Fourteen- Recovery
Pan woke up feeling heavy. She felt as if she had just ran a marathon, which was strange because she loved running. Her stomach felt rather tender, too. She groaned, her heavy arms moving slowly. Her throat felt rather dry and her eyes droopy. She blinked slowly, her vision blurry at first before it started giving in the white ceiling.
"Panny...?"
She turned her head slowly to see her mother standing up from a chair beside the bed. Wait... chair beside the bed? She glanced around a bit more, her confusion growing by the second as she saw the IV in her hand. Was she in the hospital? How did she end up there?!
"Oh Panny!" Videl sat on her bed and leaned over her to give her a hug. "I'm so happy you're awake...! Just wait until your father and them come back! They'll be so happy!" Quickly she pushed a button beside Pan's bed. "She's awake!"
"Okay, thank you ma'am! A nurse will be in soon to check her vitals," a voice replied through the small speaker.
"Mama..." Pan's voice croaked. "How... Why am I in the hospital?" She asked.
Videl's face softened and Pan could tell right away that something majorly serious must have happened. Before she could answer though, the door opened. Gohan came running in, his parents, Hercule and Goten right behind him. They were quick to gather Pan in their arms and hug her tightly like Videl did.
Videl handed Pan a water bottle that was on the nightstand beside her bed and Pan drunk it gratefully. "Rin is with Krillin and Eighteen right now, we'll have to go get her soon. She'll be so excited to see you," Videl smiled.
"I don't understand," Pan spoke softly. "Why am I in the hospital?"
"Panny..." Gohan sat on the other side of Pan. His mind was still reeling from all that he learned with Trunks and Goten about Yuri, but he knew he needed to remain calm for Pan. "What's the last thing you remember?"
Pan knitted her eyebrows as she thought hard. "Packing up a few things and then going to bed...?" She gave a small shrug. She continued to think and her eyes widened slightly. "I... I remember someone placing something over my face and trying to fight them, but then I just went limp... Someone was talking but I couldn't hear what they were saying and then I felt pain..." her hand came up to settle above her heart. It was beating normally and she felt herself relax. "What happened?"
Silence drifted through the room. It was obvious that no one really wanted to say of what the horrible thing was. Finally, Goku let out a small sigh and took a step beside Gohan.
"Someone broke into your room and drugged you, Panny..." he said, causing her to gasp in shock. "They gave you a very powerful drug, but thanks to Dende, we got to you in time. The doctors got your heart stable but they were worried about your kidneys. Bulla gave you one of hers..."
Pan reached up, placing a hand over her sore stomach. She could feel the bandages now. Bulla had given her a kidney...? Pan wanted to cry... She owed Bulla her life. Her best friend really was amazing.
"That was three days ago," Goku told her. "Bulla got sent home yesterday, and she even shared this room with you."
"She did...?" Pan glanced around. The room was rather spacious.
"She sure did," Videl said. "The Briefs barely left your side until Bulla got discharged. Bulma had to fight with Bulla and Trunks to get them to leave," she chuckled softly.
Pan smiled softly. She felt happy that they were there for her... Though it was slightly embarrassing considering her situation.
Suddenly, Goten's phone started dinging like crazy and as everyone glanced at him, he let out a nervous laugh. "Sorry... I told Bulla, Marron and Trunks that you're awake. Bulla and Marron are blowing up my phone. Trunks is currently at a meeting but I wouldn't put him to come straight here after seeing the messages," he grinned at Pan.
She couldn't help the twitch on her lips. That sounded exactly like something Trunks would do.
"Marron said that if you're feeling up to it, they would bring Rin over to see you," Goten continued. "They're in the city shopping so they're actually pretty close by."
"Yeah," Pan said softly with a nod. "I would love to see Rin," she said honestly. Her little sister always brought a smile to her face.
"Okay I'll let her know. Also, Bulla isn't allowed to fly, 'cause she just gave you her kidney and all. Bulma is in the meeting with Trunks so she's having to wait on Vegeta to get done with his Gravity Room session..."
"Let me guess," Pan said with amusement. "She's being impatient."
"Of course," Goten grinned. "You know Bulla, she's the prime definition of impatience. But since it's relating to you..." he gave a small shudder. "Poor Vegeta."
Gohan let out a small chuckle, "poor Vegeta, indeed. I'm sure she'll be here soon," he patted his daughter's hand.
Just then there was a knock on the door before a grey-haired nurse stepped in. She had a round, friendly face and she gave Pan a warm smile. "I sure am glad to see that you're awake. I'm here to check you..." she glanced around the room. "It might be best if it's done privately..."
"Okay, well that's our cue to go wait out in the hall," Goku said, and Hercule and Goten nodded quickly beside him.
Chi-Chi leaned over and kissed Pan's forehead. "We'll be back whenever the check up is done."
"Thanks Grandma," Pan smiled softly.
Gohan stood up and gave a small stretch. "I think I'm going to go wait out in the hall with them," he told Pan, wanting her to have all the privacy she needed. He leaned over and kissed the top of Pan's head before he followed his parents, Hercule and brother out.
Videl glanced at Pan, "would you like for me to stay, or do you want me to go-"
Pan reached out and grabbed her hand. "Stay... Please." She was still confused as to what happened and she still feeling rather weak. She wanted her mother there with her.
"Of course," Videl nodded. "I'm not going anywhere."
"Okay then," the nurse said, shutting the door and then pulling the curtains over to secure Pan, just in case. "Let's check that wound, and we'll go from there."
Pan was nervous, but the nurse eased her. Her face was friendly, her hands gentle and her voice soft. She made sure Pan knew everything she was doing. Hearing her talk, Pan came to the conclusion that what her family had said really was true. She had been in a really bad shape... She just wished she could remember more of that night.
Pan's wound was healing nicely, and her vitals were great. The nurse removed a few things from her that would allow her to walk and do a bit of things like going to the bathroom, all on her own. When she was finished she changed Pan's sheets and gave her a clean gown to put on. Thankfully her parents had brought her some clothes, including sweat pants, so she had some on underneath her loose gown. Once the teen was tucked into the nicely made bed, she finally allowed everyone else to come back in.
"Hey Panny," Gohan smiled brightly, leading the group. "Look who is here!"
Marron walked in, holding a giggling two-year-old Rin. "Panny!" She smiled when she saw her sister.
"Rini!" Pan smiled back happily.
Gently, Marron placed the girl on the bed and she glanced up at Pan curiously. Although she wasn't connected to nearly as much wires as she had been, she still had an IV and a heart monitor on.
"Boo-boo?" Rin asked, pointing to her hand.
"Yeah," Pan nodded slowly. "I got a boo-boo..."
"Awwh," Rin said, leaning down to kiss her sister's hand softly. Pan couldn't help but giggle at the cute act.
"I'm glad you're feeling better Pan," Marron told her with a smile.
"Yeah, me too," Krillin wobbled in, his hands full of flowers and balloons.
"Uncle Krillin, is that you?" Pan asked with wide eyes. "I can barely see you behind everything."
"We may have went a bit overboard with the get well stuff," Eighteen chuckled, taking a vase of beautiful pink daisies out of Krillin's arms and placing them on the back shelf, where several other flowers sat. Pan wasn't sure where she was going to put all those flowers when she got back home...
"Thanks you guys, for coming," Pan told them.
"Of course," Eighteen smiled at her fondly. It was still hard for her to wrap her mind around what had happened to Pan. You didn't want to think things like that could happened to the ones you cared about, but when they did it was shocking.
Rinji snuggled herself up against her big sister as she talked her head off. Extra chairs were brought in and thankfully the room was big enough to House everyone inside of it. Pan was sure the big room was thanks to the Briefs and her Grandpa Satan, but she wasn't complaining.
It was a good half hour before the door suddenly bursted open and a slightly out of breath Bulla appeared. Her eyes were wide and a little teary as she looked at Pan. Her bottom lip began to quiver.
It was obvious to everyone that the girls needed some time to themselves.
"Okay, Little One, come here," Gohan said, picking up Rin. "Lets let Panny talk to Bulla."
"'Kay," Rin said happily, reaching up and kissing Pan's cheek.
Soon it was just Bulla and Pan in the room, and the bluenette hadn't moved from her spot a few feet away from the door. Pan didn't say anything, she simply held out her arms and that was enough. Bulla rushed to her side and latched onto her. Neither one spoke as they just held each other and sniffed occasionally.
"Thank you..." Pan finally spoke, her voice low. "For everything."
"You don't have to thank me!" Bulla told her immediately. "I would do it again in a heartbeat!"
Pan grinned, "You really are the best friend ever, you know?"
"I think I'm way past best friend now," Bulla teased. She raised up her shirt to show Pan her scar. "We're scar sisters now."
The dark-haired teen laughed, and raised up her gown so Bulla could see her own scar. "Oh no, Bulla, you have a scar on your perfect skin! Whatever will you do?" Pan said dramatically.
Bulla sighed just as dramatically and pretended to wipe away a tear. "How tragic... But since my sister is okay, it is a price I am willing to pay."
Pan just grinned, and Bulla grinned back. Although they had always been close, they were even more so now.
"I wonder what time Trunks will be out of his meeting," Bulla sighed. "I know as soon as he does, he'll rush in here and take my time away from you," she pouted, causing Pan to laugh. "I bet you're excited to see him, huh?" She asked softly.
"Yeah..." Pan nodded slowly. "And I guess a little nervous. I can just remember bits and pieces of what happened that night," she frowned. "And then I ended up here..." she sighed. It was rather frustrating. She wished she could remember everything better! But the nurse had told her that with what had happened to her, it was common for her brain to be fuzzy. She gave her a few days before she started remembering everything.
"I'm a little embarrassed that everyone had to see me that way..." Pan mumbled.
"Don't be!" Bulla reached out and grabbed her hand. "There's nothing for you to be embarrassed about, Pan, trust me. We were all so worried about you... Especially Trunks... I don't think he's slept properly since."
"Now I feel bad," she muttered.
Bulla's eyes widened, "that's not what I was trying to make you feel! I'm sorry!" She frowned. "Just... you know my brother... You're special to him," her lips twitched. "I mean, look at all those sunflowers," she pointed over her shoulder where all the flowers sat. Among many other kinds, sunflowers were definitely prominent.
Pan glanced down at her ring and smiled softly. Their promise... That she definitely hadn't forgotten about. She was excited to see him now...
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door and two police officers stepped in. They introduced themselves and said that since Pan had been drugged, they were involved and needed to ask questions. They told her that protect her privacy that only a family member could be allowed in there while they questioned her.
Bulla started to stand up, "Do you want me to go get Videl or Gohan?" She raises a blue brow.
Pan shook her head, "They already know everything," she said. She didn't know what more she could tell police officers that her parents didn't already know. She reached out and grabbed Bulla's hand before looking at the officers. "She can stay," she told them. "She's my sister."
Bulla beamed, and sat herself back down beside Pan. The officers shared a look, both of them deciding on not to push it. After all, they knew Bulla was a Briefs, and that was one family they did not want to tick off.
"There," Bulla grinned as she finished painting Pan's nails a soft pink color.
Pan hadn't been the least bit surprised when after the cops had left the room, Bulla pulled out a capsule that had her giant makeup bag and nail polish kit in it. She had told Pan that her hands, which were bruised from the IVs, needed some care. Pan didn't mind, it actually felt nice. The two of them caught up on so much while Bulla gave her the manicure.
Suddenly, there was a loud thud against the door and the two girls glanced at it curiously. Just then, it banged open and Trunks, having just ran into the door, stumbled in. Pan instantly brightened up and Bulla glanced at her in amusement.
"Did you run into the door?" Bulla teased her brother.
"Shut up," Trunks grumbled, not even looking her way. He was too busy looking at Pan... She was awake!
Bulla let out a loud sigh and capsuled her belongings back up. "Okay, okay, I can take a hint. I'll let you two have some time together," she rolled her eyes, but there was a smile on her face. "I'll be back in to see you in a bit, Pan-Chan!" She told her friend.
Pan glanced her way, giving her a small nod before she looked back at Trunks. He was still in his suit from work... He looked so handsome in it too.
Trunks shut the door after Bulla left and walked over to Pan before sitting on the bed beside her. Instantly, she reached for his hands and he let out a sigh he didn't know he had been holding.
"I'm sorry I missed your phone call... and I'm sorry I couldn't be one of the first faces you saw," he mumbled.
Pan blinked in confusion for a second before she remembered... She has called him before going to sleep! "It's okay," she squeezed his hands. "You were tired. And you're here now."
Again, he let out a small sigh and he raised her hands, kissing her fingers. "I'm so happy you're awake... I was so worried..."
"I'm okay now," she told him, her fingertips tingling from his touch.
"Yeah..." he nodded with a small grin. "And you'll be coming home, too."
"Mhm, so it looks like you'll have to get used to having me back around all the time," she teased.
"Trust me, I've been waiting for it," Trunks told her softly.
Pan smiled, her stomach fluttering as she glanced down and looked at their hands. He was still holding them...
"Are you okay?" He asked when he noticed her spacing out. "Are you not feeling good? Do you want me to do something-"
She cut him off, leaning over and brushing her lips against his cheek, just beside his lips. If he had turned his head just the slightest, he could have caught her lips. Pan pulled back, her face a little pink as she smiled.
"I feel good," she told him. "But there is something I want you to do..."
He knitted his lavender eyebrows together. "What is it?"
Pan scooted over so there was room right beside her and then she patted the spot. "I want to cuddle," she grinned.
Trunks couldn't help his own grin. He knew he should have expected this. He gave her hands a squeeze before letting them go. He took off his dark grey blazer and navy tie, placing them on a chair before unbuttoning the first few buttons of his white shirt. He slipped off his shoes before getting under the covers beside her.
Pan was by his side, one of her arms reaching over and holding onto the back of his shirt. Her head rested on one of his arms and the other one wrapped around her, his fingers tangling into her hair and causing her to sigh. It was peaceful between the two of them as they just laid together, resting in each other's arms.
"I'm home," Pan whispered, her eyes closed in content. "In your arms... I'm home."
"I'm home too," Trunks told her just as soft. Slowly, he leaned down and did what he had been wanting to do since the day after New Years... he kissed her again. It was just a small, chaste kiss, but it said so much.
Pan opened her eyes, her cheeks pink and her heart hammering. Her grip on the back of his shirt tightened. She was probably wrinkling it... Hopefully it wouldn't be too much trouble to iron out. She let out a small breath.
"Since I'm home..." she began. "Does that mean our promise can start...?" She asked hopefully. She was sixteen now... She was older.
"Yeah," Trunks kissed her forehead, causing her to grin. "But let me ask you properly."
"Hm?" Pan knitted her eyebrows together.
Trunks cleared his throat. "Pan Son... Will you do me the honor-"
Pan giggled, "oh goodness, Trunks."
He continued- "And become my girlfriend?"
"Yes..." Pan nodded happily. "Yes..." she said again, and this time she was the one to lean in to kiss him.