Author Notes: Goku leaves for Namek – This chapter is a lot more focus on their thoughts and a lot less action. No worries. Should have some good moments next chapter. Officially hit 100 reviews. I should make something to celebrate. I do have another GoChi smut fic in the works but I haven't decided whether to post it on ffnet or just keep it to tumblr. Hrm. Anyway, thanks for all the support so far. You guys are awesome! :)

Song I listened to this chapter: Home by Gabrielle Aplin

Pairing: Goku x Chi-Chi

Words: 1,784

Prompt: Running Away

~!~

"Do me a favor and tell Chi-Chi not to worry about me. Tell her I'm just going to make sure Gohan and the others are all right. Tell her I'll be back as soon as I can." - Goku, DBZ, Episode 46

~!~

Six days.

Six days to reach Namek.

He wished he could have thanked Dr. Brief more for the speedy progress at building such a spaceship. Ever since he'd gotten the information about the situation on Namek, Goku had been dying to rush after his friends, feeling that prickly itch in his stomach at the thought of his son having to face not only Vegeta but someone stronger, too…

Six days until he could help Gohan – and Krillin and Bulma, too.

As he pulled up for his five-thousandth sit-up at 20-times gravity, Goku felt his thoughts lose focus. The training regiment was becoming routine. If he hadn't been counting out loud, he probably would have lost his place long ago. He couldn't stop thinking of his battle against Vegeta which had left him in such poor condition. And now Gohan was out there having to face that monster with just Krillin to back him up. As much as Goku trusted his best friend to protect Gohan at all costs, he really didn't want it to come to that, especially since he was on his way now.

Guys, just hold it together until I can get there.

Six days alone in a spaceship, traveling the vast frontiers of space without anyone to keep him company.

Oh, sure, he'd grown pretty used to being alone. He'd dealt with six months traveling down Snake Way with no one to talk to and nothing to eat besides clouds and his own imagination. His stomach growled and groaned mid sit-up and Goku had to force the empty feeling to the side for now. He had told himself no breaks until he reached his goal of ten-thousand sit-ups. Then, he would search out the kitchen on the ship and probably be left longing for Chi-Chi's cooking anyway. Even with being back on Earth after being dead for a year, he still hadn't been treated to her cooking. He'd been stuck in a hospital with gross hospital food – and then he'd jumped into space at the first opportunity to chase after his son.

If he didn't have so many other thoughts weighing him down, he might have thought of Chi-Chi more. He felt like she would be okay this time, since he'd left with the intent of bringing their son back safe. This time, he'd come back to her with Gohan safe and sound and everything would be as it was before the first Saiyan arrival. He wanted to give that special life back to her. After all, he enjoyed those family moments, too. He'd told her that once before when she'd asked.

So now all he had to do was go to Namek, stop Vegeta and this other power, and return home in no time with Gohan. Chi-Chi could be happy again. He liked seeing her happy; he liked her genuine smile and playful tone. He'd been lucky enough to get that from her before leaving, too. Now, as he trained, he could imagine her chiding him gently in the hospital and it made him smile even as he worked.

He did hate to leave her so suddenly and so soon after returning home. But this time he made sure to have someone there to keep an eye on her. This time, his friends would keep her company while she waited. She wouldn't ever have to be alone again and he would always be back as soon as possible.

I promise, Chi-Chi. This won't take near as long. Six days there, a little time to set things right, and six days back.

Goku frowned as he felt the gravity tug him down. He pulled up for another sit-up and felt the sweat drip down his face. Five-thousand-thirty. Even his hair was growing wet and feeling heavy from all the force. He had to be ready to take on Vegeta and whoever else when he arrived. He had to be prepared for the strongest guys in the universe, so he would continue to push on and push hard. After all, he only had a few days worth of time before he got to Namek and he wanted to be strong enough to make quick work of the evil forces there.

Gohan would expect nothing less.

Chi-Chi would be waiting at home for them both to return safely.

So, Goku focused his thoughts and kept up the mantra in his mind to remind himself of the little time he had left to train and to make sure he was beyond prepared for whatever he might face on Namek. He would not be caught off guard. Every second was important and necessary to better his chances – and to better himself. With a grunt, he pulled up again, feeling the tingle in his shoulders as they began to protest the extra gravity.

Five-thousand-thirty-two.

Five-thousand-thirty-three.

Five-thousand-thirty-four.

Five-thousand-thirty-five.

Five-thousand-thirty-six…

He paused at the number and narrowed his eyes, setting his face in determination before continuing on, even with the stray thought and reminder of the days he had left.

...six days.

~!~

Chi-Chi breathed in the air around her as she walked out of the grand Capsule Corporation building. A laundry basket rested at her hip as she moved with purpose. Laundry at the hospital. Laundry at home. Laundry at the Brief's dwelling.

She closed her eyes and tried to smile as she reached the clothesline. She didn't mind. Mrs. Brief had mentioned how it wasn't really necessary for her to get her hands dirty, seeing as Capsule Corporation had plenty of bots programmed to handle the small tasks. But Chi-Chi quickly found that doing such menial labor helped her keep her thoughts from wandering too much. Much better than sitting still all day without anything to do but worry.

So, she set the basket down on the pristine and perfect fake grass and began to pin up the wet clothes on the clothesline. Not every plant or blade of grass in Capsule Corp was of the manufactured variety, but it was way more than Chi-Chi would have liked. Thankfully, she had a nice country home to return to whenever her boys came back to her.

They'd assured her that the wait wouldn't be too long this time. Roshi had told her what was going on and how Goku had mentioned her before he left. She sighed as she reached for another article of clothing. Of course he would jump at the first chance to race after Gohan and his friends; he'd been so restless stuck in a hospital bed for so long. Well, now he could go save the day and bring her boy back to her. After all the fuss she raised, Goku had to have been heavily motivated to keep Gohan safe now and if there was a threat…

Well, she felt much better this time. Goku wasn't dead. Gohan would soon be safe in her arms again – with their friends back to life, too – and everything could go back to the way it was before. Maybe having the invitation to wait out the days in Capsule Corporation helped her stay calm. Or maybe it was the knowledge that Dr. Brief was working on another spaceship so she could chase after both her boys.

Whatever the cause, Chi-Chi found it possible to hum as she worked. One item of clothing at a time, hanging them up and spreading them out to let them dry. Out here in the city, clotheslines were a rare and odd sight. Cityfolk just had special machines to do all the work for them, possibly because of the lack of space. If Capsule Corporation hadn't been as large as it was, Chi-Chi might have felt a bit claustrophobic trapped in the city. The hospital was bad enough, but things had been different there. She'd had people to physically touch and cling to in her worry.

Here all she had was routine.

So, she did one of the many simple tasks she had repeated time and time again during the one year. And she thought of her son and her husband. Without the tears this time, thankfully. Oh, she still lost her mind in daydreams of worry, but knowing that Goku would take less than a week to reach Namek helped ease her fears. She had faith in him. He may have left without saying goodbye, but he'd left her a comforting message to hold on to – that he was going to get Gohan and be back as soon as possible.

Hurry back, Goku, and please be safe.

"Oh, Chi-Chi, darling." She turned her head at the sound of Mrs. Brief. "Isn't it a little early for laundry, dear?"

Giving the blond haired woman a half-smile, Chi-Chi returned to her work, only having one more piece of clothing to hang up. "By my standards, it's a little late to start drying them, but this will do."

"Oh, I see you're almost done."

She would never understand how this woman could keep her voice so bright no matter what the situation. Didn't she have a daughter out in space, too? Wasn't she worried for Bulma? Then again, Bulma had been traveling around the world with Goku when she was still a teenager. Her parents didn't have much care or control over her, apparently, and look what good it did her. Exactly the reason Chi-Chi was so worried for her little boy being on that strange planet. What would this crazy space adventure do to him?

A hand waved in her vision and Chi-Chi blinked at Mrs. Brief's interruption. "Why don't you come inside and sit down and have a drink with me, dear? I have a nice pot of cappuccino all ready and hot for us. You know my husband does love his cappuccino."

Though it was a little hard to keep up with Mrs. Brief's train of thought all the time, Chi-Chi had to admit she was grateful for the company. So she set her hands down in front of her and gave a little bow in acknowledged thanks. The blond haired woman smiled cheerfully and Chi-Chi smiled back without a problem.

"Yes, I think I can handle a little break."

As if reading her mind, Mrs. Brief waved a hand. "Don't you worry, dear. Those boys will be back before you know it."

I sure hope so, she thought as she followed Mrs. Brief inside and tried to shake the slowly growing pit in her stomach.