Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ or have any rights to it.

Gohan's eyelids felt heavy. His utter exhaustion was the only clue that he was alive. When he realized that he wasn't injured anymore, he thought he was dead, but a dead person wouldn't feel exhausted.

Something didn't feel quite right. He wasn't on the cold, hard ground. Instead, he was on a nice, warm, bed. Someone must have brought him here.

But who…who would risk their life to come find my body, then bring me back here? Gohan's mind didn't have the strength to race, otherwise it would have been thinking up hundreds of scenarios that would land him in a bed like this.

Then he felt a hand stroke his cheek. There wasn't much tenderness in it, more like an eagerness to know what his cheek felt like. Yet, it felt soft, and feminine.

Gohan's mind didn't process this information for long though. His exhaustion caught up and he faded back into a deep sleep.

Eighteen had noticed him stir a few moments ago. He had barely regained consciousness, only to fall asleep again. Now she was preparing a meal for him. She knew he would wake up soon and she knew he would need food to replenish enough energy.

The meal she had prepared was fit for a saiyan. It consisted of a twelve-egg omelet, a large bowl of soup, another large bowl of cereal, and three glasses each contained milk, orange juice and water respectively. She had chosen the foods that would nourish him to the point where he could perform with her in bed, but not resist her in battle.

She saw his fingers twitching as she brought the large tray over to him and set it on the bedside stand.

Gohan groaned as his eyes started to open. "Oh…" The smell of food nearby told him of another problem. He needed to eat. His strength had been drained and his body needed nourishment.

Sitting up in bed, he slowly opened his eyes.

Eighteen giggled silently before hiding away in another room. She had left a note on the tray that would surely play tricks on his mind.

As he looked around, Gohan couldn't sense anyone else in the room, or in the surrounding area. However, someone had apparently left a tray of food for him.

How strange, he thought. Why would someone leave me this food and then get up and then leave before I even woke up. This food looks fresh, but I can't sense anyone within sprinting distance. Hmm…maybe that note will explain things.

Picking up the note, Gohan started reading.

Dear brave hero,

I saw how bravely you fought against those horrible androids. I just couldn't stand by and let you die. After they left the area, I brought your body here so you could heal up. I tried giving you one of the senzu beans you had with you, but it only healed up you injuries. It could not restore your strength. I've gone out now, but I left behind a tray of food for you to help restore your strength.

With love,

Yours truly

Raising an eyebrow, Gohan tried to piece things together. Ok…well at least I know this food's for me…but I have no idea who to thank. I just hope she comes back soon…wait a minute; I don't even know that it's a girl who rescued me, and how does she know about the senzu beans?

Shrugging it off, Gohan started eating the food. He noted the kinds of food he was eating. It was highly unlikely that any man would prepare a meal like this. In fact, it seemed like a meal only a doting mother or health-conscious girlfriend would prepare.

Upon finishing said meal, he felt the drowsiness return. Wiping his face with the napkin he had been provided, Gohan lay back down to sleep.

Eighteen only emerged once his breathing turned rhythmic. Wow…he's a fast eater. She then looked down at the empty containers on the tray. And he definitely knows how to clean his plate.

Picking up the tray, Eighteen moved it to the kitchen and placed the plates in the dishwasher. Once that was done, she went back to check up on Gohan.

As she approached the bed, she saw him tossing and turning in his sleep. The meal had given his mind the energy to have nightmares and this one had something to do with her.

"N-No…Piccolo…leave him alone…stop it…no…don't." He looked so vulnerable and weak in his current state. Tossing and turning like a child with abusive parents who haunted his dreams.

Eighteen smiled as she sat down at the side of the bed. For some reason, she pitied him. Scooting closer, she placed a hand on his forehead, rubbing it gently.

"Hush now," she cooed. "You're safe now…just be calm."

Gohan stirred as he listened to those sweet words. His nightmare died down as he woke up. The voice he heard was sweet, yet familiar in some unexplainable way.

As he tried to open his eyes, he felt her hand over them. "Please rest now. You need to keep up your strength."

"But I…I must stop the androids…they could be hurting someone right now."

"You can't fight them the way you are," she replied. "Please stay the night and rest. You've done so much already. Why don't you let me pick up the slack? I'll do what I can to make you comfortable."

As a hardened fighter, Gohan was always anxious to trust strangers, but this woman's voice was so soothing. It sounded so sweet and gentle. However, there was something he had to know…something he needed to know.

"What's your name?"

Eighteen smiled and straddled Gohan. Tucking her hair behind her ear, she leaned forward and brushed her lips against his before moving them to his ear. "You'll find out when you wake up tomorrow."

Gohan couldn't help but smile. "That's no fun."

Eighteen nuzzled his face. "It is for me."

Chuckling, Gohan took everything in. She had a sweet voice, and apparently a sense of humor. However, what stood out in his mind the most was her smell. It was a sweet, and intoxicating odor. It comforted him to be close to her, yet it carried a sense of spiciness as well. There was another side to her, which he couldn't see at the moment, yet he wanted to know more. He needed to know more about her.

Pulling back and getting off him, Eighteen tucked the covers around him before kissing his forehead. "Promise me you'll stay the night," she said in a sweet voice.

He couldn't resist. "Off course I will."

"Good, I need to go out and run some late night errands. The androids usually don't attack lone humans at night."

Gohan felt a wave of concern wash over him. She was going outside, out into an anarchist's world, in the middle of the night.

Eighteen seemed to pick up on his concern and rubbed his forehead reassuringly. " Don't worry about me. I'm well trained in the art of self-defense. I can easily handle any hoodlums or muggers that would be prowling about."

"Okay…just stay safe."

"I will," she replied as she left the room. Once outside and out of his earshot, she broke out into a fit of laughter. Oh my god! I can't believe that actually worked. Guess he really doesn't recognize me when I'm using my sweet voice.

Regaining her composure, she took off towards her and Seventeen's home. Her brother would surely want an explanation for her absence.

Bulma sat down at the dinner table with her eight-year old son. She smiled as she watched him inhale his food.

"You think Gohan's gonna come visit some time soon?" asked Trunks with a half-full mouth.

By now, Bulma knew better than to scold Trunks about manners, because he would always end up violating them again.

"I don't know Trunks. It's dangerous to fly to a city in these times. You'll probably end up as a target for the androids."

"I hate those two," said Trunks. "I hope Gohan let's me come with him next time so I can help fight them."

Bulma shook her head. "No Trunks, you're not going out to fight. I'm letting Gohan train you, but I made it very clear to him that he's not allowed to take you into battle with him."

"But I'm a super saiyan mom! I can help too!"

"That's enough Trunks," said Bulma. She knew not to yell back at Trunk when he was like this, and took the calm approach instead. "Your father was also a super saiyan and he was much stronger than you are now. Yet he couldn't even lay a finger on one of the androids, let alone fight both of them."

Trunks looked back down at his food. The fire in him had been extinguished. Mom's right. Gohan said that even he couldn't beat one of the androids, even though he's much stronger than dad was. "I'm sorry mom. You're right, I still have a lot to learn."

Just then, the phone rang.

Bulma tilted her head to the side curiously. "That's odd, who would be calling us right now?"

Getting up, she picked up the phone.

"Hello, this is Bulma Briefs speaking."

"Bulma, it's terrible!" exclaimed a distressed Chichi.

"What is it Chichi?" Bulma could tell that something really bad had happened. Nowadays, Chichi rarely ever became so emotional.

"It's Gohan…" said Chichi in a sobbing voice. "He went out to fight the androids and…he never came back!" Chichi broke out into another fit of sadness.

"He's been out this long before, why is this so different?"

"I…I just know something's wrong Bulma. Master Roshi called me a few hours ago and said that he couldn't sense Gohan anymore."

Bulma's eyes widened. Out of all the people she knew, Master Roshi had always been the most adept at sensing energy. Whenever either she or Chichi felt worried about Gohan, they would contact him and he would calm them by finding and confirming Gohan's ki. If he couldn't find Gohan, then nobody else could.

"Oh my…I'm…I'm so sorry Chichi," said Bulma as she tried to hold back her own tears.

Trunks looked on with a concerned expression. He had grown sensitive in these hard times and knew when someone was feeling upset.

As Bulma put the phone down, she saw felt Trunks hugging her legs. Looking down, she saw the concern in his eyes.

"Mom, what's wrong?"

"I…Trunks…" She could not control her tears and break the news at the same time. "I got a call from Chichi…"

"Was it about Gohan?" asked Trunks, fearing the answer.

Bulma nodded as the tears rolled down her cheeks. "She said that Gohan went off to fight the androids, and never came home."

Trunks eyes widened as he understood the significance of his mother's words, but he held back the tears. He had to be strong for his mother. The Earth's fate was in his hands now. He had to be strong, and make Gohan proud.

As he comforted his mother, the fire reignited inside of him. Don't worry Gohan. I will avenge your death. I will make both of those androids pay for what they have done to you and this planet! I'll make you proud!

Seventeen watched his sister land with crossed arms. He noted that she had no new clothes, throwing out the idea that she had been shopping.

As she approached the front door to their house, he moved away from the window and to the side of the house's foyer. The door clicked as Eighteen opened it.

Stepping inside, Eighteen turned to face her brother. He didn't look mad, but he had a questioning look on his face. His arms were crossed and an eyebrow was raised.

"Couldn't find that store?" he asked. "I suppose that explains why you haven't brought anything home with you. Though I wonder, what have you been doing all this time?"

Eighteen put her hands on her hips. "Since when do I have to report my every move to you? I was just out."

Seventeen raised his hands defensively. "Fine by me, but I am curious though. When you were out, were you with someone?"

Eighteen could tell he was just teasing her, but it put her on edge. Seventeen felt that all humans and saiyans were inferior, and having sex with any of them was out of the question in his mind. If he found out the truth, there would be problems.

She decided to play along though. "So what if I was out with a human? Why would you care Seventeen?"

Seventeen chuckled. "Come on Eighteen, you know how I feel about humans. They're such inferior creatures."

Eighteen also chuckled.

"Well I guess I'll turn in for the night."

"Yeah, why do you even do that?" asked Eighteen playfully. "We don't need to sleep."

"Yeah, but dreams are fun. I can dream about all sorts of scenarios in which I torture people. Every dream is like a little surprise."

Eighteen shrugged. "You've got a point. Guess I'll try it out too some time. I'll be downstairs for a while."

"Right, well goodnight then." As Seventeen went up the stairs to his room, Eighteen plopped down on the couch in their living room.

Well that takes care of Seventeen…for now. I'll just have to go back there early in the morning before Gohan wakes up. He should be well rested by then. A devious smile crept onto Eighteen's face. Tomorrow would be the day.

I hope you liked this chapter. I also hope that I'll get some more reviews. I'm especially curious about how well I'm portraying Eighteen. She isn't meant to have any obvious traits that would lead her to fall for Gohan just yet. Right now, she's just using him and I'm trying to portray her as cruel, manipulative and calculating.