After Vegeta left, Bulma was left to deal with her mother, father, ex-boyfriend, Krillin, and by this time even Goku and Gohan showed up to check on her. Everyone was concerned about the condition of her face and most of all what had happened in the underground basement.
"Oh dear, Bulma. Your beautiful face is all bloodied up. What did they do to my baby?" Her mother was in a tizzy between finding different food items to put on Bulma's face and fixing said items for the guests she now had coming in to see her daughter.
"I'm sorry we weren't there, Bulma. We didn't hear about anything until we came in from fishing, and Chichi had seen it on the news."
"That's ok, Goku, I'm fine now, really."
"Yeah, I guess it was a good thing Yamcha and Krillin were here, Miss Bulma."
"Actually it was Vegeta that got Bulma out of the facility. That boy has a good head for tactical maneuvers." Dr. Briefs seemed calm, especially when you compared him to Mrs. Briefs, but Bulma could tell that he was more than a little bit shaken about today's events.
"We were there, too. Just a little too late on the draw to get her out before they went into the basement." Yamcha had been in the habit of getting in a huff whenever Vegeta was mentioned. It was one of the things that bothered Bulma at the end of their relationship; she thought that it was childish and unfair.
"What happened down there, exactly, and why did you and Vegeta take so long getting back home?" Yamcha just asked the questions Bulma did NOT want to answer. She didn't need everyone obsessing and getting dramatic.
After a long pause from Bulma, Krillin broke the ice.
"I'm sorry we didn't get to you sooner."
Bulma smiled as much as she could, "It's not your fault, and I'm ok. I'm out. I'm here, and I'm breathing. And they only to a few chunks out of my face." It wasn't a good joke but everyone chuckled.
"THAT IS NOT FUNNY! You could have been killed or worse! It's too dangerous out there. If you think you are going back to work, then you are out of your mind. No one is going back to that office!"
'It's official. Mom has lost it.'
Everyone was silent after Bunny's outburst; no one had seen the bubbly blonde in anything but a good mood, ever. Bulma lowered her eyes, this is exactly what she wanted to avoid.
[Stomach growling sound effect]
"Oh, I guess we are all hungry. After all the excitement we never ate. It is dark now after all. I'll get started on some food for everyone."
'Leave it to Goku's stomach to save the awkward silence.'
Dr. Briefs followed his wife into the kitchen. When he saw a capsule on the counter, he picked it up and started to go out towards the backyard.
"Where are you going, Dear?"
"I have to go and take care of something real quick. I'll be right back."
"Ok, Honey, just hurry back."
o0o
Vegeta decided to go back to his gravity room to continue his training. It wasn't until about 2 hours later that his stomach had forced him to stop. He never did get lunch, but the whole rescue mission had him distracted from his normal Saiyan appetite. Now that everything had calmed down a bit he would finally be able to satisfy his hunger. But as Vegeta exited the gravity chamber he saw Dr. Briefs standing outside, not far from the entrance so that there was no avoiding him.
'Can't they just mind their own business and leave me alone.'
Vegeta was planning on ignoring the short man to go inside and get some food, but he didn't get very far when Dr. Briefs stood in front of him and grabbed his right forearm, similar to a human handshake, but more firm and attached. Before Vegeta could remove his hand from this embrace Dr. Briefs put his other hand on the back of Vegeta's hand, so as to make him return the gesture.
"I understand that you have your own reasons for what you did today. It doesn't really matter to me what those reasons are. I just need to tell you that there is nothing I could ever do to repay you for what you have done for me and my family. You will learn this when you have children of your own one-day, that nothing in the world can replace them and no price is too high to make sure that they are happy and safe. Anything I can give you will be yours, I owe you a great deal."
Vegeta could not say a word. There was nothing deceptive or sarcastic or pandering in this man's speech. He could feel the sincerity and the seriousness of Dr. Briefs' words. It was as if he was an immovable object at that moment in a world where all things were a changing lie. The only thing he could think to do was return the grip that Dr. Briefs had on him.
Dr. Briefs knew from his time with the Saiyan prince that he was a man of few words, and most of the words he did use were not kind. So when his handshake was returned he did not want to press the matter further and they released hands.
"I thought you might be hungry, considering you did not get any lunch. So here," Dr. Briefs took out a capsule from his pocket. "I figure you'd want to stay out of the line of questions in there. This is today's lunch; Bunny packed it up after she came to. Of course you are welcome to eat in the house with us."
Vegeta took the capsule and shook his head.
"That's what I figured." Dr. Briefs stepped back and grinned, "But don't be surprised when the next time you show up for dinner and you get fussed over. There really is no stopping Mrs. Briefs when she wants to thank someone. I better get back before she comes looking for me and finds you."
Vegeta shook his head as if he had just been nodding off and needed to wake up. He looked at the capsule and decided that the gravity room would be the safest place to eat his meal.
