Chapter 10

Gohan puked again into the toilet. As part of alcohol withdrawal his body was trying to get rid of the poison in his system and he was feeling many other side effects. As he finished chucking up his breakfast of that day he began to feel anxiety set in. "My my, if it isn't puny little Gohan." Sneered an all too familiar voice. Gohan turned around and saw Cell standing on the other side of the room. "You're dead!" Said Gohan as he backed into the corner.

"Did you really think that hell could hold me? Look at how far you've fallen though, puking your guts out in rehab, no wonder your dad didn't want you." He sneered before the image of Goku walked into the room.

"All I wanted was a son who listened to me, was that so hard? Instead I'm dead because of you! It's all your fault!" Said his father, glaring daggers at his son.

"No! No it's not!" Cried Gohan, hugging the toilet. "It's you who chose to stay away! It's not my fault! It's not my fault!"

"Of course it is!" Shouted his mother. "You just had to screw up our perfect life didn't you? My husband is dead by my sons hand."

"You took my best friend from me!" Came Krillins voice as the group started to approach him.

"No! Stay away! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Please just forgive me!" He begged as the ghosts surrounded him. And then, darkness.

Dr Paul was watching worryingly at the sight of his patient crawled up and shaking in a ball. Hearing the screaming several nurses had come to check up on him and discovered him in a vomit ridden state in the bathroom floor. They had cleaned him up and put him to bed but Dr Paul had stayed behind to listen to his patients mutterings. "I'm sorry dad. I'm so sorry dad. I'll be a good boy I promise. Please come home." He muttered as he shook between the sheets. It was a devastating sight to see a nearly grown man be reduced to the broken child he was deep down. Dr Paul reflected on the words of his patient, many seemed to be related to his father. He had gotten a shortened version from Videl over the phone and knew vaguely of his family troubles. 'Ill have to focus on that once he makes it through this phase.' He thought to himself before leaving his patient in peace.

"Hi I'm here to visit Gohan Briefs." Said Videl to the receptionist.

"Ah yes just a minute and I'll get his doctor for you." She replied before dialling a number. True to her word, Videl had finally gotten free of her busy schedule and was taking the chance to checkon Gohans progress.

"Ah miss satan." Said Dr Paul, coming down the hallway, clipboard in hand. "I assume you're here to see Gohan correct?"

"That's right doctor, I wanted to see how he was doing."

He visibly grimaced. "Miss Satan I'm not entirely sure that's a good idea right now."

"What?! Why not?"

"He is currently in a very difficult stage of alcohol withdrawal and it...isn't very pleasant."

"Oh..." She had read up on alcohol withdrawal and she didn't like what she had read in the slightest. Still she had promised her friend to be there for him. "I...I still want to see him."

He sighed. "Very well. I'll allow you to see inside of his room." He turned and led her down the hallway and towards his room. Videl could feel her apprehension growing as she got closer and closer to his room. "Here he is Miss Satan." Said Dr Paul before stepping out of the way of the window. Videl stepped forward and gasped. Gohan was curled up in a ball in the corner, rocking back and forth muttering to himself. She was shocked to see the man look so scared, so...broken. Seeing her discomfort the doctor decided to help her. "Miss Satan this is a very delicate part of his healing so I am afraid I must ask you to leave." He lied. Truthfully she could stay and watch him more. He knew people always felt guilty about wanting to leave and not see their loved ones in such a state.

"O-Ok. Umm...could you have the nurse call me when he is feeling better?"

"Certainly miss."

Gohan had finally made it through his alcohol withdrawal and was sitting in Dr Paul's office to undergo his psychiatric treatment. "Now son, congratulations on making it through withdrawal, how was it?"

"It was the worst experience of my life." He bluntly answered.

"I wouldn't be surprised. However your reaction was...extreme. It appears that you have a lot of psychological issues that need to be dealt with in addition to your regular treatment."

Gohan sighed. "Sure."

"Well I'm pleased to say that you have completed enough of your treatment to get visitors here. I know that a certain young girl has been dying to see you."

Gohan smirked at the knowledge that Videl wanted to see him. He didn't know why but that girl had meant an awful lot in a short amount of time. She had gone out of her way to help him when in all fairness, he was a stranger! Before that night at the party they had barely held a conversation, they barely hung around each other. But still, he had noticed her. He had watched her everyday and took in her beauty, he admired her strength of will to fight to protect her city when she was only human. He had never let it show though, or admitted it to her. He was still a very cold person but she had brought his barriers down enough for him to realise that she was special to him. "I look forward to seeing her doc."

"Hey Gohan." Said Videl as she walked into the visiting room. She sat at a table with him and looked him over. He was currently wearing some of the few clothes he had brought with himself when he had been admitted to rehab.

"Hey Videl." He replied with a genuine smile.

'He should smile more often.' "How are you holding up Gohan?"

The smile dropped. "Well I just went through withdrawal so...surviving. Dr Paul says that I'm going to start seeing a shrink regularly on top of my usual alcohol abstinence teachings."

"That sounds...helpful." She didn't really know what to say about his needing psychological help.

Gohan decided to change the subject. "So how has school been?"

"Schools been school. Erasa misses you. She's sad that she didn't manage to make out with you at her party."

He chuckled. "What did you tell them...about me?"

"I said that you had a bug. I didn't think you would want the news running wild around school just yet."

"Yeah..." He sat awkwardly. There were so many things he wanted to say to her but couldn't, deep down he was still too hurt to allow himself to feel anything that way at least.

"So has anyone else come to visit you yet."

"No you're the first. I don't expect any others. I didn't tell Vegeta or Bulma what clinic I was going to and the rest wouldn't care."

'Its true, most of the people who know him are his dads friends and they hate him.' "Guess I'll just have to make an extra effort then."

He gave her another stunning smile. "Guess you will wont you."