*Piccolo's POV*
My head is throbbing. My neck's bruised too. I think she dislocated several joints.
Kami, she's good.
She gets up, shakily; even though she's taller than most human males she seems small and frail now.
I lead her silently toward the hospital room. The lively, homey, household of the Briefs melts slowly into the more sterile, organized work area. Every time we pass a lab or a scientist she flinches slightly. She walks close to the wall; head bowed and face set in a grim line. Unconsciously I drift toward her, as if a whirring machine might really jump out at her.
Her eyes, that blazed when we fought are now dull and glazed over. Something inside me aches to see the fire in them again.
Gently I guide her into the room. Her breath catches. In a trance, she glides to her brother's side and falls to her knees .The boy looks frail, his small form is laid flat on the bed, his lips are slightly purple and chapped, his cheeks are white and hollow. He is hooked up to a live support. At least his heart seems steady. Ja-ihn takes a small hand in her own, kneeling weakly against the bed. She is sobbing softly. A single tear rolls down her beautiful features. She looks defeated.
No injury I could have inflicted on her would have even come close to crushing her like this. Even her wild nutmeg hair seems to droop. Her long silky tail hangs limply by her feet, all the strength sapped from her.
I feel like I'm intruding, yet at the same time a desperate need to see her eyes glitter with fight again root me to the spot.
I should leave. Now. "Good bye." I say hoarsely. Forcing my body to move towards the door.
"Good bye, namek." Her voice is rough and strained. I almost turn back, I would have left. Fled from her presence.
Just as I reached the door, she breathed "Thank you… Piccolo."
Damn. My body turns of its own accord. "You need to rest." I order roughly.
For a horrible, wonderful moment her head jerks up at me, her eyes sharp as crystal "I'm fine." Her voice is final and firm. Begging to be argued with.
Thrilled and annoyed at the same time I growl "You're no use to anybody in your state."
"Thank you for showing me the way, but don't you have a head injury to look at?" Determination is returning to her, her tail is lashing furiously. As if on cue, my head throbs painfully. I smirk at her, enjoying the sight of her anger "I'm fine."
She growls menacingly. Making my antenna tingle and twitch. I snarl back at her.
In a flash she's on her feet I half expect her to attack me … but she just stare at me coldly.
"Get me a blanket and a chair." She orders coolly.
"Am I your butler?" I growl.
She keels back beside Topple. I've been dismissed.
Why am I getting a blanket for her?
