AN/ I know! I took my sweat time uploading this chapter...oh well...
Thunderyoshi: Yes. Vegeta owned Goku. I'm sure you enjoyed that you twisted so-and-so hahahaha.
Luke: Thank you so much, here's that chapter, sorry it took so long hehe...
Jane Black278: Thank you for such a long review; I will answer your questions now.
1) HAHAHAHAH Noooooo there will be NO romance between Goku and Vegeta, if I did that Thunderyoshi would rip off my writing arm and beat me with it hahaha.
2) There will be romance between Goku and Chichi later on, at least that's the plan...
3) I'm glad you like how Goku and Raditz interact I think it's cute too.
4) Yes Vegeta is a bit of an idiot at times but you still gotta love 'im
5) An OC is an "Original Character" meaning that it's a character that the author made up and was never actually in the series.
Disclaimer: I do not own Dragonball z or any of the characters or objects mentioned in this story.
"Talking"
//Thinking//
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Chapter 7
Raditz was pacing up and down the med-bay restlessly. He had been doing so ever since Goku had been rushed in. Raditz had been so afraid for his brother, for a while no one thought the boy would make it. After all, not many can take one of Vegeta's blasts head on and live to tell the tale.
However, the doctor had assured Raditz that they had Kakarot in a stable condition in one of the re-gen tanks and was know in the process o trying to convince Raditz to leave and get some rest but the long-haired Saiyan refused. "The boy probably won't regain consciousness for a week at least and you sitting here and depriving yourself of rest is doing neither of you any good," reasoned the doctor.
"I am NOT leaving until I am sure that he will be ok," said Raditz stubbornly. He felt awful about what had happened and couldn't shake the nagging feeling that it was his fault Kakarot was now hurt. //I know that Prince Vegeta can be like when he is in one of those moods, I should never have allowed Kakarot to fight him I should have made an excuse for him! I should have seen the blast coming and got Kakarot out of the way instead of just standing there staring like and idiot as my brother was blasted to kingdom come!// he just couldn't get the image of his brother's bloodied body out of his head. He continued to mental berate himself while he paced the room. The doctor finally gave up and with a resigned sigh, he left the agitated Saiyan in peace.
................
Vegeta was battling an invisible enemy in the sparring hall, throwing punches and kicks into the air around him with the odd ki blast. Usually the training hall would be full of soldiers but they had seen the look on Vegeta's face and had wisely decided to give the Prince his space. After all, they didn't want the same treatment that the younger Saiyan had received.
Vegeta was seriously pissed but this time it was himself that he was angry at. He couldn't believe he had lost control like that! Sure, his temper often got high because of the lizard but he NEVER lost control like some kind of untrained animal! It was shameful! He was a Prince, not some wild beast that doesn't know how to control his own emotions!
Vegeta growled in anger as he threw more power into his attacks. Another thing that bothered him was the boy. He had a lot more power than expected though he was still no where near the Prince's own strength. No, what REALLY caught the Prince's attention was the boy's outstanding endurance and if they could increase the boy's strength he would have a lot of potential.
However, this isn't what bothered Vegeta, what bothered him was his reaction to this realisation, he had initially been very impressed and still was but that isn't what his actions said, his temper had escalated to the point of nearly killing the boy in a fit of rage. Vegeta stopped his exercises and frowned, why did he lash out at the boy?
Vegeta gave up his fruitless mind battle, it was obvious he wasn't going to come up with an explanation any time soon. He lowered himself to the ground and reached for his towel giving up on his training for today, how could he possibly concentrate on fighting with so much rubbish filling his head?
He decided that he should probably go to the med-bay and check up on Raditz. Usually Nappa would be with him but he was called away earlier to go on a reconnaissance mission with another squad because one of their members was still recovering after being badly wounded in a previous mission.
Sighing, Vegeta wiped his face on the towel before making his way to the med-bay.
Goku began to slower emerge from the thick blackness of unconsciousness. He was confused and disorientated, what had happened? The last thing Goku remembered was having a spar with Vegeta. He did notice two things, he had a splitting headache and he was submerged in some kind of liquid.
Fear began to rise in him as claustrophobia took hold and he started to struggle, desperate to escape from his liquid prison.
Dr. Nolan was shocked when his patient showed signs of consciousness, the doctor didn't think that there was any way the boy could be awake so soon. He was even more baffled when the Saiyan began to struggle. He young doctor was starting to get worried and called for his superior, "Dr. Lexon! I think you had better take a look at this!"
Dr. Lexon was once again trying to make Raditz see reason and get some rest but when he heard his name being called he rushed to where the call had come from. Raditz followed him, curious to see what the problem was.
//Kakarot! He's awake!// Raditz couldn't believe it, the doctor had said that he would be out of it for at least a week but it had been less than twenty-four hours since Vegeta had floored him, //I guess even the doctors had underestimated him// thought Raditz with a rush of pride.
"What are you waiting for? Release him before he breaks the tank!" ordered Dr. Lexon. His subordinate did as instructed, drained the machine and opened the dome, releasing Goku.
Goku stumbled clumsily out of the machine, tearing off all of the tubes attached to him. He lost his balance and began to fall but Raditz caught him and held him to his feet. "Kakarot, are you ok?" he asked, his concern was evident in his voice.
Goku nearly panicked when he felt arms grabbing him but relaxed when he picked up his brother's familiar scent and allowed the older Saiyan to support him. He heard Raditz asking if he was ok but it took him a moment to find his voice, "what happened? Where am I?"
Raditz decided to answer his second question first, "you are in the mad-bay," before Goku could ask why he continued, "you were badly injured during your spar with Prince Vegeta, by all accounts you shouldn't even be conscious yet or alive for that matter."
The haziness in Goku's mind finally started to lift allowing him to piece his memories back together as they became clearer and then it all came back to him. He lowered his head in embarrassment. He had had plenty of time to avoid that attack but had allowed himself to be overwhelmed by its power. Goku hadn't felt this disappointed in himself since his grandfather had told him off for neglecting to train his tail. "I'm sorry," he softly apologised.
"Why are YOU apologising?" Vegeta was standing in the doorway. He had arrived in time to see Kakarot get out of the re-gen tank and to say that he was shocked at the boy's quick recovery would have been an understatement. He stood by the door gaping like a fish until he realised what he was doing and composed himself, he then made his presence known. "I was the one who lashed out inappropriately it wasn't like there was anything you could have done."
Goku looked up startled, he hadn't noticed the Prince standing their and smiled sheepishly, "maybe. But is I wasn't so weak, I wouldn't have been too easily and badly injured," admitted Goku. "I guess I'm just not used to fighting an opponent that's so much stronger than me."
Vegeta couldn't help the swell of his ego at the boy's honest compliment but he knew know wasn't the time for gloating, "just because you can't match us in strength does not make you weak. That blast should have been powerful enough to destroy you but here you are. What you lack in brute strength you more than make up for with stamina and fortitude."
Goku grinned at Vegeta's words and his pride fluttered as Vegeta recognised and complimented his strength. "Thanks a lot Vegeta." Unfortunately, Goku felt his energy running dry as he leaned on Raditz more and more for support.
Dr. Lexon noticed this and stepped in, "I'm sorry but the patient has exerted himself enough for today, he needs more time to heal."
"Wait! I don't want to go back into that fish bowl!" Goku whined.
Dr. Lexon was about to argue with him but Vegeta beat him to it. "Kakarot, you are not yet fully healed, you need to recover more."
"Then I'll do it the old fashioned way, in a bed!" Goku argued with a pleading look. He really didn't like the tanks, partly because they were so enclosed but mostly because of the location, the med-bay was basically a hospital and Goku hated ANYTHING hospital related, especially doctors and needles. He knew that he would not be able to relax if he was left in this place.
Dr. Lexon sighed, "you Saiyans are impossible, you're all so damn stubborn. Very well, Kakarot, you may recover with bed rest but only if you promise that you WILL rest, now training is that understood?" The Doctor asked as he looked Goku directly in the eyes.
"No training. Got it." Goku replied, thankful that he didn't have to stay in the tank.
"Are you sure that he will be okay without the tank?" asked Raditz with concern.
"I'm sure," confirmed Dr. Lexon, "look how quickly he was already improved, he will be just fine."
The Saiyans nodded and Vegeta and Raditz brought Goku back to his room. Raditz gave up helping him try to walk and picked him up bridal style to carry him the rest of the way. Goku was not amused. "Raditz! Put me DOWN!" he complained.
"No. At the rate you were walking, we wouldn't get to your room until next year," Raditz retorted.
"Very funny! It wouldn't take THAT long. Come on! You're carrying me like I'm a girl!" the younger Saiyan whined.
"I guess it suits your current behaviour then," joked Raditz.
Goku tried to glare at his brother but in his ridiculous position it lost most of its fierceness making Goku look like a grouchy cat that didn't like being lifted.
Raditz had to resist the urge to laugh knowing that it would only make him worse. So, Raditz just kept walking and ignored his brother's complaints.
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TBC
