"Stolen Youth"

January 2003 Debs-dragon

Chapter 11

Gohan opened the door and welcomed Krillin and his family. Krillin noted the pinched and drawn look on Gohan's face and could only sympathize with his friend. He knew if the shoe was on the other foot and it was Marron that had left, he would be just as lost and worried as Gohan and Videl were right now.

They moved into the lounge room and sat. Marron related all that Pan had told her, still omitting Trunks from the picture and sat back to see what happened next. Gohan ran his hand through his hair and sighed.

"Thanks for telling me that, Marron. Pan did tell us and I guess I just lost my temper. I should have stayed in control but I was too blinded by my anger to think straight. It's all my fault that she has gone." Gohan buried his face in his hands.

Juu stood up. "Videl, could we go through to the kitchen and make some refreshments? I think we could all use some."

Videl looked up and understood what Juu was attempting to do. "Sure." She led the way to the kitchen, Marron and Juu following behind.

Krillin shifted to sit next to Gohan and put his hand on his shoulder. "It isn't your fault, Gohan. You reacted the same way any father would to that sort of news. Pan should have expected that." Krillin thought for a moment. "Pan is a sensible girl. I'm sure she will be back soon, she just needs some time to figure herself out. She will soon realize that she needs you and will come back. When she does though, please don't bawl her out again, that isn't what she needs. I know it hurts and it hurts even more when she won't tell you who the father is, but she is still your daughter, Gohan."

Gohan heard the words that Krillin spoke and knew his friend was right. He was feeling betrayed more than anything. Knowing that Pan wasn't prepared to trust him with the knowledge of who the father of his grandson was, hurt him deeply. When he stopped to consider it though he really couldn't blame Pan. She had known that he would be angry and in that state he would have flown off the deep end and immediately confronted the person that had put his daughter in this position.

Gohan shook his head. Still cradling his head in his hands he moaned, "I just want her back, Krillin. I want her to come home and talk to me. Try to work this mess out. I miss her..."

"I know you do buddy, I know you do. We will find her Gohan... I promise we will do everything we can to help you and we will find her." Krillin sat with his hand still resting on Gohan's shoulder and tried his best to comfort his distraught friend.

~ oOo ~

Marron sat on her bed and eyed the phone. They had not long returned from Pan's home and she felt useless not being able to do anything. The police had been given a full report and had photos of Pan which were being distributed to the appropriate areas. Chi Chi was staying with Videl in case a call came through or Pan came home. Gohan, Goten, Goku, Krillin and her mother were all off searching for Pan. She picked up the receiver and dialed.

"Hello, Capsule Corp."

"Hello Bulma, It's Marron here. I was wondering if I could speak with Bra, please."

"Oh, Marron. I'll get Bra for you in a sec but tell me first, is there any more news on Pan?"

"No there isn't I'm afraid. Mom and dad are out with Gohan and the others trying to find her."

"I wonder where she has gone."

"I wish I knew, Bulma."

"I'll get Bra for you."

"Thanks."

Bulma put the phone down and called for her daughter. Bra came down the stairs moments later and picked up the phone.

"Hey, Bra."

"Hi, Marron. Any news on Pan yet?"

"Not yet I'm afraid. Bra?"

"Yes?"

"Could I come over? I need to talk to you."

"Sure. I'm not going anywhere."

"Okay. I'll be there soon. Bye." Marron hung up the phone and fetched her purse. Taking out a Dyno cap she flipped the lid and waited for the smoke to clear before hopping into the small craft and setting off for Bra's.

Bra replaced the receiver and went back to her room. She wondered idly what Marron wanted to talk to her about.

~ oOo ~

Pan opened the door to her new home and sighed in relief. She dumped her bags on the small table and sat down. Slipping her shoes from her feet she rubbed at the sore spots and tried to ease a little of the ache. Standing once again she began to empty out the bags and find homes for all her purchases. She had been grocery shopping and now had a nice little stack of food as well as a few other items for her day to day living.

Putting water into the kettle she set it on the stove to heat and fetched a cup. Dropping a tea bag into it along with some sugar she wandered over to the small television and turned it on. The drone of the program added a touch of warmth to the small apartment and Pan went to make her tea.

Cradling the cup she flopped onto the couch and drew her legs underneath her. She was tired. All she wanted to do was take a hot shower and crawl into bed, but she had promised Martha she would go down for dinner. She glanced at her watch and groaned. Martha would be expecting her in half an hour. Her eyes watched the program without seeing, she wondered what her parents were doing now and felt the familiar sting of tears behind eyelids.

Choking them back she reminded herself that she had run away because of her father's reaction to her news. She should have known better than to expect him to understand. With a sigh she stood up and turned the set off, placing her cup in the sink she went to wash her face and brush her hair before going down to the diner and having her dinner with Martha.

~ oOo ~

Marron arrived at the Capsule Corp Dome and knocked on the door. Bra opened it and pulled her inside. The pair went upstairs to Bra's bedroom and plonked on the bed. Bra looked at her friend expectantly.

"So , what did you want to talk about, Marron?"

"It's about Pan."

"Oh?"

"I know what happened at the party..."

"So do I Marron. My brother is an asshole."

Marron sighed. "There is more to it than that, Bra."

"Oh?"

Marron swallowed hard. "I hope Pan forgives me for this, Bra..."

Marron proceeded to tell Bra all that Pan had told her, the party, Trunks' insistence on them having sex, how Pan had tried to forget Trunks and find someone else, how Pan was still in love with Trunks and how she had discovered she was pregnant.

"Pan's pregnant? Oh my..." Bra covered her mouth in shock.

"That's not all, Bra. Trunks is the father..."

Bra sat in stunned silence.

"Pan told her parents she was pregnant and her dad went ballistic. She didn't tell him who the father was though."

"Poor Pan." Bra's eyes misted with tears as she thought of her best friend and what she must be going through. "Does Trunks know? Or anyone else for that matter?"

"No, Trunks doesn't know. As far as I can tell only Pan's parents, my parents and you and I know she is pregnant, and only you and I know that Trunks is the father."

"Shit!... Shit!... Shit!" Bra pounded her fist into the bed. "That no good son of a bitch of a brother of mine. Not only does he force himself on her but he didn't use protection either and now poor Pan is off out there somewhere trying to deal with all this by herself."

"I know." Marron's heart was heavy a she thought about all Pan must be going through. "We have to find her, Bra."

"Yeah we do." Bra sat in thought. "Do you think we should tell Trunks?"

"I don't know. I think it really needs to be Pan's decision. She did say to me that she didn't want him to know. I guess she didn't want him to think she had done it deliberately to trap him."

"Of course she didn't do it deliberately. Shit, she didn't want it in the first place, it was Trunks who forced himself on her knowing she had a crush on him. He should be made to pay for what he's done." Bra's anger flashed in her eyes.

Marron put a steadying hand on Bra's arm. "I can see why Pan didn't want him to know. Bra... if there is anything Trunks feels or could feel for Pan, she wants him to come to her because he wants too, not because he has to."

Bra sighed. "Yeah, you're right." She looked up at her friend. "I still think he should be told why she ran away. he shouldn't be allowed to get off scott free."

"I know. Let's just play it by ear though for now and see what happens. For all we know Pan will probably show up tomorrow and we would have spilled the beans and that would put her in an even worse predicament."

"Okay. No telling for now," Bra said.

"If nothing has happened by next week then I suggest we tell Trunks."

"Right. You feel like a drink?"

"I'd love one, Bra."

"Come on then, I think we could both do with one after that little chat."

The two girls stood and left the room, going down to the kitchen to make themselves a drink.

~ oOo ~

Gohan sat in the lounge room. He had spent all day searching for Pan, but to no avail. The police had checked on her bank accounts and discovered the withdrawal so Gohan had concentrated his search around the city, but no sign of his daughter. Krillin and Juu had gone home as had Goku and Goten with promises to return on the 'morrow and search some more.

Videl brought in a pot of tea and placed it, along with cups and milk, on the small table. With shaking hands she poured them both a cup and passed one to Gohan.

He looked up as the cup came into his line of vision and raised his eyes to meet those of his wife. He could see so much pain there and his own heart cracked a little more. Setting the cup down on the table he wrapped his arms around Videl and drew her close.

Videl allowed herself to be drawn into the embrace and buried her head in Gohan's shoulder. The pain and anguish she had been feeling suddenly burst forth and she finally allowed herself to sob. Her frame shook with the force of her crying and Gohan found himself joining her with his own tears.

They held each other for some time, words unspoken as each allowed their tears to speak for them. Finally they slowed and Videl whimpered softly. "Where can she be, Gohan?"

"I wish I knew, sweetheart."

"You don't suppose..."

"No! Pan is fine, wherever she is, she is okay, I can feel it. She's a big girl and can take care of herself."

"I wish she would contact us and let us know she's all right."

Gohan rested his chin on the top of Videl's head as he gently stroked her back and soothed her. His mind was searching for any places they may have missed, anywhere he could think of that Pan would have gone. Tomorrow he would resume his search and the day after that and the one after that... He would continue to search until he found her.

~ oOo ~

tbc...