tissue from the little table next to the bed and wiped Professor Membrane's eyes with it.

Professor Membrane's heart melted. His son was so selfless, and yet he himself was not. Why? Why did he have to be so cruel? Maybe it would have been better if he had died.

Dib put the tissue aside and crawled onto the hospital bed and laid next to his dad, hugging him. Professor Membrane brought his arm up to a button next to the hospital bed. Liquid flowed through an IV into his arm. After a while, the liquid stopped flowing even though Professor Membrane was still pressing the button.

"Whoa, Dad. Your pupils are very dilated," Dib said. Professor Membrane made a sniffling noise in response, and he pressed the button more rapidly, even though it didn't do anything. He brought his arm back and closed his eyes, but he wasn't in peace. His facial expression was pained, in fact.

"You okay, Dad?" Dib said with confusion and concern. Professor Membrane didn't reply, but shook his head.

"You want me to get the doctors?"

Professor Membrane took a deep breath. "I want you, TO GET THE ALIEN OUT OF ME!" He gripped his chest in pain and began to scream. Immediately, doctors flooded the room. Professor Membrane barely had time to look at their faces before passing out.

He woke up at around sunset. How long had he been out, anyway?

He noticed Dib next to him. "Hey, son…" he croaked. Whew, he could talk again.

"Hey Dad," Dib said crawling up to him. "How are you feeling?"

Professor Membrane looked up at the ceiling for a second. "Dizzy. Also, I really have to pee," he said with a chuckle. "Wait here." He unplugged the IVs, too medicated to know what he was doing. He took off the mask and stumbled out of the bed.

"Dad, wait!" Dib said. Professor Membrane opened the door to the hallway and walked down the halls, looking for the bathroom and laughing a little. Dib ran after him. Professor Membrane walked down the hallways, acting as if this was his first time seeing windows or other people. He opened the door to the women's bathroom and almost walked into it, until Dib yanked on his gown and Professor Membrane turned around with a wobbly smile on his face. "What, son?" he asked.

"You can't go in there!" he asked, embarrassed about his father's actions. "You have to go in here!" He shoved Professor Membrane into the men's bathroom. Professor Membrane looked like he was about to pass out, so Dib shoved him into a stall. "Dad, it was a bad idea to remove the oxygen mask!" Dib hissed furiously.

"Okay," Professor Membrane said, not understanding what Dib was saying. Dib realized his father was acting a lot like a drunk man when he peed on the floor in front of the toilet and then stumbled out, collapsing in the hallway. Dib tried to help his father up but doctors were already getting onto that. Dib sighed in relief. He didn't want to help his dad anymore at the moment.

"What happened to him?" Someone asked.

Dib took a deep breath. "He's loopy," Dib said. The doctors stared at him, and Dib rolled his eyes. "He's really sick. Just take him back to the room."

The doctors nodded and got Professor Membrane hooked up to his proper medicines. Dib looked at the various IV bags, full of pretty colored liquids. He rubbed his chin and smirked. He was formulating a plan, and he would carry it out soon.