Fallen – Chapter 7

Previously

Unfortunately he did and he didn't. What he understood what was that if the brain swelling went away she would return to normal. The Senzu Beans! That would fix all of her physical injuries and she would be back to normal. With that one thought to cling to Vegeta flew off out the open window and headed to Koren's Tower.

When Vegeta arrived at Koren's Tower he was not surprised Gohan was still there waiting. He was however annoyed to see Yamcha was still there. He walked up to Gohan, "What's taking so long?"

"Koren just went to check on them again, Vegeta, I'm sure it won't be long now." replied Gohan, placing himself between Vegeta and Yamcha. Gohan looked back when he saw movement. Yamcha couldn't possibly be stupid enough to provoke Vegeta at a time like this, could he?

Yamcha had stood and walked forward, hands clenched into fists at his side. Vegeta visibly stiffened, not that he was concerned for a fight, but he was doing his best to restrain himself. The Sensu beans were very important to him, now more than ever, and he didn't want to cause destruction here. Yamcha looked straight at Vegeta, "How is she?" Vegeta closed his eyes and was silently counting to ten, How dare he speak to me at a time like this?! When Vegeta didn't answer him he got closer, "I asked you a question, are we really going to play these childish games now?"

Vegeta opened his eyes and set his heavy stare on Yamcha who shuddered inwardly. "I don't have time for you endless chatter, you worthless excuse of a human being." At that moment a nervous Koren appeared with a single Senzu bean in his hand. Vegeta's gaze softened for the briefest of moments and then returned to his stoic mask. Gohan had seen the mask slip, he was getting better at reading Vegeta, the man. Vegeta turned his attention to Koren. "This is the only bean ready" Koren explained. "Take it and take care not to lose it. It will be several more days for the rest of this crop to mature." Vegeta took the bean from Koren and turned to leave but before he did he looked back at Gohan and nodded his head. Then with a flash Vegeta was off.

"Well that's gratitude for you, didn't even say thank you or kiss my boot or anything!" spat Yamcha. Gohan looked at him with pity, "If you ever decide to truly see Vegeta as the man he is without your prejudice, you would have seen his way of saying thank you." Yamcha had enough of this whole situation and was tired of being cast aside and chided by a child. "I'm going home" Yamcha announce as he flew off in the direction of West City and his apartment. Gohan looked at Koren and shook his head and then headed home himself. Koren stood there as the two warriors who had been his company left in separate directions.

Vegeta flew faster than light back to Capsule Corp, back to Bulma. He didn't bother with human customs as he entered the window in her room, scaring the attending doctor half to death. Vegeta looked around the room and noticed that the doctor had a long tube inserted in Bulma's mouth and if the image on the monitor was correct, the tube went down her throat and into her stomach. "What do you think you are doing!?" Vegeta raged. The little doctor froze and spoke in a small shaky voice, "We are inserting a feeding tube. The IVs are not giving her enough nutrition to heal. She's too weak." The little doctor was cut off by Vegeta, "What gives you the right, I have not consented to any such tube!"

"Her father agreed" the little doctor tried to explain.

"Remove it at once or I swear by Kami I'll. . ." Vegeta didn't have to finish the threat. The little doctor removed the endoscopy tube from Bulma and the mouth piece. "Get out!" Vegeta commanded. The nervous doctor didn't argue and left immediately to the adjoining room where he could continue to monitor his patient.

Vegeta crossed the room and sat on the side of the bed. Bulma's eyes opened but still she did not see him. She did not acknowledge his presence. Vegeta brushed some stray hairs from her eyes and caressed her cheek. He looked down at the Senzu bean in his hand with hope. He brought it to her lips and put it in her mouth. She seemed to suck on the bean but not chew it. Fearing she would choke on the bean meant to save everything he used a spoon to fish the bean out of her mouth. He held it in a tissue wondering what to do, how to make her swallow the bean.

The door opened quietly and Vegeta turned his head slightly to allow his peripheral vision to pick up the old man entering the room. No doubt the scared little doctor in the next room had called him. "Did you get the Senzu bean?" Dr. Briefs asked with hope. Vegeta only nodded solemnly. "What's wrong then, give it to her." the doctor asked. Vegeta stood and turned to the doctor. He opened his hand to reveal the Senzu bean and offered it to the doctor saying, "I tried but she won't swallow it."

"That's why were inserting the feeding tube. It would go from here into her stomach." He said pointing to Bulma's stomach. "We could give her tube feeding and medicine this way." Vegeta tightened his grasp around the precious bean and began to growl. He didn't like the idea of some tube sticking out of Bulma and he knew how much she would hate the scar from such a thing. Dr. Briefs began to withdraw from the room, "She cannot last forever with IVs alone. She has to eat and drink or" Vegeta took a step forward glaring at the old man, "Out!" he said ominously. Dr. Briefs backed out of the room without another word. He knew Vegeta was as head strong as his daughter, that's what made them a good pair. Unfortunately that also meant that, for the time being, there was no changing his mind on this matter. He only hoped Vegeta would come to reason before Bulma deteriorated any worse.

Vegeta paced the room thinking. How could he get her to eat the bean? She did move the bean around in her mouth. Maybe if he mixed it with something soft. He walked across the room and opened the door he saw the little doctor go in, "Get me something soft and sweet for her to eat." The little doctor sat for a moment frozen in fear, "Now!" Vegeta barked. The little doctor scampered off. A few minutes later a nurse appeared. She was old but walked with confidence. She carried a small tray with water, vanilla pudding, straws, and a spoon. The little doctor must have returned to hiding place, Vegeta thought. He turned to tell the nurse to leave but before he could make his objections known she sat down on the opposite side of Bulma, "I am not here to interfere, but if she chokes I can use this to suction her to keep her from aspirating" she said as she held up a piece of thin plastic.

Vegeta hadn't thought of that. She was right, what if she did choke? He would let her stay. He crushed the bean into a small paper cup and added a spoon full of pudding. He mixed the two together. He looked at Bulma, her eyes were still open. He carefully put a small portion on the spoon and fed it to her. Her mouth remained open. He leaned in, "You have to eat this, Onna" he whispered and then added "I need you to eat this, please." His eyes widened as her mouth worked the confection and then she swallowed it. He slowly fed her the remaining portion. With every bite her ki was getting stronger and her color brighter. When she finished it he took a cup of water and brought the straw to her lips, dragging it along the bottom lip. She did not respond. He removed the straw and brought the cup to her lips and slowly poured a little in her mouth and she drank it. When she had finished the entire cup of water Vegeta sat them aside. "I will take my leave, you have everything under control" the nurse said as she left the room.

Vegeta sat on the edge of the bed and waited. Bulma's Ki had returned to normal but she had not changed. Her eyes still did not see him. Perhaps she is not fully healed. The old man said she would be back to normal once she was healed. Vegeta thoughts ran wild. He took her hand in his and allowed a miniscule amount of ki to run from him into her. Her injuries are all healed, I do not understand. Did he lie to me?

Back down the hallway the nurse recanted to the doctor everything that had happened. "Thank you, Penny" Dr. Briefs said while nodding his head. Bunny sat in the chair next to him, "Is our baby girl going to be all better?" she asked. Dr. Briefs turned to her, "I don't know." He stood, "I'm going to check on her, I will meet you in our room, you need some rest too." Dr. Briefs headed back to the Med Lab and on entering Bulma's room he found a very enraged Saiyan waiting for him.

He approached carefully. Dr. Briefs realized Bulma's salvation lay in this very temperamental alien. "The nurse tells me you got her to eat and drink" he said trying to defuse the young man's anger. "She wouldn't do that for me or her mother. That's wonderful, my boy!" Vegeta stopped his pacing and turned to the doctor, "You lied! You said if I fixed her she would be back to normal. Well I fixed her and she is still this . . . this . . . this breathing manikin!" His words dripped with venom but the good doctor saw the pain and anguish in Vegeta's eyes. "We will do another CT scan immediately. We will see what's going on" the doctor offered in an attempt to pacify Vegeta.

Vegeta could hear his son crying from the lower levels, he could hear the beeping of the machines and the steady breaths coming from Bulma, he could hear what the doctor was telling him, but he couldn't process it all. He was overwhelmed and at a loss for what to do. He couldn't handle all of this. He needed to get away. So, Vegeta did what came naturally and turned to the open window and flew off.

Vegeta flew until the anger subsided. He found himself at a waterfall and landed at the base on some rocks. He paced back and forth, debating what to do now: That's it. This is all I have left. The Woman is a lifeless shell. I can't raise the boy by myself but I can't stay here without her. I won't let that weakling raise my child, the heir to the throne. I should take the boy and leave. I won't stay and watch her live out her days as a breathing doll. Should I end her misery, my misery? This line of thought was scaring even him. The boy would never forgive me if I killed her like my father killed my mother. I won't do that to him.

Vegeta collapsed in a wet thud. He crossed his legs and attempted to meditate. Why did I let her effect me so. Even like this, the spell she cast over me has me in its clutches. She has made me weak with her poison she calls love. I am no longer the warrior I once was. I changed everything to be here with her. The universe has a sick sense of humor. Why test me so? I could be a king if I went back to collect the shattered pieces of the Cold Empire. The boy would be a weakness too. I could always come back for him later once my throne was secure. She stood by you even when no one else would, his mind countered, you forget your honor. "Honor bound" Vegeta said out loud, not expecting a reply so when a gruff voice replied "Hmm, what's that about honor" Vegeta was startled. He opened his eyes to see the older Namekian sitting across from him.

"What are you doing here?" Vegeta demanded.

"Searching for answers, the same as you." Piccolo replied. "I felt your ki spike and you fly in this direction. I came to see if you needed any help."

Vegeta stood and looked down at him, "I doubt you could be of any help to me." Piccolo stood up and brushed himself off. "Perhaps then a sparring partner" he said as he took a defensive stance, "but you will have to go easy on me I am not as strong as you are." Piccolo new Vegeta was in emotional turmoil and wanted to get him to vent in a healthy manner. Vegeta smirked. He knew the Namekian was stroking his ego but he would let it go, just this once.

The two sparred for an hour before Piccolo finally decided to poke at the heart of the matter. "I take it the Senzu Bean didn't work as planned." Vegeta saw red. Of course the Namekian had ulterior motives for the spar. He was sent here to baby sit him.

"Did Gohan send you? Afraid I would go on a killing spree was he? Vegeta accused as he punched to the left then the right, both times missing Piccolo's head. "You know you are no match for me" Vegeta taunted.

"No" panted Piccolo. "It's obvious you wouldn't be here fighting with yourself if it had. I figured fighting with someone who could answer you would be more productive." It was getting harder and harder to dodge Vegeta's punches. Vegeta was getting more and more mad. What had he meant, answer him? Was it because Bulma would not answer him? Vegeta phased out and back in fifty feet higher in the air.

"Final Flash!" Vegeta howled. Again he missed. Although to be quite honest he really didn't want to kill Piccolo, just hurt him really, really badly. Piccolo phased out and back in directly behind Vegeta grabbing him in a head lock. It didn't last long as Vegeta head butted him back and turned Super Saiyan.

"You're cheating, Vegeta" Piccolo mused. Vegeta was done playing with the Namekian as he countered another one of his moves. The next thing Piccolo knew he was flying towards the ground, hard and fast. He landed, creating a small crater when he did. He opened his eyes to feel Vegeta pulling him up the collar of his robes. "I don't need a baby sitter!" Vegeta spat as he dropped Piccolo to the ground. Piccolo sat up, he was going to feel this tomorrow.

He stood and brushed off the dust. He walked over to the tree Vegeta was leaning against and looked at him squarely. "Bulma has many friends among the Z Gang. We just want to know how she is fairing. No ulterior motives and nothing implied." Vegeta seemed to think about this for a moment. They were her friends. At least he could tolerate the Namekian. Hell, he stood his ground against cell and the androids. This had earned his respect. "She remains in what the doctors call a semi-vegetative state. She opens her eyes but does not respond. The Senzu Bean strengthened her, but that was all." Vegeta was staring off into the distance.

Piccolo was honestly surprised at the fact that Vegeta decided to share any details let alone that the Senzu Bean had failed. That was the reason he was out here letting out his frustrations. He remained silent, he did not want to cut Vegeta's communication off, it may never happen again. Vegeta glanced at him and then stared back off into the distance. The distance he noticed was towards Capsule Corp. During the entire battle Vegeta kept looking off in that direction. He had become acutely aware that Vegeta was monitoring Bulma, even from out here.

Vegeta was done with this conversation. There was nothing more to be said here. He would return to Capsule Corp to gather his things. He had made his decision. As much as it pained him to think this way he would not allow them to prolong her life in an artificial manner. He would stay until the end but then he would take his son and leave.

"So that's it? You're going to leave it at that?" Piccolo prodded. He had to be sure Vegeta was not going to do something everyone would regret. Vegeta stopped and turned, "What more is there to say?! You are like the rest of the humans around here. You all speak to much!" He felt his anger rising so he closed his eyes and an image of Bulma's face appeared before him. He tilted his head to the side for a moment for saying, "Her eyes are open but they do not see. I speak but she does not hear me." He opened his eyes and turned away.

"Perhaps you are speaking the wrong language" was all Piccolo could get out before Vegeta was gone. He was unsure if he even heard him or not. Hoping the immediate need to stay Vegeta's anger was done he headed back to the lookout.

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