Horrible. That was how Son Gohan could perfectly describe the day he was having. The day had not even fully begun as it was only about 8 o'clock in the morning just to make things more frustrating. The twenty-eight year old currently sat with his back bent forward and his head in his hands. He could barely feel his elbows digging into his upper legs as his head was throbbing with the worst headache he had ever experienced. He desperately didn't want to open his eyes and face to the reality of the horrible fluorescent hospital lighting.
Yes, Son Gohan was currently in a hospital waiting room with his mother and seventeen year old brother. Goten sat quietly, his eyes glazed with tiredness as he was flipping through one of those typical reception room magazines, which were always boring and months too old. ChiChi was sat on the edge of her seat silent, but fuming.
The Son family was currently awaiting to see a doctor regarding the status of their leading patriarch, Son Goku. Gohan's muscles tensed as the memories of what brought them here flooded in his brain.
The intensity of the thud that followed his father collapsing at the dinner table would haunt Gohan forever. It had been entirely unexpected and caused an earthquake's intensity of shock within him and his family. The image of Goku's hands desperately clutching his chest and how red his face had become combined with the horror of Goku's lips moving but no audible words actually being spoken.
Gohan could still hear his mother's screams as he carried his father to the medical air carrier Bulma had sent to their rural mountain home. It had been preprogrammed to take them to the nearest but best hospital, which had turned out to be Satan City General. The family had been rushed into the emergency room and then to the cardiology wing within the first few hours of arriving and had remained there ever since nearing twelve hours now.
The shock of the events were finally wearing off. Before they had to change locations within the hospital complex, a nurse had informed them that Goku was indeed fine and was resting. A quick reading of his ki confirmed this for the two brothers as they immediately could see that Goku was indeed asleep and a good sleep at that.
ChiChi however always needed to see things with her own eyes before she could believe them. She vehemently demanded to see a doctor and be told what had happened, why, and if it would happen again.
Both brothers inwardly cringed when ChiChi asserted this knowing that the nurse would have no choice but to explain that an actual cardiologist would not be in until the morning and even then would take some time to determine anything. Rationality was lost on ChiChi at this point.
So that was why Gohan was having one of the most uncomfortable situations he had ever experienced. The toll of the previous events had been taken from his body. He had not eaten or slept. Along with this monster headache, his eyes were strained and he craved a shower.
Unlike his mother, he knew that science took time and didn't want the medical professionals to rush things. He had great respect for doctors and even knew some, having gone to university for hard sciences. His degrees were in environmental science, however, so he really wasn't qualified to make any medical opinions of his own.
His mother had definitely been little to no help by having her usual outbursts. It was her coping mechanism to remain proud and challenge others, in this case, the hospital staff. Frequently making remarks to them such as, 'when will I be able to see my husband? Can't you lot do your jobs properly?'
While Bulma had made sure the air carrier had directed them to the absolute best place to be within a reasonable distance, ChiChi had remarked several times that they should have gone to Kingsland. Kingsland being a city on the Southern Continent, as they were currently on the Eastern Continent. Kingsland was world famous for being the centre of medical science and that was where the best medical schools were located. The research conducted there was vital to the health of well, everyone. It was however quite literally on the other side of the world and travelling there would not have been feasible for the Son family. Even the two brothers' flying abilities had their limits, not to mention it wasn't wise to be carrying someone suffering from a heart related issue.
Gohan could briefly recall Bulma attempting to explain that to ChiChi over the phone last night. When ChiChi couldn't criticise the staff or her sons, she would torment Bulma instead. It didn't matter that the care Goku needed would be great here and efficient enough, ChiChi just wasn't thinking rationally and that was turning into anger she had to express.
Gohan knew his mother had all the reason in the world to be upset and worried after all none of this really made any sense. Goku was in perfect shape, and he didn't smoke or drink. A heart attack was highly unusual. He did try to console his mother and calm her down and of course it didn't work.
Gohan was snapped out of his recollection when Goten tapped him on the shoulder with urgency.
"Gohan, come on, the doctor's come by. Mom and him are already walking.", the teenager said curtly and quickly joined the others.
Getting up and opening his eyes far too quickly caused Gohan to groan. Dark spots invaded his vision for a split second before they dissolved away, probably due to a lack of blood sugar and sleep. Those awful fluorescent lights burned his retinas and every step felt heavy.
The doctor, a middle aged man in blue coloured hospital scrubs led them into a room. Which Gohan assumed was his office and it appeared so much nicer than the horrid reception they had been imprisoned in before.
"Please sit," he said smiling cheerfully as his hand guided them to some seats.
"No, I'm not sitting until you tell me what is going on with my husband!", ChiChi demanded.
Gohan was slightly amazed that his mother could still keep this up by now.
The doctor surprised them all however, by responding to ChiChi's challenging statement by laughing. This caused them all to raise an eyebrow for a split second as there were very few people who could stand up to her.
Smiling again and appearing very gentle the doctor spoke, "I'm not the doctor, just a male nurse."
ChiChi scoffed, "Well where is this doctor?! We've been waiting all night!"
The now nurse was still smiling and clearly had great patience. Gohan thought for a second that all hospital workers must deal with hysterical family members all the time.
"Please sit, the doctor will be with you shortly.", the nurse said, still gently but yet forceful as he again directed the trio to their designated chairs.
Gohan and Goten didn't need to be told again and took their seats quickly. Gohan purposefully took the middle seat, which was directly across from the doctor's. He knew that it would be him who would have to do most of the communicating and probably have to shield this poor doctor from his mother's unrelenting rage.
ChiChi sighed out of aggravation and took her seat defeated but not without speaking her mind as always, "He better be a good doctor!"
Gohan could have sworn that he saw the slightest hint of a cheeky grin on the nurse's face as he was walking out of the office. Just as he was closing the door, he managed to say, "Oh, you'll see him all right. Shouldn't be long now."
ChiChi continued to pout and Goten leaned back in his seat. Gohan took a minute to look around the office. It was pretty plain and there wasn't any real decor to speak of besides articles and certificates hung on the walls.
Gohan became surprised however as his eyes scanned those articles. They were all from highly prestigious science publications. The last thing that Gohan's eyes fell upon was the framed medical diploma which at the top in large embossed letters read Kingsland Higher Medical University. It obviously must belong to this doctor they had been waiting on.
"Oh look Mom, this doctor did actually study in Kingsland!", Gohan spoke eyes wide with interest only to wince at the volume of his own voice. The distractions had only temporarily relieved him of his headache, it was still there as a particularly harsh throb behind his eyes reminded him.
ChiChi again just huffed, there was no appeasing her, "Do they not have a sense of time in Kingsland?"
Just as Gohan was about to read the name of this doctor he was becoming more and more eager to meet, the creaking of the door caused all three of the Son family's heads to turn.
"All right! Let's get started!" A woman stated as she moved across the room.
She was dressed in a pristine white lab coat which was unbuttoned above a navy blue dress of which the hem could be seen before her bare legs began and ended with a pair of black heels. They clacked as she strode to the desk and took a seat, in the doctor's chair, her attention focused fully on the file in her hands.
She briefly looked up and made eye contact with Gohan and a slight smile formed on her face before returning back to the file and flipping through its contents.
Gohan's insides trembled a little. This woman was young, probably his age at the most. Maybe it was his exhaustion clouding his judgment, but he could've sworn that from her brief glance at him that her eyes were striking, their blue almost gem-like colour complimented her dark hair which was flowing past her shoulders and ended in slight waves. He thought for a split second that she was beautiful, before shaking it off realising how inappropriate that would be.
"Um, excuse me…" ChiChi began looking as though she was about to explode her face becoming more and more red, "we were told by your fellow nurse colleague that the doctor would be seeing us next. Where is he? What even are you, his student assistant?" she screeched her words obviously intended to insult the lady.
Gohan winced. If she was just an innocent student, and he desperately hoped that having this interaction with his mother wouldn't discourage her from having a career in medicine. He began to prepare for the worst reaction by tightening his fists.
However, much to everyone's surprise, instead of cowering down to ChiChi, the woman simply smiled and sat up straight with a confident professional grace.
"I am the doctor, Doctor Videl Satan.", she said confidently, her smooth Kingsland accent oozing out of every word.
