Author's Notes: This was an idea I was playing with. It's my first real fanfiction of this nature. I tried hard. Reviews are loved, while flames are not. If it's not good tell me nicely.

You Were My Strength:

Vegeta pressed the buttons after a few seconds of lingering outside the room. The lights were still off and Cherris was sprawled on top of her bed. When he entered she neither moved nor acknowledged his presence in any way. She simply lay there, staring hollow eyed at the ceiling of her small quarters. After entering a few more paces he saw the damage Zarbon had done to it's full extent. Cherris's bra unlatched and her shirt thrown without care across the room. Her pants were down and pushed past down past her knees.

Her skin was scattered with bruises. As he looked over her his heart burned with an unbearable rage. She was supposed to be strong. She wasn't supposed to be weak! She wasn't supposed to be vulnerable! It wasn't right! She told him to be strong and survive everyday! But here she was letting that filth destroy her! How could she tell him to never give in while she herself had long since given in and lost all hope?

Had she let Zarbon do as he pleased? It was more than obvious. The bruises weren't from a struggle; they were from his rough and careless hands. Cherris was not a fighter, nor was her race gifted with fighting abilities as the Sayians. Had she struggled, Zarbon would have mauled her, if not killed her. More importantly how long had it been going on? Surely this was not the first time. He'd seen that look before. It was only now that he realized where that look came from and why it manifested itself in the eyes of someone he looked to for strength.

Why had she never said anything? Why had she kept this from him and for how long? Did she think he'd never find out? What did she accomplish in hiding this? She was protecting him from herself, what she was really like-her weakness, or was it something else?

He wasn't a boy anymore. He was a man. He had been for a very long time. Though he was only in his fifteenth year, he had the emotional stamina of some twice his age. Vegeta had seen more than many would ever see in many lifetimes. Vegeta was the slave to an evil tyrant and the one person who kept him going seemed to be leaving him bit by bit.

Vegeta stared down at Cherris's almost lifeless body. Her breathing was shallow, but steady. As if her senses were thawing, her eyes rolled slowly from the ceiling to Vegeta. It seemed the site of him brought tears to her eyes. Was it shame or heartbreak? Or both?

"Vegeta..." she breathed as a constant flow of tears came from her eyes. "You shouldn't be here. If he comes back...he'll...hurt you..."

In an instant Vegeta knew the truth. The reason she had never said anything. The real reason she allowed Zarbon to force himself into her. She was protecting him. Not from herself, but from Zarbon. From whatever wrath Zarbon wished to bring upon him if she didn't comply with his demented wishes and desires. She let him do it to protect him. She allowed herself to be destroyed for him. For his protection.

"I don't want you to see this...just go..." she whispered faintly. Vegeta shook his head and crossed the room to her dresser. He searched the drawers until he found a complete outfit.

"I'm going to get to you to the medical center. You're hurt...badly." Vegeta told her without a trace of emotion crossing his face. It was a long process, helping her get dressed. She was almost too weak to move at all. Slowly, though he helped her into new undergarments, a shirt, pants, and shoes. Once done, she was in a sitting position. His onyx eyes looked over her face. Her real face. She was no longer wearing the mask. "How long? How long has he been doing this to you?"

Cherris's eyes closed for a moment and she bent her head in shame. "Too long." she told him. She was biting her lip hard. Blood was beginning to drip for it.

"C'mon. Let's get you to the medical center. If we're lucky no one will be there," he told her. Vegeta helped her up and let her lean against him as they walked. It was nearing midnight and except for a few guards the corridors were completely empty. Whenever one of the guards looked at them Vegeta sent a death glare at them, and it kept them in their place. Out of their business.