"Gohan!" Videl greeted him, relieved. "A nurse was kind enough to direct us to Pan's room. How is she?" Gohan breathed after catching up to his wife. Chichi looked a bit frazzled, her son having to fly with her to the hospital. Though Chichi was no fan of flying, she gathered up all her courage just to see her granddaughter. "I'm not sure." Videl answered, "The rooms are too small for a group of people and I figured I would most likely be in the way of the doctor and nurses. The doctor promised me he would let us know anything as soon as he figured her condition out." Gohan frowned. "How long has the doctor been in there?" "Dr. Nelson has been in there for about half an hour now." Videl said, glancing at her watch. She replicated her husband's frown and leaned against him. He curled his arm around her and laid his chin on her head. "In my opinion, I do not believe you two will have anything to worry about. She's a tough girl and she definitely takes after her grandpa Goku." Chichi smiled at the worried pair. "Besides, no sickness has ever kept our Pan down for long." Gohan lifted his head but kept his arms around his wife. He inclined his head towards his mother and gave her a small smile. "Thanks mom. You always seem to know when to say the right thing." Silence took over and they all waited patiently (as possible anyways) for the doctor to exit Pan's room.
At 5:45 am, finally exited Pan's room. Her parents anxiously greeted him. Dr. Nelson smiled warmly at them, but with a hint of sorrow. "Mrs. Son, as we spoke earlier, I promised to let you know what was going on as soon as I figured out what was wrong." Videl nodded. "It seems like nothing is wrong with her." Both parents blanched. "As I said, it seems like there is nothing wrong with your daughter. I do not doubt there is something wrong, but we cannot pinpoint exactly it is exactly.' Gohan raised an eyebrow. Dr. Nelson shrugged and gave him a half- assed sympathetic look. "Look, we are doing all we can, but as far as I can tell, it's nothing more than a common influenza virus." Gohan gritted his teeth in agitation and said, rather impatiently, "Dr. Nelson, this is the best hospital worldwide. You cannot tell me that there are no more tests you can run or blood samples you could take. Can't you just take another look at her? Maybe there might be something there that you missed the first time." "Mr. Son, please. I stayed in your daughter's room for almost an hour. The most I can do for her right now is place her on an antibiotic. All I can suggest now is taking her home and placing her on bedrest for a few days. I am very confident in both my work and my capabilities. I absolutely for certain I did not miss single detail. As you said earlier, this is the most prestigious hospital in the world and I AM the top doctor of this facility" Dr. Nelson heatedly replied, seeming to have lost some professional composure. With that last statement, he walked off.
Videl gazed at her husband, at a loss for words. Gohan grimaced and muttered, "Quack." under his breath. Chichi was shocked and pissed off. She chased off after the doctor. "Hey! Excuse me, but that's MY granddaughter..."pretty soon Chichi's voice grew faint leaving her son and daughter-in-law to stare hopelessly after her. "C'mon Videl. Let's see how our Panny is feeling." Gohan reached down and tugged on his wife's hand. Videl obliged. Once they entered the room, they were surprised to be greeted by the dimness and coolness of the room. Pan was alert and talking with the nurses who seemed to be getting great enjoyment out of her antics. Pan still looked terrible, but seemed to be in great spirits minus the half-pained look she still wore. One of the nurses, a little redheaded woman, looked up as she heard the two enter the roo. She greeted the Sons with, "Hello. I'm Bethany." She reached out her hand and Gohan shook it daintily. He was very careful with his grip, knowing he could easily crush all the bones in her hand. "Your daughter is all set to go home, Mr. Son. Dr. Nelson had the antibiotic she needs in stock." Bethany handed Gohan the pill bottle. It was filled for ten days, the usual for the flu nowadays. "I am finishing up the forms for her discharge and then you all can be on your way home." She smiled at Videl who returned the gesture. "I know you have to be tired, Mrs. Son. You have been here quite a while." Videl gave a small, dry laugh and responded with "The things we are willing to do for the sake of our children." It was Bethany's turn to laugh. "I agree. I have two small children myself." She quickly finished the documents and got Gohan's signature. "Okay. I believe we are finished. Now, if you need anything else, let me know and I will be more than happy to help!" Bethany chirped. She grabbed up the rest of her supplies and shooed the other nurses from the room, then left.
Pan smiled slightly as her parents made their way towards her bed. Her mother sat down beside her, wringing her hands together slowly, and Gohan lightly caressed her head. "Ready to go home, Panny?" Gohan asked while studying her. She appeared to be in the same exact shape as before. She didn't appear to be getting any better. He noticed the machines in the room. She was obviously hooked to a couple of them so precise vitals could be taken. Now, as looked at her, she appeared so fragile and weak. It made him feel nauseous. 'Influenza…. What a load of bull. There is something more here than meets the eye. There's just got to be. I'm no doctor, but even I feel as if something truly is not all right.' He thought. When he noticed Pan and Videl looking at him, he quickly put on a poker face and smiled at them. "Sorry, must be more tired than I thought. Pan, I am going to grab your grandmother before she faces jail time and I will meet you both back at home." With that and planting a small kiss on both his wife and daughter, he made his way out of the room. "Mama? Am I going to be okay?" Pan gazed up at her mother, fear evident in her features. Videl, like her husband, put on a brave face. "I am sure everything is going to be okay, baby." She lied uncomfortably. She helped Pan up, wanting nothing more to just pick her daughter up and hold her tightly. To make it all go away. Videl too, was filled with fear. She had no idea what or how Pan's sudden condition was brought on, but it made her feel sick to her stomach to know that they would soon find out. Brushing away a few tears that happened to brim in her eyes, she walked hand in hand down the hallways with Pan. With that, the two left.
After a few hours, everybody was safe and secure back home. Pan was tucked back into bed, where she fell asleep almost immediately. Videl rebraided her hair silently. She didn't have time this morning, so she knew she looked like a hot mess. After she was finished, she looked over at Chichi. "We need to get call my dad, your dad, and Goten. We have to know let them know what's going on." Chichi agreed, but insisted with, "Pan doesn't need too much company, she probably wouldn't be up for it." Shortly after that, Chichi went back home, leaving Gohan and Videl alone. Gohan, wiping his glasses on his shirt, looked over at her and said softly, "I already tried calling Goten. I couldn't reach him." Videl was speechless. "Do you think he might be at Bulma's?" Gohan shrugged at the question and answered somewhat grumpily, "It doesn't matter, I will go look for him if I have too." Videl put her hand on his arm and squeezed it comfortingly. "Gohan," she began, "don't leave yet. I am so tired and could use a couple hours rest. Would you mind watching keeping an eye on Pan? Just in case she needs anything. Or maybe you are tired too and need to come back to bed with me?" She punched him in the arm playfully, wanting to lighten the situation a little. Gohan smiled and gave her rear end a small, light smack. "Go to bed. I'll take first watch." She giggled, gave him a small kiss, and headed back up the stairs to their room. Gohan watched her until she disappeared from view. He called Hercule and the Ox King. Letting them know what was going on. Then tried his little brother again. Once again, he was got was the voicemail. 'Hey! You reached Goten. I am obviously nowhere near my phone or lost, but feel free to leave me a message and I will get back with you ASAP! Chow!' Gohan waited for the beep. "Hey little brother. It's me, Gohan. Listen, a situation has surfaced and I need you to either come over or pick up your phone. It's about Pan. So, please give me a call or…. er.. come on by." With that, he clicked the phone shut. He went up the stairs to his study and sat in his favorite chair. Sitting with his head in his hands, he rubbed his face with his hands wearily. Waiting.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx