The trip to Capsule Corp was too fast. Goku had been tempted to say that they should just fly there, but this situation had gone on far too long for his liking. He looked at Gohan and then at Sabriena. Goten had his arms wrapped tightly around her neck, hiding his face into her shoulder. Goku turned and walked into the house. He could sense Vegeta and Tora in the gravity room; they must've decided to spar together. Trunks and Catie were nearby as well. Bulma was in her lab.

"Come on," Gohan said, leading the way into Capsule Corp. They passed the gravity room, Vegeta's energy was radiating from it, and they headed straight for Bulma. The less people they saw, the better, Gohan thought. His stomach was twisting up in knots. He silently begged that these workers would let him keep his brother until everything worked itself out. He couldn't bear the thought of his brother being shipped off to live with strangers.

Bulma looked up when they entered her lab. "Hey guys," she greeted them. "What's up?"

Gohan hesitated, "Bulma, we need your help. Again."

She smiled at him, "That's what I'm here for. What's going on?" After everything they had all done to get her back, she would do anything for them. She shuddered to think that without their help, she would still be in that frigid cold world. Trapped forever.

Gohan shifted his weight uncomfortably and looked to his dad as Sabriena held Goten's face to her shoulder.

Goku frowned and shook his head. "Bulma, you remember when you said that we needed proof that Chichi hurt Goten? Well, we went to go see Lindsey's grandmother. She had a spell and it revealed marks on him. Marks that aren't older than three weeks, Bulma." He looked over to Goten, "Hey little guy, can you look at Bulma for me. Just for a second, okay?"

Bulma stepped closer, unsure of what to expect. Goten sheepishly turned his face to her and she had to stifle the gasp in her throat. "Chichi did this?" She asked in horror as she peered at the little boy. Bulma felt tears rising to her eyes. Goten was so close to little Trunks, the boys were practically like brothers. "Hey buddy," she said softly to him.

"Hi Bulma," he answered. "Is Trunks here? Can I go play with him?"

"He can't play right now," Bulma lied. The last thing on earth that she wanted was for little Trunks to see his friend like this.

"There's marks all over him, Bulma," Sabriena said. She gingerly tugged up the back of Goten's shirt. "See?"

Bulma pressed the back of her hand to her mouth and turned away, feeling sick. The switch marks were deep and angry. Without healing, it was going to scar the poor boy for life, "I'll make the call for you, Goku," she said as she grabbed a phone book from a drawer on her desk. She was going to have to emphasize that the mother did this.

"What's going on now?" came a gruff voice.

Gohan silently cursed and turned to see Vegeta standing in the doorway in his training shorts, a towel draped over his shoulders as Tora peered curiously into the room.

Goku shook his head, "Please, not now Vegeta." He looked over at him, somehow knowing that the older Saiyan would demand to know what was going on inside his house. He looked back to Bulma who had already picked up the phone on her desk.

She looked over at Vegeta with a light in her eyes, a new respect for the man. Yeah, he had a temper and he trained and trained and trained. He pushed his own children to become better, but he never, EVER, laid his hands on Trunks like this. She met his eyes and nodded over towards Goten in Sabriena's arms.

Vegeta gave her a curious look and turned to the blonde holding Kakarot's son. He narrowed his eyes and stepped closer. "The hell..." he breathed. The black eye didn't concern him so much. It wasn't uncommon for a move to go wrong in training and someone end up with a bruise. But that lash-mark that stretched across the boy's face. Vegeta was mere inches from Goten's face, staring at him.

"Hello sir," Goten said in a tiny voice.

"What happened?" Vegeta asked. Tears welled up in Goten's eyes and he turned his face away. Vegeta stood up a straighter. "What happened to him?" he demanded.

Sabriena's hazel eyes met Vegeta's with a fierce glare. "Chichi."

Goku almost felt himself bristle as he watched Vegeta get close to his son and inspected him. Just what he needed, Vegeta scoffing at him that he should have protected his son better or something like that. He quickly explained the situation. His son's distress was getting to him. He was half listening to Bulma as she was talking on the phone to someone from the CPS. He closed his eyes and looked over at Gohan and then back to Sabriena, he honestly didn't know how Vegeta was going to react to this.

Vegeta couldn't wrap his mind around it. He had always despised that woman, but this. This was unforgivable. An anger boiled inside him that a child, a Saiyan child, could be treated so heartlessly by its own mother. Saiyan mothers may have been rather cold towards their children, certainly nothing like the warm, loving mothers of humans, but they were never cruel to their children. There were fine lines that were never crossed. Vegeta's nostril flared, a snarl trying to pull at his upper lip.

Tora stepped into the room, laying eyes on the little miniature of Goku in Sabriena's arms. His tail lashed through the air behind him, slapping at his leg, curling around it. He had had the misfortune of meeting Chichi before and he didn't much care for her. She didn't care for him either, by the way she looked at him every time she saw him. He hadn't realized just how utterly evil she was until that moment. "What do we do about this?" he asked, his muscles bunching beneath his skin as he tried to control his temper. "Tell me what to do, Prince. Give the order and I'll hand-deliver her heart straight to Kakarot." The magickal blue energy crackled around his right forearm as he said it.

Vegeta tipped his head slightly, cocking an eyebrow at the offer. He turned to Goku, his black eyes burning. "We've killed for less, Kakarot."

Goku knew he was right, but Goten was still so innocent. Despite what Chichi had done to him, he still loved his mother on some level. That special bond that was held between mother and child. Though as he looked at Sabriena rock Goten back and forth. She might not have realized it, but she had a hand in his hair and was whispering so quietly only Goten could hear.

He shook his head, "I know Vegeta, I know." He could feel his own blood boiling at what Chichi had done. For having to put Goten through this ordeal. To have strangers come and look at him, question him, the only life he's ever known.

"Okay, thank you," Bulma said and hung up the phone. She turned to them. "They're sending workers here now. They'll be here soon."

A knot formed in Sabriena's throat and tears burned her eyes as she squeezed Goten tighter. Only a few short days with this little man and now she feared he was about to be ripped away from them. She'd just lost her father; she didn't know if she could stand to lose Goten, too. And she knew she didn't want to see Goku's reaction if that happened. A soft sob escaped her throat and she turned away from everyone, clinging to him, whispering to him, telling him he was going to be okay. "Daddy loves you," she whispered, "Gohan loves you. I love you."

Catie and Trunks entered the lab, curious as to all the energies they'd sensed. It didn't take Trunks long to work out what was going on. "Oh no," he moaned. "She hurt him, didn't she?"

Gohan nodded, the tears welling up in his eyes again as he watched Sabriena holding his brother. He and Goten had never had that kind of love from their mother. He prayed again that the workers would let him keep his brother. Trunks walked quickly to Gohan and grabbed him up in a hug. "They won't take him," Trunks stated boldly. "I won't let them. I swear it."

"You'll do no such thing," Bulma stated loudly. "Trunks, we are not going to fight with these people."

Trunks released Gohan and spun around. "But, mother!"

"No buts!" she snapped. "Now you listen here. These people are NOT to be messed with. And I wouldn't have made that call if I thought we had any other option. If we had more time, I'd hire a lawyer and just get custody switched. But that could take months and we don't have that kind of time. He has to be removed from her home now."

"So we take him," Vegeta stated simply. "I don't know who you called or who's coming here, but I have no problem personally going over there and collecting his belongings."

"Vegeta," Bulma sighed in frustration, "you can't do that. We have to play this by the book. It's the only way Goku can get full custody."

Vegeta snorted. "As if someone could come in and take on Kakarot."

Goku blinked. Was that a compliment from Vegeta? Even so, he knew Bulma was right. He crossed the room to Sabriena. "Let me see my son," he said softly.

She squeezed Goten one more time and handed him over.

"I don't wanna go," Goten whispered.

"I know, buddy," Goku said. "We'll see if you can go stay with Gohan, okay? I don't want you to go, either."

Sabriena stepped back, suddenly feeling incredibly alone without Tien there to comfort her. She wiped irritatedly at the tears on her cheeks, keeping her back to everyone. She was so tired of hurting. The sound in the room had gone fuzzy - she could hear their voices but couldn't understand their words. She wondered wildly if that was what their language sounded like to foreigners. She didn't know what to do with herself so she plopped down on the floor near Goku's feet and just stared up at him and Goten. Goku gently swayed side-to-side, hugging his son to his shoulder as Goten cried and clung to his neck. There was nothing left to do but wait.

Vegeta was fuming, something about how much Kakarot's boy had been hurt angered him greatly. A young one who would not even fight back against his attacker. Who would fight their own mother? He claimed to be the Prince of all Saiyans. He had been taught, among other things such as birth rights, loyalty, power, blood, that a king had a duty to his people. His father had died trying to protect the race and now on earth here he was witnessing one of Saiyan blood being cruelly treated, beaten for no reason other than the mother's want to do so. He had wanted to hurt her when she had went after Kakarot with that filth of a lie, the nonsense she spouted off about his wants and desires being unnatural. He snorted. Improper. If he saw that woman again, they would have to hold him back, because he was going to kill her for this injustice

There was a knock at the door to the lab and Tora moved to open it, allowing the two CPS agents to enter. They were escorted by three police officers in full uniform. One of the workers was a heavy set, rather harsh-looking middle aged woman with grey-streaked brown hair pulled back in a bun. Her coworker, also middle aged, was slender with short blonde hair and tired eyes. Bulma hurried forward and greeted them.

"You're the one who called, correct?" the heavy set lady asked as she thumbed through a folder she was carrying.

Bulma nodded. "We didn't know what else to do."

"You did the right thing," the lady said, withdrawing some papers and reading over them. "If the abuse is as bad as you say it is, he'll need to be placed in a home immediately." She looked up, "Are his parents here?"

"His father is," Bulma said, pointing over to Goku, who was still holding Goten.

"That the boy?" the lady asked and Bulma nodded.

The blonde stepped forward, "Let me see this little one," she said to Goku.

Goku nodded and gently pulled back from Goten before he spoke softly to him, "Hey little buddy. These people are going to make sure mommy never hurts you again. That you can come stay with me all the time. You're going to be okay." He tried to gently get Goten to let go, but his son only cried and clung tighter to his neck.

"Daddy I'm scared. I don't want to go!"

Goku shushed him as he rocked him back and forth, "It's for the best. I won't let her hurt you again. If this is what we have to do, then we are going to do it. It won't be easy, but you are a strong little warrior, aren't you? So brave."

Goten, still crying, nodded and turned in his father's embrace and looked at the strangers, "Hello." He said quietly.

The blonde seemed to suck her cheeks at the sight of Goten's face. She stepped quickly forward and grabbed him out of Goku's arms and carried him back towards the officers. "We need to photograph this," she said and set Goten on the floor.

Gohan scowled at the rough way the lady had ripped Goten from his father. He was starting to like this less and less.

"His face," Trunks gasped and started forward, but Gohan grabbed his arm. Poor Goten looked so frightened. A big officer was snapping photos of Goten as the lady turned him this way and that, lifting his clothing, nearly stripping the poor boy so they could document every mark on his skin.

The heavier set lady looked fierce as she stepped towards Goku. "Mr. Son we need to talk," she said firmly and pointed towards one of the tables in the far corner of the lab.

Goku didn't like the woman's tone of voice with him. It was almost as if she was accusing him of being the one to put those marks on his son's body. The very thought made him sick, he gave a look a t Gohan and then down at Sabriena. He tried to calm himself, he would tell the truth, no lies. Lies would only make it worse. He nodded and walked over to the table she had pointed at. The woman was intimidating and he suddenly wished he had brought Sabriena over with him. He could see the worried, horrified and angry looks on everyone in the room. He dragged a hand through his hair, cursing at himself for not seeing the abuse sooner. He finally looked at the woman, "I'll answer the best I can"

The woman introduced herself as Barb and settled herself across the table from him, not looking at him, and began to sort through more papers, setting them in small piles around her. She finally found the paper she was looking for and smoothed it onto the table and picked up a pen. "The report alleges that the abuser was his mother. Were you aware of this?"

Goku shook his head, "Not until just recently. We just confirmed it yesterday the extent of what my exwife has done to Goten. She has been covering up the marks. It's was only when my wife noticed him flinching when he had accidents around the house that we suspected something was wrong." He swallowed hard and looked over at Goten. He was shivering with tears in his eyes, "I wish I had figured it out sooner, but he is usually so happy when he is visiting. When we are training together..."

"Training?" she asked. "Please explain what you mean by training."

"Martial arts," he smiled at the woman, "He's been wanting to fight in the world martial arts tournament. So we've been training together." Goku didn't think that she would buy the story that they were preparing for a war, fighting dragons and magick," He started training when he was three or four."

Barb seemed mildly interested. "Martial Arts? He seems a bit young for that. Does he ever get hurt in training? Does it ever leave a mark?"

Goku nodded, "Bruises here and there, but never on his face. He's given me quite a few too, it's mutual." He lifted his arm and patted the forearm, "Just around here where he blocks attacks."

She raised a skeptical eyebrow as she wrote on the paper before her. "So your son has to block attacks from you? Am I hearing that right?" she asked.

"NO!" Trunks said loudly, "It's not like that! It's training! Goku would never hurt his son!"

Barb patiently set her pen down and turned towards him. "I think the room is a little crowded. Perhaps everyone else should wait outside?"

Trunks started to protest again, but Gohan grabbed him by the wrist and drug him out into the hallway.

Mary, the other caseworker, had fixed Goten's clothing and was talking to the officers. "We should interview everyone and see what we can figure out." She turned to Bulma, "What's the nature of everyone's relationship with Goten?"

Bulma paused for a minute, "Well, my husband, son and I are friends of his family. Sabriena is his stepmother. And Gohan's his brother."

"Sabriena," Mary repeated, looking around until she saw her, "That you?"

Sabriena stood and nodded silently. She wasn't so sure about this now and her stomach coiled nervously.

"Why don't you come with me?"

Sabriena shot Goku a worried look and followed the lady out of the room. When the door closed, it was only Goku, Barb, Goten, and a young-looking officer who crouched down and was speaking softly to Goten.

"That's better," Barb said and turned her attention to Goku once more and looked expectantly at him.

Goku looked back at her, "I teach him to block. I've won the martial arts tournament before. So I teach him what I know and we repeat until he has learned the move. He has learned a few offensive moves, he uses them when he sees an opening." He wasn't sure how to explain it since it all came so naturally to him. How did you explain that this kind of fighting was okay? "It's training. I'm not hurting my son. This is consensual! My exwife has been using a switch on him for being himself!"

"There is no need to shout," she said firmly. She settled herself again and asked, "The boy's mother, your ex-wife, you say? Has she ever shown signs of aggression towards your son before?"

Goku nodded, "She would yell at them. If they accidentally squeezed a glass cup too hard, it would shatter. Chichi didn't like it when he would take a break from his homeschooling. She would spank Gohan for getting things wrong, but with Goten. To think that she started using a switch." His voice caught in his throat and his eyes teared up as he thought it over, "She might have been using it before she divorced me. I was always out late training and she always made sure that Goten was always in bed by the time I got home."

She was scribbling on that paper again. She paused and glanced over at the young officer who was still speaking to Goten. "Mr. Son, I'm going to be perfectly honest with you. I'm appalled at the condition of that little boy. I cannot, in good conscience or by law, allow Goten to go home with you or his mother. Do you understand?" her tone had softened a bit and she looked concerned.

Goku nodded " I understand. I just. I don't want her to hurt him any more. Please, make sure he will be safe. I don't ever want to see him like this ever again. I love him and I'll do whatever it takes. I can't watch him suffer and know I can't do anything to help him."

Barb blinked in surprise and wrote on her paper again. "I need you to sign this paper, acknowledging that you agree to Goten's temporary placement in a foster home. And we will have to contact his mother. Do you know if she's available right now?"

Goku shook his head as he signed the paper, "She's most likely at home, you can reach her at this number." He looked at her, "Please help him." He took her hands within his own, as built as she was, her hands were still dwarfed by his and he looked into her eyes, "Please make sure he's safe from her." His tears slipped down his cheeks. "I don't want to see him hurt!"

"That's my job," she answered and withdrew her hands from his. "You wait here while I make some phone calls." She walked past Goten and the officer, pulling a cellphone from her pocket as she went.

"How you doin', little man?" the young officer asked. He had a handsome face and his eyes were warm as he looked at the little boy who sat on the floor.

Goten nodded at the man in front of him, "I just want to go home with Daddy and Sabriena!" He looked around and hugged himself, "I just wanna go home! Please?!"

The officer sat on the floor, facing Goten, one leg outstretched, the other bent at the knee. "I hear ya. This is all kinda scary, huh?"

Goten nodded and looked at him. "What's going on? Daddy said I'd have to go away for a while until this was sorted out." He looked fearful, his lip quivering again. "Momma said I wasn't supposed to talk about this to anyone."

The officer leaned a little closer. "Yeah? Did your mommy do that?"

Goten leaned back when the man leaned in, fresh tears cascading down his face. He didn't like these people. What did he do wrong? Was Daddy punishing him for the marks? Goten swallowed. Momma would be furious with him later if she found out he told. He pressed his mouth shut and looked at the ground, trying to scoot back. He wrapped his arms around his chest and wailed.

"Whoa, hey, hey, hey," the officer said softly, "Don't cry. Here, look. Look." He fished in his pocket and pulled out a silver coin, which he displayed on his hand. "You like magic?"

Goten swallowed and nodded. He glanced over at Sabriena, then back at the officer. He rubbed at his eyes with his fists, he wanted to go home, camp outside, cook with Sabriena, train with his dad and Tien.

"Yeah?" the officer smiled and extended his hand a little more towards Goten. He turned the coin over in his hands. "See? Just a yen. But watch." He covered the coin with the thumb of his other hand and began to press down, rubbing it slightly. "Watch." He slowly lifted his thumb away, revealing that the coin had disappeared. He smiled at the expression on Goten's face before he reached over and pulled the coin from behind Goten's ear. "Ta-da," he laughed softly.

He settled back against the wall, folding his arms behind his head. "You know, when I was little, someone hurt me."

Goten had laughed and clapped when the coin appeared behind his ear, his laughter died away when he looked back up at the officer, "They did?" He looked down at his hands before glancing back up, "How did you get away from them?"

"The lady that was talking to your dad? She came and took me away," he answered. "I was scared. But then I got to go and live with people who loved me." He sat up a bit and leaned towards Goten again. "It's not your fault, little man."

Goten perked up at that, "Really?" He looked over at his daddy. He looked sad, "Momma hurt daddy too, but he didn't have people come take him away. Momma said if I ever told, no one would believe me." he sniffled, "I love momma and I try to be good! I really do. Don't let momma see me like this! She won't like it."

The officer tried not to appear overly eager as he lowered his voice just a bit more. "Did your mommy do that to you?"

Goten's eyes welled up, he tried to speak but the words wouldn't come. He lowered his head and nodded at the floor. "Is she gonna get in trouble?" Momma would be very angry with him if she did. She might even switch him harder than usual. He closed his eyes, remembering the bite of the switch as it dug into his skin, stinging with the worst kind of pain. He shivered. On those nights when Daddy or Gohan had been home he had wanted to crawl up with them and cry, but Momma would say they wouldn't want him.

"Good job, little man," the officer said softly. He looked over at Goku, a relief singing through him. He didn't want this poor kid to go to foster care like he himself had. He had just gotten to his feet when Barb returned.

"Mr. Son, I contacted your ex-wife. She's on her way here to discuss this. You can step out of the room if you'd like to avoid seeing her."

Goku looked ill, a dark look passing over his face. "I'm not sure if I could look at her after seeing Goten like this." He really felt sick, "I don't want to hear her lie." He looked over at Goten on the floor, he wanted to take him out of there. He looked so scared. He was going to need to have someone hold him back from her. Tora or Vegeta, though they may encourage him to attack her. Maybe Sabriena would help him keep his head straight. He pressed his lips together. Best to shut up and let Chichi dig her own grave. He looked back at Barb, "Could his brother look after him?"

"We spoke with your oldest son," she answered. "We feel it would be in Goten's best interest if we placed him somewhere neutral. Your oldest seems extremely upset with their mother."

"Just let the kid go with his dad," the officer said in a hushed tone. "He didn't do it."

Barb blinked at the officer, "How do you know that?"

"I talked to the kid," he answered. "He said his dad isn't the one who did it. It was his mom."

She pressed a hand to her face, "You interviewed the child while his father was present? Of course that's what he would say." She huffed and walked to the door, motioning one of the other officers over. "Get your rookie out of here before he really screws something up," she hissed.

The young officer seemed to deflate as the older officer nodded for him to leave the room. He bent down again quickly and handed the coin to Goten. "You'll be okay, little man."

Goten nodded and sniffled as he took the coin and held onto it. He didn't know what to do or to say, why couldn't it all be over? Now he had to wait for momma to show up. She wouldn't be happy. Not at all.


Gohan leaned against the wall in the hallway, his arms crossed. "Man, I really hope they let me take Goten," he muttered, "I mean, I don't see why they wouldn't, right? Bulma could talk 'em into it, couldn't she Vegeta?"

He snorted and glanced over at him before looking back down the hallway, "She very well could. She's stubborn and she understands this sort of thing better than the rest of us. It's whatever's best for the boy. I cannot wait to hear the excuse that bitch comes up for this. I might let Tora rip her heart out. After I'm finished with her, that is."

"And I wouldn't stop you," Gohan muttered darkly. He stared at the tile floor as Sabriena came out of a room to his left, followed by the CPS worker. "Hey," he said softly to her, "What'd they say to you?"

"Not a lot," she answered in a tone that matched his. "Wanted to know how long I've known Goku, how much time I'd spent around Goten, yada yada. You?"

"They asked me a bunch of questions about when I was a kid," he answered. "I-" Gohan never got to finish his sentence.

"OUT OF MY WAY! Where's my son? What is going on here?!"

Gohan involuntarily flinched at the sound of his mother making her way up the hall. Mary, who had been interviewing Sabriena, intercepted Chichi before she got close enough for Gohan to speak to her. She ushered Chichi into the lab where Goten and Goku were. Just before the door closed, Gohan heard his mother wail, "Oh, GOTEN! What happened to you?!"

Vegeta's jaw clenched and he tightened his fists, they could hear the tendons growing tight, "She's really going to try and blame Kakarot."

Goku breathed heavily through his nose as Chichi came into the room. She didn't deserve to see their son ever again. The words out of her mouth enraged him to no end. Was she really playing dumb?

"Oh, GOTEN!" Chichi gushed when she saw him sitting there on the floor, covered in marks. She dropped to her knees and hugged him tight to her chest. "Oh, my baby!" There were big, dramatic tears streaming from her eyes as she fussed over him, kissing his face, holding him in her arms. "Goku! What did you do?!"

Goten hissed and whimpered as his mother hugged him, the marks on his back screaming in pain. "Owwww," he whined. Chichi didn't seem to notice.

Goku's eyes snapped over to her. He was shocked and appalled, "You're hurting him!" He cried as he watched the way Goten tried not to cringe, "Get your hands off of my son! You've done more than enough damage. You want to know what I did? I took him to see Lindsey's grandmother. She found the marks you were trying to cover up!"

"That crazy old devil worshipper," Chichi snarled. "You took our son there? No wonder he looks like this!"

"Both of you need to stop," Barb said in a loud, firm tone. She turned to the big officer, "Why don't you take Goten out to the back yard to play for a minute? I need to speak to his parents."

The officer bent and pulled Goten out of Chichi's arms. Chichi looked furious.

Barb ushered her over to the table Goku was at and motioned for them both to sit down.

Chichi crossed her arms and looked away from Goku, scooting her chair slightly away from him. "We've contacted a foster family to take Goten," Barb said. "And we are assigning a caseworker to work with you. Obviously, our goal is to reunite you with your son, but we have to make sure that he is in a safe, stable environment."

Goku nodded. It wasn't ideal, but as long as Chichi was kept away from Goten, that's all that mattered, "Do what you have to do. Just, he eats a lot for a little boy his age." He paused and wanted to ask if he could say goodbye, but wasn't sure how that was going to be viewed. He definitely didn't want to give Chichi any more ammunition. His blood was boiling as it was. First, she accused him of raping Sabriena and now she dared suggest that he was the one to beat Goten. He was so done with her.

Before he could get an answer, Chichi snapped, "So you're okay with them just shipping our son off to god-knows-where? Honestly, Goku, how can you be like that?! We won't know where he is or who he's with, if he's doing his studies! You're going to let them rip him away from everything he's ever known?!" The tears poured from her eyes now as she glared hatefully at him. "You may not have been the best husband or father, but I never thought I'd see the day where you just walked away from him. This is a new low."

Goku was unmoved by her outburst, it almost scared him how cold he felt, "No. I'm not okay with that Chichi, but you've forced my hand on this. At least this way, I know Goten won't be near you." Oh, how he wanted to punch her, but violence wasn't going to help him. His heart stopped a beating as it clicked in his head that Chichi was trying to get him to do something violent just so she could point a finger at him and say Look! Just like I said.

He shook his head and let out a huff of air looking to Barb, "I'm stepping out into the hall. I need air. Please let me know if you need anything else." He stood and moved out of the room as he tried to remind himself to breathe. He saw the group down the hallway and walked over to them, his lips pressed thin. He didn't know what to do.

Sabriena threw herself against Goku's chest, hugging him as tight as she could. "I love you," she whispered, burying her face in his shirt, trying to stop the tears that threatened to fall again.

Gohan's breath caught in his chest when he saw his dad, his heart hammered in his chest, barely daring to hope. "Are they gonna let me take Goten?"

Goku shook his head, "No, they are putting him in a home. A neutral place where they know he'll be safe while they investigate." He screwed up his face, "They're assigning us a caseworker who will come and investigate us? See who they can trust to take care of Goten." He wrapped his arms around his wife, holding her tight. She had been perfect throughout this; just what Goten had needed. She would have made a fantastic mother. A pang of longing hit him, he was sad he would never get to see that. He sighed, "I guess I shouldn't be surprised Chichi tried to blame me."

"That's about par for the course," Catie muttered, crossing her arms and leaning against the wall next to Trunks. They stood in silence for a few minutes, waiting to see what would happen next.

Sabriena stood on tiptoe to press her lips to Goku's throat. "We'll get him back, baby. I promise. Tien and I will do anything we need to do, okay?"

Goku nodded. He was so tired. Tired of the lies, tired of this system where they had to play by someone else's rules. One way or the other, Chichi wasn't touching Goten again. He was going to make sure of that. "I want to go home, but I want to ask that lady if I can visit Goten when he is in the foster home." He looked behind him, "But I think I might do something I'll regret if I go back into the room with Chichi still in there."

He didn't have to wait long before the CPS worker and Chichi walked out into the hall. Mary was there, too. "They've got a home ready for him," she said. "We need to get him settled."

The officers were walking back up the hallway with Goten. "You can say your goodbyes now," Mary told Chichi.

Chichi rushed over to him as the officers stood protectively close; the young officer placed his hand on the pistol at his hip. "Oh Goten, don't you worry," Chichi gushed. "Mommy's going to make this all better. You'll be home before you know it. Just be brave, okay?"

Goten nodded and hugged his mother. "I love you, Momma," he said softly. She hugged him for a minute longer before Barb moved her aside. "Mr. Son, you can say goodbye now."

Goku nodded and went over to kneel in front of Goten, holding his arms open for him and carefully hugged his son, "I'll come visit when they say I can. Okay buddy? You listen and do what they say, alright? When it's over, I'll see if I can twist Sabriena's arm to make you your favorite dinner, how about that?"

Goten nodded and wiped his tears away, "Yeah! I love you, Daddy." He pulled back and looked over at Sabriena, "Can I say goodbye to you?"

Goku let go of Goten and watched him run over to hug Sabriena. He turned to Barb, "Will we be able to visit Goten during the investigation?"

"Your caseworker will determine when and how often you can visit," she answered. "The worker will be coming by to do a home study sometime this week. Just to see the condition of your house, make sure that it's a safe and healthy environment for Goten. Things like making sure your lights are on, you have running water, a safe way of storing food, his own bed, that sort of thing."

Goku glanced worriedly at Sabriena and frowned as Chichi smirked triumphantly, "Ah, we live in a cabin in the woods. There's no electricity, we have a waterfall and a root cellar and a shower. Chickens, a goat. No food goes bad." he sighed, "Can I tell the caseworker to also look into Gohan's house too?"

Barb pursed her lips for a moment and looked over at Gohan, who looked hopeful. "It's an option. If you have alternative methods of doing things, we may still be able to work something out. It'll be up to your worker to determine what is the best course of action."

Gohan relaxed finally, the hope of at least him getting his brother at some point during this mess relieved his mind for the moment. He didn't like the idea of Goten going to live with strangers. But maybe he could meet this caseworker soon and get Goten to his home as quickly as possible.

"Thank you for being cooperative," Mary said to Goku. "Time to go," she said to Goten, who was still clinging to Sabriena's neck.

Goku nodded to the woman, "Thank you for everything. Please take good care of him." He looked to Goten, "You have fun buddy. We'll be back together before you know it."

Everyone stood in a stunned silence as they watched the officers and CPS workers escort Goten out of the house and drove off.

"I OUGHT TO KILL YOU!" Bulma roared, stomping towards Chichi, her fist raised.

Vegeta rushed forward and caught his wife on his shoulder. He pinned her against the wall. "Don't do it, Bulma," Vegeta growled.

"Get off me!" she shouted and smacked at his back. "Chichi, I ever get my hands on you, you're a dead woman! You hear me?! YOU'RE DEAD!"

Goku was half tempted to tell Vegeta just to let Bulma attack Chichi. The Saiyan prince was probably half tempted anyway.

"You're no match for me and you know it!" Chichi shouted back. She dropped into a defensive stance, "Just because I don't fight anymore doesn't mean I've forgotten how! Let her go, Vegeta!"

Vegeta was sorely tempted to release his wife, but he knew the words Chichi spoke were true. Then he'd have to step in and take care of Chichi himself and that meant either disposing of a body or dealing with earthling court systems himself. She wasn't worth the hassle.

"Fine! Catie, you take care of her!" Bulma shouted.

"With pleasure," Catie growled, cracking her knuckles as her hair flashed to green.

Goku couldn't believe himself, "Catie, don't. She's not worth the effort. It's what she wants you to do. She'll get hurt on purpose and then turn around to the caseworker and say I did it." He saw Sabriena working her jaw, probably wondering if she could use solar flare on the woman. He reached up and brushed the mark on her neck. He was very lucky to have friends and family willing to defend him, "Chichi. You aren't fooling anyone. My only question to you would be why the HELL did you do it? You were a wretched wife and terrible mother. "

Chichi looked as if he'd slapped her. "ME?! You were the one always out running all over god's green earth! You were never there, Goku. I dedicated my whole life to you and our children! I cooked for you, I kept house for you, I raised your children! And THIS is the thanks I get?! There were no marks on Goten when he left my house! Gohan knows that; he's the one who picked him up! He must've gotten them while he was with you. And furthermore, WHY WAS HE WITH YOU AT ALL?! He was supposed to be staying with Gohan!"

Goku looked furious, "Because Sabriena caught him flinching from the switch we have to keep our rooster in order. He was crying when he accidentally broke a bowl, begging Sabriena not to hit him too hard. He told us about the senzu beans you make him eat to hide your abuse!" He let a breath out of his nose, he was shaking. He couldn't feel anything for this woman any more. She knew why he wasn't home. He had been busy trying to save the world and the cold couch at home wasn't much incentive.

"HA!" Chichi scoffed, "I don't have senzu beans! I don't know where you got this crazy story from, but no one's going to believe you. When they find out how violent you and your friends are, you'll never see him again!" She scowled at him, her hands clenched in fists at her sides. "Especially when they find out about your relationship. You think they're going to see that as a healthy environment for Goten? Who KNOWS what sort of sick, depraved things he could learn living in that house! What might happen to him if you or Tien decide to-"

"THAT'S ENOUGH, MOTHER!" Gohan shouted, causing everyone to flinch. "I've had just about enough of your lies." He fought the shakes that coursed through his frame, ignoring the knot in his throat. "Everyone here knows what you did to Goten." He paused and fixed her with a fierce glare. "I wonder where you got the idea to use the senzu beans," he said in a frighteningly cold voice. "Those beans were supposed to heal us in battle, to save lives, not to cover up what you wanted to hide! One of those beans could have saved Krillin's life! But we didn't have a single one to take with us that day and now we know why! Because YOU somehow managed to get your hands on them instead."

"How dare you speak to me like that," Chichi hissed. "I am your mother! I deserve some respect."

"You think you're such a wonderful mother?" He snorted. "You're the most controlling, cold-hearted excuse for a mother I've ever met. I will personally see to it that Goten NEVER goes to live with you again! He will never forgive you for this. And he will never forget. And neither will I." Chichi tried to protest, but Gohan grabbed her by the arm and drug her down the hallway and out the door. "Go home, mother, before I think better of it and let Catie and Sabriena loose on you." And with that, he turned and walked back to the house.

"GOHAN!" she gasped in shock, "How could you treat your mother like this?"

He turned in the doorway and bellowed back, "HOW COULD YOU TREAT GOTEN THE WAY YOU DO?!" and he slammed the door.

Vegeta scowled as he still held onto Bulma, "I really cannot stand that wretch. If she dares set foot in this home again after this is all over, I'm ripping her head off."

Goku sighed and leaned back against the cool wall as he watched Gohan walk back to them, "Thanks. All of you. I really appreciate it." He drug a hand through his hair. He was beyond tired, this all felt like a bad dream, "At least Goten is safe." He looked over at Sabriena, briefly wondering about Chichi's words and what his relationship with Tien and Sabriena would mean. He supposed they would cross that bridge when they came to it.

"You did the right thing," Bulma said, walking over to Goku now that Vegeta had finally released her. "I'm going to help you. You'll get him back, I promise." She reached up and hugged his neck. "You're my oldest friend, Goku. You know I'd do anything to help you."

Goku slid his arms around her and hugged her tightly as he mumbled into her shoulder, "Thank you." He let go of her and looked around the group, "I suppose that's enough damage for one day. I think I'm ready to go back home." He tried to remember who all had come with him to Capsule Corp. He'd already been around the world once today and with all that was going on, he forgot. He reached out for Sabriena.

Gohan hugged Trunks and Catie quickly, thanked Bulma and stepped next to his dad. "Don't forget me," he laughed lightly, although he didn't much feel like laughing. There was a burning emptiness in his chest as he thought about his little brother being shipped across the city, all alone in that car with a bunch of strangers. He hated his mother more than he had ever thought was possible. If she didn't want Goten, she could've brought him to Gohan. He barely had the chance to think all of this before he found himself standing in Tien's cabin.

Goku looked around when they arrived. Tien and Lindsey looked over at them expectantly, but their faces dropped when they saw Goten was missing. He shook his head, "They took him to a neutral home. The important thing is that he's away from Chichi. It was a real mess when she showed up. They're going to be sending someone out to investigate the home situation. To see if it's fit for Goten to live here." As he looked around, he realized that the one room cabin probably wouldn't help his case on top of all that. He looked to Gohan, "Hopefully they'll decide your home is safe for him."

"Wait, whoa, time out," Tien said, holding his hands up. "Someone is coming out here, to MY house, to investigate it? Investigate for what? We didn't do anything! It was that psycho ex of yours that hurt your boy!" He was livid, his face turning red, a vein throbbing in his neck. "They think we had something to do with him getting hurt?"

Goku looked down at the floor and nodded his head. He hadn't thought about that. Tien liked his privacy out here and here Goku was messing everything up again, "Chichi said I was the one who hurt him." He looked back up at Tien, "They just want to make sure this place is safe for Goten. If I should get awarded custody, they want to make sure he has a good home to go to."

Tien grabbed at his head, turning halfway away from Goku in frustration before turning back to him. "There's no where on earth that's safer!" He froze as if a lightbulb had just turned on over his head. "Wait, this is good. This is good! If they come out here, they can see how good this place is for Goten. The natural food, the fresh air and anyone with half a brain can feel the protective spells. Right?"

Goku nodded,"Though. they might have something to say about the no bedroom for Goten...or the three of us." Goku shook his head, "I just, I don't know, Tien. Hopefully we will get someone who is open minded and just wants to help Goten. That's the important thing. And if that doesn't work, Gohan's been saying he could take Goten. Thanks for that, by the way. I can't imagine a better place for him if not here than with you two."

"We'll cross that bridge when we get there," Gohan said, staring at his wife as she gathered Phoenix in her arms. "We should probably head home," Gohan continued. "Is there anything else we can do before we go?"

Goku shook his head and gave them a smile, "Nah. You two have been amazing today. I can't thank you for what you did. Let's get you home." He wrapped an arm around each of their shoulders and looked over at Sabriena and Tien, "I'll be right back guys."