Chapter 7: Fatherly Instincts

3rd POV

Vegeta carried Rina back to her room. He figured she'd prefer to wake up in a bedroom than a hospital, especially after the way she struggled when she woke up. He pulled the covers up to her neck and sat on the edge of the bed, watching her. It wasn't long and she tensed up, into a ball. Her eyes fluttered open.

"Feeling better?" Vegeta asked. She looked up at him and nodded, "You need to rest. I'll tell you all the details first thing when you wake up tomorrow."

Again, she nodded, but didn't close her eyes. She seemed to be fighting sleep. Vegeta knew why, she was scared to go to sleep. Either from her dreams or the unfamiliar company, he really wasn't sure.

Vegeta started to stroke her hair again, and immediately her eyes seemed to glaze over. She blinked a few times, and then was out. Vegeta actually smiled a bit, realizing the major difference between them. She wasn't alone in her time of need, like he had been at her age. At that age, he still had many years with Frieza awaiting, while she was now free. Bulma had been there for Vegeta, and now he'd be there for Rina.

Seeing that she was fast asleep, Vegeta stood to go. He didn't make it three steps before she began to whimper. Vegeta realized he couldn't leave her alone. He went back and sat on the bed, leaning on the headboard and laying parallel to the sleeping girl. She brought her head to his lap and seemed to fall into a safe, deep sleep. Even though Vegeta felt very awkward, he remembered all the times as a child he wished he could have done the same with his mother after the tortures from Frieza began. He needed comfort then, and Rina needed it now. He began to stroke her hair back again.

Bulma's blue head came into the doorway. She looked at Vegeta, very confused.

"She needs me, Bulma. She really does." Vegeta was amazed at what he said as much as Bulma was.

"You know what, Vegeta? I think… that maybe… you need her too. Goodnight." Bulma smiled and left, shutting the door behind her. Vegeta looked down at Rina as his mate's words came to their full meaning.

I think I need her, too… as much as she needs me… odd… all of this stuff with Majin Buu has really opened my eyes. How much I need to be with people… my family. And now, with my blood in her veins, Rina is a part of my family, now and forever…

Rina again began to whimper a bit, and when he looked down he saw movement just under her eyelids. She was having another dream, and Vegeta bet it was bad due to her whimpering.

Again, he began to stroke her hair. She calmed a bit, but seemed just as tense. He knew the sweet spot would do the trick, so he began to lightly scratch just behind her exposed ear. She breathed in deeply and sighed, relaxing considerably. Her dream seemed to have stopped altogether.

There now… all better. Don't worry little one, I'll be here to chase away your demons and nightmares, no matter the shape or size.

XxX

1st POV

Safety overwhelmed me. It was an odd feeling, one I was unsure if it was really as good as it seemed or not. Those who you felt safe around could easily turn on you; I had seen and experienced this.

I opened my eyes to such an odd scene. Vegeta was there, leaning against the head of the bed, his head resting on his chest. My head was on his lap.

I sat up and looked around. I was back in 'my room'. The sun was just starting to rise.

I'm so confused… what is it here that is so different from other places? Why are the people here so nice?

I slipped off the bed and made my way to the window again. I watched as the sun started to climb in the sky.

It is rather pretty here… but how can these people still be so trusting and nice? Even Vegeta… and he's been through what I have been through…

Maybe that's why he is so nice to me… he knows… or he thinks he does…

I heard movement, so I turned back and saw Vegeta begin to stir. I turned back to the window as I watched the sky and all of the colors.

Pink… purple… red… orange… blue… so many colors at once…

Vegeta was fully awake now, and he came over and stood beside me, watching the sunrise. He didn't say anything, and neither did I for a while.

"I believe an explanation of last night is in order." I said, turning to face him. His face was painted with the early sunlight, and I could make out brown streaks in his hair.

"Yes, of course." He seemed very… saddened almost as he began, "What is happening to you also happened to the rest of our people. When Frieza took over, he injected every Saiyan over the age of 5 cycles with a chemical. This would keep us from running away because he had a vaccine. This chemical made our adrenaline reserves go into an odd draining stage. We'd eventually die from lack of adrenaline. I believe you may have been his first victim with this chemical."

I looked back out the window. I realized how true it was. Frieza did give me a shot after a few years, and from then on I had regular check-ups every few months where I got another shot.

"He told me it was to make sure I did not catch any viruses while on foreign planets… I tried to convince him I did not need them, but he insisted… he lied… not surprising, but still…"

"So you were the first, he tested it on you." Vegeta said, looking out the window too, "You should be fine for a few days, and in the mean time we'll try to find a way to fix this."

"How have you survived?" I asked, still skeptical of his motives.

"I found the vaccine and took it when I was making my escape plans from Frieza. We were on Namek, and he had me, or so he thought. I found his vaccine and took it before I ran off."

"So… am I going to die?"

"Not if I can help it." He had shocked me once again. I looked back over to him, and he smirked, "After all, we're practical family now. I had to give you a transfusion last night. My blood is in your veins now."

No… no family… I can't…

I turned and headed out the door. I really didn't know where I was going to go, but I had to get away from him.

"Rina?" he turned and looked at me, but I kept going.

"Just stay away from me." I growled as I turned the hall.

I kept walking, and I found myself back at the animal sanctuary. I opened the door and walked in. There was Moon, waiting for me. I let a smile slip as I walked over to her.

"Hey girl, did you wait for me all night? Silly wolf… I said I would be okay." I knelt down and scratched her ears. She rubbed into me, knocking me down and licking me. Her pups came up and joined her.

XxX

3rd POV

Vegeta knew better than to follow an angry female Saiyan, but Rina was sick and young. She wouldn't ask for help from anyone. So Vegeta followed, just to make sure she was okay.

Vegeta easily found her in the animal house and was confused to why she was in there. After opening the door, he saw why.

She was running and playing with the resident wolf pack. There were four, and the black one went to tackle her. She laughed as she jumped over him and patted his head while in midair. She was smiling and laughing, playing with the wolves. The last wolf, a gray one missing a leg, was lying in the shade and watching them. The wolves grew tired and went next to their mother as Rina stood and looked at them. She smirked.

"Tired already? Come on, guys!"

Even though she hasn't seen another Saiyan in years, she's still a pack animal by instinct.

Vegeta closed the door and smirked. At least she had a refuge to hide away when she needed it. He headed down the hall and met with Bulma.

"Hey, how is she?"

"She slept well. She's been playing with the wolves this morning."

"The wolves? In my dad's animal house? Really…"

"Yes, and I bet she'll be starving soon enough. You best get food going before she decides she's hungry."

"I bet you're starving too, hm?" Bulma smiled, "How did you do last night?"

"Fine." Vegeta turned and headed to the Gravity Room.

XxX

1st POV

The grass felt so nice and cool as I leaned back on the ground, staring up to the sky. It was so false. The sky was filled with pollution and flying machines, and because of the city lights I couldn't see the stars at night.

I rolled to my side and watched the sleeping wolves. They had just been fed by the caretakers, who at first had a problem with me being there. I told them to take it up with Vegeta if they didn't like it, and that was the last of that.

Food doesn't sound like such a bad idea…

On cue my stomach growled, and it was enough that Moon peeked over at me. I smiled at her.

"I'm going to get my own lunch now. Don't worry, I'll be back."

I could smell food cooking as I walked out of the animal sanctuary. My stomach lurched again, wanting to eat. I walked toward the smell, into a part of the building I hadn't seen yet. It was a residential section, apparently the family room. As I followed my nose I found the food cooking, Bulma and the woman I guessed to be her mother preparing it. Vegeta was seated at a table, and when I looked over he gestured for me to sit next to him. It was a small table, so I would have to be near him anywhere I sat, so I sat next to him.

"I figured you'd be getting hungry, so I asked the women to start the food."

"More like ordered it!" I heard Bulma cry from the kitchen.

I snorted, trying not to laugh. Vegeta just smirked as he took a sip of some strong smelling liquid. I looked at it, trying to figure out what it was. Vegeta looked at me and smirked again.

"It's coffee. It's like… redwen wine. People usually drink it when they try to wake up in the morning."

"And you?"

"I like the taste mostly." He replied, taking another sip.

I nodded and looked back to the kitchen. The food was nearly finished cooking by the smell, but I was getting antsy.

"When was the last time you ate?" Vegeta asked.

"The morning before I escaped from Frieza." I replied.

It's so easy to talk to him… but why?

The food came out, and even though it looked weird, I was starving. Without even asking what the food was, I started to gorge myself.

There were breads and cheese, and meats, and a lot of little white specks. Vegeta laughed as he watched me try to eat the little white stuff.

"Rina, watch." He took two little sticks and held them in his hand, then moved them as he started lifting the little white specks to eat them.

I picked up the set of sticks near me and imitated him, but it kept dropping the food.

Vegeta's hands covered my own as he worked the sticks the appropriate movements. As he showed me and I looked up at him. He was standing behind me and to the side as he tried to show me how it was done. His face had such an odd look to it.

The only time I had ever seen a face like that was when my father… was nice… and not drunk…

I shook those thoughts out of my head as I slapped Vegeta's hand away.

"I can do it myself."

Vegeta just nodded and went back to his seat.

XxX

3rd POV

Vegeta just watched as Rina tried to eat with the chopsticks, but she wasn't doing so well. When he tried to help her, she slapped his hand away.

That's what I did to Bulma when she tried to show me… I understand Bulma's motives back then now. She only wanted to help me, but I was too stubborn to see it.

Rina kept at it, and a moment later she had perfected eating rice with chopsticks. She sped up her eating rate and finished the bowl in moments. She picked up a piece of sushi and eyed it.

"It's called sushi. It's raw fish wrapped in seaweed, but it isn't too bad. Try it." Vegeta said, eyeing Rina. She wrinkled up her nose, but took a bite anyway.

"Gross. It reminds me of that nasty food Frieza tried to make me eat."

"Later Kakorot and I were going to spar. I thought perhaps you might like to see a battle between two Super Saiyans. Would you like to come?"

Vegeta saw her eyes widen in excitement, but she quickly pushed the glow from her face away, even though Vegeta could still see it in her eyes.

"Sure. I do not have anything better to do."

AS22: So that's Vegeta's reasoning for helping Rina, and the answer for the illness. If you wanna find out what happens next, review!

Next time: Rina watches Vegeta and Goku spar, and decides maybe she should open up just a bit to her new 'friend'...