Marked

by kaychi

Chi-Chi didn't know that being with Goku meant being marked by someone from another planet. An AU with a more mature Goku and a Chi-Chi that doesn't stop training, we explore how they navigate their life together using some of our favorite Saiyan lore. Dedicated to you. You know who you are.

8. Kaioken & Pudding Cups

Marked

Chapter 8: Kaioken and Pudding Cups

"Wyatt! Go faster! This is easily the story of the century!"

"And you're POSITIVE you saw what you saw, Camille?" the helicopter pilot asks the eager journalist. "This isn't like the time you swore you saw a kid get so mad that the building started shaking when you covered the martial arts museum opening, is it?"

"Hey, that DID happen! Right, Linc?"

The chubby photographer swallows the last of his fast-food cheeseburger and shrugs. "There was a mad kid and there was a quake. I'm not sure those two things were related. Besides, that place is near a fault line and Preston said there was a small quake that day."

The petite blonde rolls her eyes and growls in frustration. "Yes! Caused by that kid! Those people got out of there so fast I didn't have time to question them. And I'm pretty sure they were former fighters. Don't you remember how insane the last tournament was?! There is something strange going on here and I'm going to get to the bottom of it," she says tasting how close she is to breaking whatever this is wide open. "But yes, Wyatt. I am positive about what I saw. These two circles flew in on the weather radar. I turned on the scanners for East City and heard the police saying they needed backup and then everything went static. That was NOT an earthquake or meteor or whatever other outlets are reporting. I am telling you that was an attack!" She replaces the batteries in her microphone while the photographer gets the camera ready to go live.

"Why do you know how to read the weather radar?" Wyatt asks her.

She scoffs insulted. "Any reporter worth her salt learns every part of the business that she can. You never know where you're gonna end up with this job."

"I imagine sleeping with our chief meteorologist was educational, too," Linc mocks her.

Camille glares at Linc for letting her mistake slip.

"You and Preston?!" Wyatt exclaims.

"We are NOT talking about that right now! Just focus on flying," she says touching up her makeup.

"Where did you get these coordinates from anyway? There's nothing out here," Wyatt asks.

"I don't disclose my sources. You know that," she says hoping they'll drop the subject.

"And you got this cleared by Sylvie?"

Camille avoids both of their stares.

"Cami…" Linc questions.

"Erm, not exactly," she admits.

"Then how did you get the chopper?!" Wyatt screams.

"I told her we were going to get disaster footage at East City," she admits.

"Great! So, we're ALL going to get fired?!" the pilot yells turning around, causing the helicopter to weave in the air before steadying the controls.

Camille feels her dinner coming back up before the helicopter levels back out. "If I'm wrong, I guess it's possible," she says nervously. "BUT… If I'm right…"

"Wait! What's that?! Look down there," Linc hollers.

The three look at the earth below and see a group of oddly dressed people talking. But when they take a closer look, they notice two dead bodies on the ground – one looks charred and the other is missing an arm.

"Oh, Kami…" Camille whispers. "What happened here?"

"And what do you think they're talking about?" Wyatt ponders.

"Linc, get the camera ready. We'll go live soon," Camille instructs while dialing someone on her phone. "Sylvie? Okay, don't be mad but we didn't go cover East City." Yelling can be heard on the other end of the phone. "Wait! I found the real story! Just trust me!" The yelling seems to have subsided. "How does two dead bodies and what looks like a group of martial artists in a battle sound?" More talking. "Look, just tell the anchors to get ready to pitch to me for a live shot but with a viewer disclaimer. It's gruesome out here." She hangs up her phone. "Okay, we're on in thirty."

"Keep flipping! Somebody has to be covering this," Bulma tells Gyu Mao as she and Roshi watch the scouter.

"How would anyone even know where they are? All the news is covering what happened in East City," Roshi says.

"I don't know! I just need to see it with my own eyes! I refuse to believe that Yamcha was killed!" she says with hot tears in her eyes.

"Wait! I think I found something!" Gyu Mao says seeing what looks like a shot of his daughter, grandson, and the other fighters as well as two unfamiliar faces.

Bulma races to the TV and looks closely. "Oh, Yamcha…" she says breathlessly seeing her boyfriend's body on the ground.

"Goku really isn't there yet," Gyu Mao notes after he surveys the whole scene. "We have to go," he says getting up. "I have to go help Chi-Chi and Gohan."

Roshi grabs his former student's arm. "And do what? We would only be in the way. We know Goku is on earth and close. He will beat us there. They'll need us after the fight."

"They won't be ALIVE after the fight!" Gyu Mao shouts fiercely, his temper surfacing. "Tien and Yamcha are both dead! Goku isn't there! I'm not going to be a spectator while these monsters kill my family!"

The student and master stare at each other until Bulma breaks the tension.

"They're not fighting right now. They're just talking. Maybe they're negotiating a truce?" Bulma posits.

"I don't think 'truce' is in the Saiyan vocabulary," Roshi notes.

The reporter begins speaking as the helicopter continues to hover near the scene. "If you're just joining us, this is Camille Poirot with World News reporting live from what appears to be a battleground," the voice says through the television. "It's unclear what's taken place here today or if this scene is connected to what happened in East City, but again, this content is not safe for children despite the fact that a child appears to be a part of what looks like a confrontation."

Bulma, Roshi and Gyu Mao stare at the screen intensely.

Camille's voice starts again. "It… it looks like… They're fighting! These people are… Is that man flying? Folks if you didn't see it for yourself at the World Martial Arts Tournament five years ago, you're seeing it now! Your friends that attended weren't lying to you. And now… Wait… Kami… Is that man attacking that child?!" the reporter yells shocked by what's unfolding in front of her eyes.

The three watching hold their breath as the larger Saiyan is headed straight for Gohan.

"GOHAN!" Gyu Mao screams.

"That short one has Chi-Chi!" Bulma yells in horror.

"Look!" Roshi exclaims as he watches Piccolo move in front of the ki blast to protect Gohan.

"Oh no…" Bulma's eyes fill with tears understanding the implication of Piccolo's death. She grabs the scouter from the coffee table to watch Piccolo's energy. The six dots on the screen fade to five. "NO!"

Roshi and Gyu Mao's expressions become sullen. The deaths that have occurred and any others that take place cannot be undone.

"I… I can't believe King Piccolo's son just laid down his life for my grandson," Gyu Mao says in disbelief. He has a lot of questions about the year he's spent apart from his family.

Camille's voice becomes somber. "It would seem that one of the men fighting here today has sacrificed his life for the small child. But… Oh, Kami. That giant man isn't stopping yet! He's going after the child again!"

"GOKU WHERE ARE YOU?!" Gyu Mao yells horrified while the world holds its breath.

"Wait, what's this? Yes… It seems that someone new has joined the fight. Linc did you even see him show up? He's saved the child and recovered the woman." Camille stops speaking as the world watches from a distance.

The three at Kame House are too anxious to cheer but are more than relieved Goku has finally arrived.

"This new person seems to be sending what I can only assume are his allies away, quite possibly his family? I'm not sure. That's just speculation and we're not going any closer to confirm."

---

Once his family leaves, Goku takes a moment to survey the scene, the bodies of his friends scattered around.

"Friends of yours?" Nappa mocks.

Goku answers with a glare.

"Thanks for finally showing up. We were running out of people to kill," Nappa gloats.

Goku remains silent. Vegeta keeps quiet as well while he sizes up his opponent. Unlike Nappa, he's not willing to underestimate the lower-class warrior in front of him.

"I've gotta commend you for your choice of mate. She's got spunk. We've searched for crossbreeders at the auctions but most of them have scales or some weird shit like that. Guess we should thank you for not destroying this planet when you were sent here. Now…" Nappa licks his lips as he looks up at the woman flying away, "we can mate." He turns his evil eyes back to Goku. "You know we're not going to let them leave, right?"

Goku's energy begins to soar. The earth quakes as stones and debris hover around the warrior.

"Wait…" Cami says on-air as she and her colleagues observe. "Something's happening. Linc, are those rocks floating?"

Bulma looks at the scouter as the readings soar.

"Is that Goku's energy?" Gyu Mao asks.

Roshi nods. "Definitely."

"VEGETA! What does the scouter say?!" Nappa barks.

Vegeta's anger soars through the roof as the numbers continue to climb. "It's… It's...! IT'S OVER 9000!" he yells ripping the scouter from his face and crushing it with his fist.

"Guys! The scouter! It's going to..!" Bulma shouts as she yanks it off her face right before it explodes. "And we lost the news!" she says noticing the snowy screen.

Gyu Mao considers what this means. "Did… Did Goku's energy just wipe out the technology?"

Roshi nods again. "We may have a shot, everyone."

"Well, I'm not sitting around here anymore. They'll need us soon one way or another," Gyu Mao says leaving with or without them.

Bulma nods. "Right. But let's take the ship instead of the car. It's faster and roomier and I already put medical supplies on it."

"DAMMIT!" Camille yells. "Did we just lose the feed?!"

Linc tosses the broken camera in the back of the helicopter. "Yeah. Everything is fried," he says digging through his bag of equipment. "Even our phones."

"Shit! Shit! SHIT!"

"Calm down, Cami. At least the chopper didn't go down and you got a great story. We need to get back to the city and regroup," Wyatt advises.

"You're right. West City is the closest place with a hospital and they'll definitely need medical attention after this. Let's go back and turn on the scanners."

Krillin, Gohan, and Chi-Chi stop when they feel Goku's power.

"I've never felt anything like that in my life," Krillin says. He looks over at Goku's family to see their reactions but notices Chi-Chi's condition first. "Chi-Chi, you don't look so good."

She shakes her head waiving off his concerns. "I'll be fine."

Nappa, uninterested in waiting for Goku's power level to get any higher takes off at full speed charging at Krillin, Gohan, and Chi-Chi.

"Nappa!" Vegeta yells in an attempt to stop his subordinate but the brute doesn't listen.

"Shit! We gotta move guys!" Krillin shouts to Chi-Chi and Gohan.

"Come on, Mom!" Gohan says as his mother trails. "Mom?" he looks behind him and watches as Chi-Chi's eyes close and her body sinks from the sky. "Mom!" Chi-Chi's energy plummets. He follows her down and snatches her up while Krillin turns around preparing to defend.

Suddenly what sounds like a clap of thunder surges through the wasteland. Krillin and Gohan didn't even see what happened. They look down and find a crater in the earth before looking to the side and seeing Goku next to them. The power they just felt Goku explode leaves them speechless.

"Wait…" Linc says looking across from them in the sky. The three watch as the new hero seemingly takes down the barbarian that tried to kill a child. "Holy shit. What the fuck is going on?"

"Who are these people?" Wyatt asks equally stunned.

Camille won't even allow herself to blink, afraid she'll miss something. "I don't know. But we're going to figure it out."

"They haven't even noticed that we're here. How's that possible?" Linc asks.

"I'm not sure that's the case. I don't think they have the capacity to care right now," Wyatt suggests. "Let's get out of here before we get caught in the crossfire. That guy looks pissed and I'm pretty sure he's the one that destroyed our stuff," he says nodding toward the wild-haired warrior.

"Look," Camille says completely captivated by the scene. "That has to be his wife and child," she says when she sees the warrior take the woman into his arms. "And I am ninety-nine percent certain that is the same family we saw at the museum a couple of years ago. We're going to that museum tomorrow," she informs her colleagues. "I can't believe our camera isn't working," she sighs before they take off to West City.

Goku looks down and sees Nappa still in the hole and Vegeta standing in place unflinching. "Here, let me see her," he says taking his frail wife away from his son. The anger in his eyes briefly shifts to anguish when he sees her condition. She's losing color, her expression is pained and he's starting to think she needed that senzu more than anyone. Goku places his hand over her heart and feels her ki and heart rate. Something isn't right. She shouldn't be this weak from a dislocated shoulder but that's the only injury he can see aside from some scrapes and bruises. He takes the largest amount of ki he can spare and transfers it to his wife, restoring some of her color and strength.

"Goku, don't waste your energy on me. You need it," she says feeling somewhat recovered.

He ignores her comment as he assesses one other way that he can help her. "Sorry, babe. This is going to hurt."

Her eyes pop open knowing what's coming before she shuts them tightly and grips his gi with her good hand to brace herself.

He takes her injured arm, lines it up and… SNAP.

"AGH!" Chi-Chi screams in his arms.

"I'm sorry Chi. But it's back in now. That should help. Better?"

"Yes," she nods gently moving her arm. "Better. Now, stop wasting your time with me. I'll be fine."

"I don't want you to fly. You're still weak," he says giving her back to their son.

Gohan grasps her firmly and nods determined not to let his father down.

Nappa rises out of the crater enraged. Taking advantage of his opponent being distracted, he generates a powerful blast and shoots it out of his mouth at the four in the sky.

"This guy won't quit!" Goku growls before firing his own blast.

"Okay, Gohan. Let's go. Your dad's got this," Krillin says as they race off toward Kame House.

"Nappa! That's enough!" Vegeta yells before the Saiyan can charge again. "You fucking imbecile!"

But still, Nappa ignores his leader and he and Goku go head to head, Nappa barely keeping up.

"He's toying with you!" Vegeta scolds.

Goku dismantles the Saiyan blow by blow until he delivers a powerful punch to his back, destroying the Saiyan's spine and rendering him paralyzed. Nappa falls to the ground unable to move.

"That'll keep you away from my wife," Goku grins arrogantly.

The broken Saiyan turns his eyes up to his comrade. "Vegeta," he coughs, "help me."

Vegeta walks to the fallen warrior, bends down, takes his hand and then…

Goku can't believe what he's seeing.

"VEGETA! Don't do this!" Nappa screams as his body is flung into the air.

Vegeta points a narrow blast of ki and fires it right through Nappa's heart. The Saiyan's life ends almost instantly before his body crashes back to the ground.

"You're a monster," Goku snarls now seeing that it's more than critical he keeps this beast away from his family.

"I'll not be judged by lower-class scum like you," Vegeta spits. "Nappa disobeyed me and failed. He knew the consequences for insubordination, and he chose his fate. Plus," he narrows his eyes at Goku, "now I don't have to share."

Goku's energy begins to rise again as he reads between the lines.

"Make no mistake about it, Kakarot. It is my right as the Prince of all Saiyans to mate with the best female. I've been all over the fucking universe and while your female certainly isn't the strongest, well, like Nappa said, no scales. I'll be taking her with me when I leave."

"Zarbon, come here. Listen to this," Dodoria says as he turns up the volume on Nappa's feed.

Zarbon rolls his eyes. "What Dodoria? I was just on my way to the healing tank."

"Why? You're not hurt."

"No, but it keeps my skin soft. What's going on?"

"Listen."

"You're a monster."

"Who's that?" Zarbon asks.

"Dunno, just listen."

"I'll not be judged by lower-class scum like you. Nappa disobeyed me and failed. He knew the consequences for insubordination, and he chose his fate. Plus, now I don't have to share. Make no mistake about it, Kakarot. It is my right as the Prince of all Saiyans to mate with the best female. I've been all over the fucking universe and while your female certainly isn't the strongest, well, like Nappa said, no scales. I'll be taking her with me when I leave."

"Kakarot… Kakarot…" Zarbon says filing through his memory. "I don't know that name. But it sounds like he's another Saiyan. I thought we got rid of all of them."

Dodoria nods. "So did I, except for Raditz, Nappa and Vegeta. And what the fuck's a Dragon Ball?"

"I don't know. Let's keep listening."

Goku looks at the scouter on Nappa's face remembering that's how Raditz tracked him down and destroys it with a small blast, just in case.

"What just happened? Why did we lose the feed?" Zarbon asks when everything goes quiet.

"Look at the error message," Dodoria says. "The scouter was destroyed."

Zarbon growls. "Play everything back from the time Vegeta and Nappa left. Figure out what the Dragon Balls are and who this Kakarot is. I'm going to go let Frieza know what Vegeta has been up to."

Vegeta glares knowing that his hunt for the female just got that much harder. No matter. He'll figure that out later. Right now, he has something more pressing to tend to.

Goku looks around him and sees the bodies of his friends scattered around them. "Follow me," he tells Vegeta as he takes off elsewhere.

"Yes, I guess this place is a little corpsey," Vegeta mocks as he follows Goku.

Once they reach their destination, the two Saiyans square off and assess the other in silence.

"Ready, Kakarot?"

"My name is GOKU!" he roars before racing toward his opponent.

"Hey! Is that Krillin?!" Bulma shouts.

Roshi and Gyu Mao follow her line of sight.

"YES! Chi-Chi and Gohan are with him!" Gyu Mao yells happily.

Bulma lowers the door to let them in and Gyu Mao rushes to his family.

"Gohan! Chi-Chi!" he exclaims nearly scooping them up, but he sees his daughter's disposition. "Chi-Chi, baby you're hurt," he says as he gingerly takes her from Gohan and puts her down on one of the cots.

"Hi, Daddy," she says weakly kissing his cheek. "I'm fine. I feel much better after Goku gave me some energy. Just sore is all."

"Roshi, take over for a sec," Bulma says getting up from the captain's chair. "Here, give her this," she says pulling out a syringe and vial from her medical supplies bag. "I've had the Capsule Corp. pharmacologists working to duplicate the senzu beans so that we'll stop running out. Also, think of all the good we could do if we could make something like that available for everyone. So far, no real luck but we did come up with this. It won't heal injuries permanently, but it'll give her some temporary relief."

"So… a pain pill?" Krillin observes.

"Well, yes, a pain pill. Except it's not a pill and I created it with Goku in mind so it's very powerful and also has adrenaline. She'll only need a tiny bit." She sticks the syringe in the bottle and pulls back the smallest amount of liquid. "Inject it in her thigh," she instructs.

Everyone waits to see Chi-Chi's reaction.

She stands up tall looking much more like herself. "Oh, wow Bulma. This is amazing! I feel so much bett-"

But her thought is cut short when they feel the battle they just left.

"Goku," Chi-Chi whispers. "We have to go back!"

"No way, Chi-Chi. You're not going anywhere," Gyu Mao reprimands his daughter.

"Dad don't make me hurt you," she threatens.

"Do NOT dive through a window again!" Bulma pleads.

Krillin intervenes before the two tempers clash. "I'll go back. Actually, we'll go back," he says looking at Gohan. "Chi-Chi it's not safe for you. Gohan's stronger and if it gets bad enough, I promise I'll send him away. But if Vegeta can get his hands on you, Goku's screwed."

She frowns. He's right.

"Yeah. We're going right now. Bulma, lower the door," Gohan says in a very commanding tone for a five-year-old.

"Chi-Chi are you going to let him go?!" Gyu Mao asks shocked.

"I don't think any of us is going to be able to stop him," Roshi interjects hoping to take some of the pressure off Chi-Chi.

Bulma lowers the door.

"Son Gohan you listen to Krillin and your father. Do EXACTLY as they say. Understand?" Chi-Chi says before he departs.

Gohan nods with the same expression his father has when he's taking something seriously and he and Krillin zip out of the ship.

"Man, do you feel that Gohan? They're both crazy strong," Krillin says as they fly.

"I didn't know anyone could be that powerful. My dad… he's so strong."

They both pause in the air as they feel the collision reach it's peak to that point before everything goes calm.

"Did… did he do it? Did he beat him?" Krillin wonders.

"I don't know but we need to get there. My dad feels weak."

"Right."

---

Goku wobbles on his feet catching his breath when an unforgettable voice can be heard out of nowhere.

"Goku! Hey man! You did it! Nice work!"

Confused, Goku looks over his shoulder. "Uh, hey Yajirobe. What are you doing here?"

"Erm, well… I thought I might be needed but you clearly had it under control."

"Yeah. Clearly." Goku falls to his knees. "Oh dammit."

An angry Vegeta descends from the sky and lands opposite Goku. "I am going to rip you to shreds you lower-class piece of shit!" Vegeta looks in the sky for a moon. "Where the fuck is your planet's moon?" he yells in frustration.

Goku, still catching his breath, raises an eyebrow. 'What the hell is he talking about?'

"You destroyed it so we couldn't transform? Clever. But no matter. Thankfully, real Saiyans are always prepared." Vegeta launches a ball of energy that resembles an artificial moon in the sky.

Sensing trouble, Yajirobe discretely exits the scene as fast as he can.

Vegeta turns his eyes up to the sky and moments later his body begins growing and transforming.

"What in the world?!" Goku yells confused. "Shit, this can't be good." Feeling broken and beaten already from the effects of the Kaioken, Goku prepares himself for more battle. "Wait a sec…" he says as he watches the Saiyan continue to grow until he looks like a giant ape. "A monster that only comes out during the full moon…" Goku grips his chest feeling like he was just punched in the gut. "Grandpa…"

---

"Goku!" Chi-Chi shouts feeling her husband's rapidly declining strength. "Bulma! Open the door!" Chi-Chi says dosing herself with just a tiny bit more of Bulma's concoction since she feels herself weakening again.

"Chi-Chi! You heard Krillin! You can't go!" her father protests.

"I HAVE to go! I don't have a choice! Goku is dying again and we don't get to wish him back this time. BULMA! The door! Now!"

Feeling conflicted, Bulma sides with her friend and lowers the door knowing that she'll do what she wants one way or another.

Wasting no time, Chi-Chi dashes out the door and flies to her family. "Oh, Kami, that power is huge," she says feeling Vegeta's strength. She also notices something in the sky that resembles the moon. "What the hell is going on?" she questions as she flies as fast as she can but the more energy she uses, the weaker she becomes. "Almost there, Goku!"

"Dad!" Gohan screams seeing the now giant Vegeta squeezing the life out of his father.

"Gohan, you distract him, and I'll go to the other side and try to cut off his tail!" Krillin strategizes.

"Cut off his tail? What will that do?" Gohan questions.

"No time to explain just do it!" Krillin says as he flies around and prepares his Destructo Disc.

Doing as he's told, Gohan fires a blast at Vegeta's face. "Hey! Over here!"

Vegeta roars but keeps a tight grip on Goku.

Finally close enough to see the giant monster, Chi-Chi understands the power she's feeling and why the bright light is in the sky.

With his disc ready, Krillin launches it at the enormous Saiyan. "Come on Destructo Disc don't fail me… SHIT!"

Vegeta hops over the attack. "You moron! You really thought that would work?!" Vegeta laughs. Unlike Goku and Gohan when they transform, Vegeta has mastered the Saiyan transformation and is able to keep his wits about him.

Chi-Chi sees the missed attack and the disc flying right at her. She stands upright in the air with a plan. "Oh, Kami this is so stupid. I'm going to get cut in half!" She forms a small ball of ki in her palm and focuses on the disc coming for her and hopes to catch the disc. Bracing for it, she focuses and feels the disc join with her own ki as it keeps spinning in her hand. "YES!" She launches toward the earth, turns her palm up so that the disc becomes like a saw blade and… "Let go of my husband!"

"MOM?!" Gohan yells in confused panic as he watches his mother's attempt.

The woman warrior slices through the Saiyan's tail at the base and cuts it clean off. "Oh shi-!" she yells when she sees someone coming at the tail from the other side with a katana in his hands. He clearly had the same idea but was just five seconds too slow. The two collide and tumble on the ground with Yajirobe dropping his sword.

"Hey lady! Watch it!" the gruff character barks. "Uh oh. See ya!" He scampers off as quickly as he came when he sees Vegeta's rage.

Chi-Chi rolls and tumbles until she finally lands face first on the ground. "Ow," she says holding her stomach.

Vegeta's grip loosens on his enemy as he reverts to his normal self with Goku falling through his fist. Gohan leaps to his father's aid and lays him down gently on the ground.

"Gohan? Wh-what just happened? What are you doing here?" Goku asks trying to piece everything together.

"No time, Dad!" Gohan says as he wards off Vegeta's incoming attacks.

Goku turns his head to the side and sees Chi-Chi's crumpled body in the distance. He tries to move to her but is completely paralyzed. "Krillin!" he howls. "Come here!"

Krillin races over. "Hey Goku. Don't try to move, buddy."

Goku holds his right hand out with a ball of white light. "Here, take this. It's the Spirit Bomb I created earlier. Use it on Vegeta."

"Umm… Okay, Goku." Krillin, feeling the power behind the light, reluctantly takes it in his palm and is overcome with its power.

"Are we getting close?" a frustrated Gyu Mao asks Bulma.

"It shouldn't be too much longer. Just sit down. You're stressing me out!" Bulma begs.

Not wanting to make things worse, Gyu Mao takes his seat back in the ship and continues praying for his family's safety.

"I won't tell you not to worry, but of all the people on earth, your family has a better shot than anyone at coming out on top," Roshi encourages as he sits down next to his former student.

"Thank you, Master. But I won't stop worrying until this is behind us." Gyu Mao says.

"Dammit! I missed!" Krillin hollers realizing Vegeta dodged his Spirit Bomb attack.

Feeling the weight of nothing going his way today, Goku tries to move but it's no use. He feels out his son's ki and speaks to him telepathically. *Gohan. Listen to me son. Bounce the Spirit Bomb back at Vegeta.*

Not having time to question what's going on, Gohan looks at his parents broken bodies on the ground and stands up tall prepared to do what his father says. *Are you sure, Dad?*

*Yes, son. You can do it. Anyone pure of heart can't be injured by the bomb.*

Gohan digs his heels in and puts his hands out, returning the bomb to Vegeta the moment it hits his fingertips.

"NO!" Vegeta screams as his body is flung into the air.

"Yes, Gohan! You did it!" Krillin cheers.

Gohan lands on the ground immobile like his father after exerting the energy required for handling the Spirit Bomb.

"Good job son," Goku coughs "Krillin go get Chi-Chi and Gohan and bring them to me."

"I… I'm fine Goku," a slightly recovered Chi-Chi says as she stumbles over to them. Krillin quickly runs and gives her a shoulder to lean on.

A thud crashes behind them and they see Vegeta's body.

"He's dead. Gotta be," Krillin says. "But I'm not taking any – AGH!" Krillin screams and the others gasp as they watch the crazed Saiyan spring in the air. Using the energy he has left, he swipes Chi-Chi away and leaps in the air to blast the others away.

"So long, Kakarot!" Vegeta laughs.

"MOM!" Gohan screams in terror.

"DAMMIT!" Goku yells powerless to stop him but he gets an idea when he looks at the bright light in the sky. "Gohan! Look at the light!"

"Huh?!" Gohan asks frantically trying to figure out how to recover his mother.

"Do it now!" Goku repeats.

The child looks up at the sky and…

Badump.

"What?!" Vegeta snarls tossing Chi-Chi back to the earth. He flies back down and begins pounding on the child and trying to rip off his tail. "I won't let you transform you little brat!" But it's no use. Gohan's body goes through the same transformation and he begins terrorizing the area.

"Goku! He's outta control!" Krillin yells.

*Gohan! Gohan! It's Daddy! Listen to me! Focus on the Saiyan. Just beat Vegeta!* Goku instructs his child.

Chi-Chi rolls over and looks at her son. "Gohan," she whispers as she watches his rampage. Gohan seems to be responding to something but what, she can't tell. Taking a risk, she uses the little energy she has left and flies up to her son's face. "Gohan! Honey! It's Mommy!"

Gohan stops in his tracks and looks at the tiny flying woman in front of him curiously. She pets his nose, and he gives a low purr.

"That's right, baby," she smiles. "Can you get the Saiyan for Mommy?"

Gohan looks around until he puts Vegeta in his crosshairs and gives a determined grunt. Chi-Chi hops on his shoulder and holds onto his fur.

"Fucking hell!" Vegeta cries before going toe-to-toe with the child. He knows the only way he has a shot is to cut off the child's tail. After receiving a brutal beating from the beast-child, Vegeta forms his own energy disc and slices the child's tail off.

Gohan's size begins to change and Chi-Chi releases her grip. Seeing how tired she is, Krillin jumps up to guide her back down as they fall in perfect time with her transforming son.

"OH SHIIIIIT!" Vegeta cries realizing he doesn't have enough time to move out of Gohan's way and is consequently crushed by the child until Gohan shrinks to his normal size.

Chi-Chi runs limping to a naked Gohan and picks him up out of reach of the evil Saiyan before tumbling to her rear. "I got you, baby," she comforts before falling to her side and passing out.

Vegeta, barely mobile, summons his ship from where it landed and crawls to the pod.

"Where do you think you're going?" Krillin asks with Yajirobe's katana at his throat.

"Krillin," Goku coughs. "Don't do it."

"Goku? You can't be serious right now," Krillin says, his mind unchanged.

"I am serious, Krillin. Drop the sword."

Krillin doesn't flinch. "I know you forgive easier than anyone I've ever met but why, Goku? Why?! After everything he did today? To our friends, to Gohan, to Chi-Chi?! What are you thinking?"

Goku coughs again. "I need to know he's out there."

Krillin turns his head to look at his friend. "What the hell does that mean?"

Goku groans in pain. "I got soft after fighting Piccolo at the tournament. I let my guard down. I need to know he's a threat. I need to know that we'll fight again so that I never let my guard down."

Krillin's heart sinks and his eyes fill with angry tears. All he wants is to end this bastard's life. "Agh!" he yells throwing the sword away. "Get the hell outta here."

Vegeta climbs in his ship. "You'll regret letting me go, Kakarot. I promise," he threatens before retreating into space.

Krillin walks away to cool off for a minute and sees the Capsule Corp. ship of his friends arriving in the distance. "Thank. Kami."

---

"Look! Look!" Camille says sitting in the news van outside of the hospital. "That air-ship that's headed for the roof. That's not an emergency responder. That's the private ship that called in over the scanners. That's them I know it."

"Well how do you plan on breaking it? Every other news vehicle in town is here trying to steal our scoop," Linc asks as he edits video. "We should've staked out in an unmarked van."

"Yeah well hindsight and all that. But I'm going up," she says putting on her jacket and media pass.

"By yourself?" Linc asks. "What about the camera?"

"I'll use my phone. Besides, my phone camera is better than the shit the station gives us anyway. You go in through the lobby so the other reporters will follow you and I'm going up to the roof. No time to argue. I'll call you soon. They're almost here."

She bolts out the door and goes into the service entrance and takes the service elevator to the top floor. "Roof access… Roof access… Ah! Here!" she says finding a sign that points her in the right direction. Hearing the ship land, she quietly sneaks out the door to the roof, crouches behind an air conditioning unit, whips her phone out and begins recording. "Okay, Emmy-award winning story, come to momm…" Her voice trails at what she sees.

Doctors and nurses rush onto the roof to meet the arrivals and wheel two gurneys onto the ship. She watches as the injured are wheeled out. First out is a child who's been badly beaten with a woman who must be his mother by his side.

"Gohan, I'm right here baby. I'm right behind you," the woman says as the medics wheel him off into doors.

"Gohan," Camille whispers and writes down in her tiny notepad.

Next, the tiny woman walks back up as the second gurney is wheeled out and follows it too. On this one is a man that she automatically identifies as the fighter she saw earlier. His hair probably always gives him away.

Last off is a short man that doesn't seem to be in as bad of shape but doesn't look great.

"Listen to me, my husband and son are complicated. I DO NOT authorize any surgeries," she says to one of the doctors.

"I hear you, ma'am. But we need to examine you also."

"The moment my boys are taken care of you can do whatever you want," she says as they all disappear behind the doors.

Once everyone is gone, Camille stands up. "Well, this isn't enough for a story, yet. But damn this is interesting."

---

Chi-Chi paces Goku and Gohan's hospital room as she waits on them to get back from their scans and tests.

"Chi try to relax," her father insists.

"Not possible. I will when they're back and I know what all is wrong with them."

Her friends and father sigh defeated.

Someone knocks on the door and Dr. Hiller walks in. Chi-Chi walks to her and gives her a hug. "Thank you so much for coming, Dr. Hiller. I know this isn't your field, but you know them."

"I'm happy to help anyway I can. But I need to warn you of something…"

Just then there's another knock on the door and more doctors come in including a familiar face.

"What is HE doing here?! You stay away from my family!" Chi-Chi screams seeing Dr. Nilsson in the room. "He's not even an MD!"

"That's where you're wrong, Mrs. Son. My MD is just one of my many degrees," he says. "But I assure you. I am only here to advise. There is nobody else on the planet as familiar with your family's physiology as I."

Dr. Hiller intervenes. "Chi-Chi. I called him. When you told me how bad off they were I knew we needed his brain and made a professional decision. I'm sorry but I knew we needed him."

Chi-Chi growls but she can feel herself fading fast. "He does NOT touch them. He only advises. And… And do not let anyone operate on them. The senzus will be ready soon and Goku can…" she's getting woozy. "Goku can make it un…til…" Chi-Chi collapses to the floor.

"Chi-Chi!" Gyu Mao races to his daughter but is beaten by Dr. Hiller.

"I need a gurney!" Dr. Hiller yells. "What's wrong with her?! Was she not scanned when she got here?" she asks trying to get caught up.

"She didn't have any injuries other than the arm and some cuts and bruises and she wouldn't let us do anything until her family came back!" an intern argues.

"Does she have injuries on the outside? No. What about the inside?! We always get a full workup on trauma patients!" Dr. Hiller scolds as Gyu Mao lifts Chi-Chi to the gurney. The general surgeon raises Chi-Chi's shirt and Dr. Hiller is horrified by what she sees. Chi-Chi's stomach is bruised all over. "How could nobody give her an exam?! Look! She's been bleeding for hours! She needed surgery hours ago!" Dr. Hiller reproaches before she and the surgeon rush away with Chi-Chi followed by a team of medics.

The group stands there stunned by what just happened. Chi-Chi was upright and talking and the next she was on the floor. Gyu-Mao sits on a chair and puts his face in his hands.

"I can't believe we missed that. We've all been so focused on the guys we just thought Chi was fine," Bulma says.

"She seemed fine, Bulma. How were we supposed to know?" Roshi tries to console.

"She wouldn't have if I hadn't given her those pain meds. It just never crossed…"

Gyu Mao speaks up. "She wanted that, Bulma. Don't blame yourself for anything. And she wouldn't undo it if she could. She was able to be there for her family and that's all that matters to her."

They stand there quietly for a few minutes, each one praying to Kami for a positive outcome.

"We shouldn't tell the boys. Not until we know more," Gyu Mao breaks the silence.

Already concerned about dealing with the consequences of keeping a different secret from Goku, Roshi and Bulma disagree.

"Gohan, I agree. But Goku? If he asks for her, what do we say?" Roshi shakes his head. "No, we can't keep him out of the loop."

---

Goku and Gohan lay quietly in their room having returned from their tests.

"Chi?" Goku asks stirring in his bed. "Chi? Gohan?"

"Hey, Goku," Bulma leans forward from her chair so he can see her. "How are you feeling?"

"In a lot of pain. Where's Chi-Chi? Where's Gohan?"

"Here, I'll page the nurse for more meds," Bulma says pushing the button on the remote.

Seconds later a nurse comes in and checks his chart to make sure he's due. Dr. Nilsson instructed them to give him pain meds ten times more often than they would a human due to how quickly he metabolizes it. All things considered, he's been more helpful than hurtful.

"Thanks," Goku says feeling some measure of comfort before she exits again sensing the tension. "Where are they?"

"Gohan's right over there still asleep," she says pointing to his side. "I need to talk to you about Chi-Chi but you cannot get too worked up."

The monitor begins to beep as his heart rate rises.

"Goku, calm down."

"Where is she?!" he demands to know concerned Vegeta returned while he was out of it. Thankfully, Gohan is on powerful meds that are keeping him asleep.

"She's in surgery. She was hurt. Apparently, she took a blow to her stomach that none of us realized. She's been bleeding internally since then. She collapsed a few hours ago and has been in surgery ever since."

Suddenly the realization hits Goku like a wave. "That's what was wrong with her."

"What do you mean?"

"Her energy and her heartrate were so low. I couldn't figure out what was wrong with her other than her arm… Dammit! This is my fault! If I had been there sooner, she wouldn't've been fighting in the first place!"

The same nurse bolts in as his monitors are going haywire and takes control this time.

"Mr. Son! Mr. Son! You gotta calm down, baby. What's got you worked up?"

"Is there any update on my wife?"

The nurse smiles a sad smile. That surgery has been tough but she's not telling him that. "She's still in surgery honey, but I'll let you know the moment she's out."

"How much longer?" he asks with worried eyes.

"She's been down there a few hours. Shouldn't be too much longer. She's tough, though. I got a look at her when she came in. She put up a hell of a fight to make sure you and your son are taken care of. So, take care of yourself. 'Cause if you don't, she's gonna be mad about it when she comes out."

Goku smiles wishing he could've seen her being bossy and his vitals return to normal during the conversation.

"And between you and me, I don't wanna be on her bad side," she smiles and fluffs his pillow. "Okay, honey, you keep calm or I gotta give you the jungle juice and you don't want that."

"What's that?" Goku asks.

"That's what we give to the patients we call 'tigers,'" she winks. "My name's Paula, baby. Push that button if you need me. I've tried to give you enough to keep you asleep but that doctor somebody says you metabolize it too fast. If your pain is unbearable or you need anything else, just give me a shout."

"Where will she be taken after surgery?" he questions.

She turns around and gives him another warm smile. "Her room is right next door. Media's been going nuts downstairs. Someone figured out that we have the fighters from the TV here, so we've blocked off this end of the hallway for y'all. There's security and everything. Never had such an exciting night."

"Who's 'doctor somebody?'" Goku asks.

Bulma frowns. "Dr. Nilsson but don't freak out. He's been on his best behavior."

"I'm not freaking out. Chi-Chi hates the guy. I mean I'm not a fan but he's not a threat even with me in a hospital bed."

Paula snickers at his attitude.

"I want Chi-Chi brought in here," he requests firmly. "There's room."

"You sure?" Paula asks. "There's gonna be people checking on her all night. Gonna be hard to sleep since pain meds don't really knock you out."

"I want Chi-Chi brought in here," he repeats.

"Okay, honey. I'll make it happen."

"How's my son?" Goku would turn his head to look at him but he can't.

"He's fine other than some cracked ribs, a bump on his noggin, some scrapes and bruises and dehydration but he's been on an IV for a while now, so we nipped that in the bud," she informs him.

Goku smiles at some positive news.

"I'll go see if I can get an update on Miss Chi-Chi. Okay, hun?"

"Thanks, Nurse Paula," Bulma answers for them as she leaves. "See, Goku? Not much longer and she'll be in here sleeping."

"Where's Krillin? How is he?" Goku asks Bulma.

"He's in that room next door," she says pointing behind her. "He's about like Gohan. His arm is banged up too, but he'll be fine. Just needs rest and fluids."

Just then, the door opens, and the foot of a bed is rolled in. "Hey, honey, look who I found," Paula says as she rolls Chi-Chi through the door. Chi-Chi is out cold with her arm in a sling and wrapped tightly to her body.

"Chi…" Goku exhales.

Behind her walks in a new doctor, Dr. Hiller, Dr. Nilsson, Gyu Mao and Roshi. Paula wheels Chi-Chi to Goku's other side and hooks her up to the monitor.

"Hi, Mr. Son. My name is Dr. Machi. I'm the Chief of Surgery here at Wukong Hospital. Glad to see you awake. How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine," Goku says uninterested in talking about himself. "How's Chi-Chi?"

"At the risk of sounding cliché, it was touch and go for about an hour, but we expect her to make a full recovery. She was extremely banged up. Whatever blow that was to her stomach would've killed anyone else and probably instantly."

Goku winces knowing how painful that must've been for her but she still kept going for hours.

"Well, if there's anything I've learned from the last five years of being Chi-Chi's OBGYN, she is not like anyone else," Dr. Hiller chimes in. "None of them are."

"Now, Mr. Son..."

"Goku's fine," Goku interrupts.

"Okay. Goku, I've been brought up to speed on your background and physiology by Dr. Nilsson and Dr. Hiller. Your wife would not allow us to operate on you before she was taken to surgery and you've been stable all night. She was rambling about a 'senzu.' I initially thought she was delirious, but I've been told by everyone here that those exist. Some sort of healing bean?"

"That's right. No surgeries. I'll wait on a senzu."

"And you're positive this will take care of all of your injuries? Not to alarm you but you will most assuredly never walk again without proper treatment."

"Yeah, I'm positive. Shouldn't take Korin too long to have them ready."

Dr. Machi gives a puzzled look to the other medical professionals in the room.

"Hey, don't look at me. I stopped questioning them after the tests we ran on Goku during her pregnancy," Dr. Hiller says with a smile.

"Well, then we'll have to get a waiver signed saying you're refusing treatment," he says looking at Paula so that she'll retrieve the necessary paperwork. He crosses his arms and sighs. "All of this is rather remarkable, Goku. You should be dead. Sorry for my bluntness but it's just the truth. I've never seen scans and labs like yours. Looking at your bones alone, you should be dead. But not only did you survive, you're cognizant. Please forgive me but as an avid sci-fi fan and someone who is more than thankful for what you and your family and friends did today, I have to say treating you all will probably be the highlight of my career. I'm sorry you're all in here under these circumstances but I'm very grateful for all of you."

Goku's never received praise well. He doesn't do any of this for commendation and as far as how he's made… That's just it… He doesn't know anything else. For him, it's hard to imagine being fragile but he learned how delicate someone could be when he and Chi-Chi first got married and when he first held his son and even they are exceptions to the norm.

Sensing Goku's uneasiness at this kind of attention, Roshi steps in for his student. "That's just who Goku is. But you're right, treating them will be a treat," he chuckles.

Chi-Chi begins stirring in her bed.

"Paula, will you administer her pain meds? She'll be round the clock until tomorrow morning. She needs plenty of rest, but I need to speak with her in the morning and do an exam. She also needs to be scanned at this time," Dr. Machi says as he types the order into a computer mounted on the wall.

Like the hero she is, Paula does all that the doctor requests and tends lovingly to the fighting family in her care.

"Goku, you need to rest also so we'll give you more pain meds now. Everyone else, we need to give them some time," Dr. Machi orders.

Gyu Mao walks over to Goku's bed. "I'm staying here in the waiting room. They'll find me if you need anything. Glad to have you back, son," he says to his son-in-law. He then kisses Gohan on the forehead and walks to Chi-Chi's bed. He gently brushes the hair off her forehead and smiles a sad smile. He's so happy to have them back but the cuts and scrapes on her beautiful face break his heart. He kisses one of them like he used to with her "ouchies" as she called them.

Everyone exits the room and Goku gets the best night of sleep he's had, well the first night of sleep he's had, in a year with his family on either side of him.

---

"Sir, we have a full report on Vegeta, Nappa and Raditz's transmissions," Dodoria says as he and Zarbon walk into the ship's command center.

"Very well. Enlighten me," their leader, Frieza, says.

Dodoria takes a step forward. "It looks like they chased Raditz to a small planet known as Earth but Raditz got himself killed by what appears to be another Saiyan known as Kakarot."

"How do you know he was a Saiyan?"

"He was Raditz's brother."

Frieza raises an eyebrow intrigued. "I wonder how that one slipped through our grasp."

"It seems he was sent to the planet by the Saiyans to conquer so they could sell it. It was just a mission."

"I thought we destroyed all of the Saiyan children that were sent off Planet Vegeta," Frieza asks annoyed.

"I checked that too, Lord Frieza, and there's no record of a Kakarot being deployed for a mission. My guess is someone sent him away unauthorized or the records were destroyed."

"Or both," Cui, a young soldier, chimes in.

"You filth." Dodoria raises his hand to slap the disobedient member of the Frieza Force. "You only speak if you're spoken to."

"Dodoria," Frieza intervenes and walks uncomfortably close to the soldier who spoke up. "Mind your manners. If our friend here has something valuable to say, let him speak. You have a theory…?" Frieza says waiting for the soldier's name.

"Cui, sir," his voice cracks nervously at Frieza's nearness.

"Very well. Cui. Speak."

"Yes sir." He clears his throat. "I was new to the force when we rid the universe of the Saiyan scum. Since I was so small then, I was tasked with squeezing into places others couldn't. Before Vegeta-sei was destroyed, I was sent into the control room to retrieve data, hard drives, logs, and any other information before the planet was destroyed. When I was in the ducts, I heard mumblings of Saiyan parents trying to send their children off the planet in fear of an attack."

"And you couldn't send a child off then without a formal mission authorization," Zarbon interjects.

"So, someone with the clearance to deploy, authorized a mission, and then deleted the record?" Dodoria asks trying to piece it all together. "A simple soldier wouldn't have been able to do that. A commander at the very least."

"A commander with a child. Raditz's father was a Squadron Commander," Zarbon confirms.

Frustrated at this revelation and pondering how many possible Saiyan children might be in the universe unchecked, Frieza lifts Cui up by the throat with his tail. "You knew about this and didn't report it?!"

Cui chokes. "I did sir. Nobody would listen to me."

Frieza squeezes just a little tighter to make his point before his grip loosens and he lowers the soldier to the ground. "Thank you, Cui." This information has been most helpful, so I'll let you keep your life today."

"Thank you, Lord Frieza," Cui says taking a step back.

"But I'm not sure Raditz's father deleted the record," Zarbon says recalling more information. "The Saiyan records were accessed about eighteen months ago around the time when Raditz left. Is it possible he looked it up and then destroyed the records?"

Dodoria nods. "He was trying to track him down and didn't want anyone to know it and long story short, Raditz, charmer that he was, gets himself killed."

"So, Raditz tries to reunite with long lost baby monkey brother and the reunion doesn't go as planned? Pity," Frieza mocks sitting back down in his captain's chair.

"Maybe, but I think he also saw a score. A planet like that with all of those resources would be worth a lot. I looked it up. We need to go there next," Dodoria suggests.

Frieza nods taking it under advisement. "What else, gentlemen?" he says rubbing his temple as he feels a headache coming on.

"Well, apparently this Kakarot has a child. A very strong child," Zarbon explains.

"A child? There was a Saiyan female on this planet as well?" Frieza questions.

Dodoria shakes his head. "Even better. A crossbreeder."

Frieza perks up. "My, that is interesting. Don't let this planet get destroyed. If the females there can crossbreed, they'll fetch a hefty price. After we collect them, we'll eliminate everyone else and sell the planet."

Dodoria and Zarbon nod.

"I wonder if the Saiyan marked his mate?" Dodoria contemplates.

"I'm sure he did. That's something all Saiyans do. Saiyan instincts, disgusting and barbaric as they may be, always win out," Zarbon scoffs.

Frieza gets a heinous idea. "Hm, perhaps we should have the doctors create some more of the bond-breaker."

"With all due respect, Lord Frieza only three or four females of the dozens of Saiyan couples we used for experimentation survived the serum. It's much easier to simply kill one of the mates," Dodoria recommends.

"Are you questioning me?" Frieza threatens.

"N-no sir," Dodoria panics.

Frieza marches to his peon. "Once we get our hands on this Kakarot and if he's truly stronger than all of the other Saiyans, I want him on the force immediately and I can't have him distracted by some female that's been sold off. You've witnessed their grotesque destruction for their 'mates,'" he mocks.

The soldiers nod in compliance.

"This particular female is I'm sure valuable if her offspring is as strong as you say. Therefore, to get what I want, we will need to split them up instead of killing one of them. We will have a happy new team member and we can sell her to the dealers. Get her into a different galaxy and he'll never find her. If the Saiyan doesn't do as I command, then you can kill him. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Lord Frieza," the soldiers say in unison.

"Now is that all?" Frieza asks walking away and staring out of his ship to the vastness of space in front of them.

Zarbon shakes his head. "No sir. Apparently, this planet is home to something called Dragon Balls."

"Dragon Balls are just a fairytale," Frieza waives off the information.

"Apologies, Lord Frieza, but it seems they are. They're a tool that Namekians use to grant wishes," Zarbon claims.

Frieza raises a brow. "And you've confirmed this?"

"Yes sir. This Kakarot was wished back to life with them. He died with Raditz but was revived and returned to fight Nappa and Vegeta."

Frieza turns around more than curious. "The Dragon Balls can bring people back from the dead?"

Dodoria nods. "And can apparently grant immortality. But they require a Namekian to work. I don't quite understand why that is but the earth's Namekian was killed by Nappa and now those are no longer functional."

Frieza growls in frustration. "Those worthless simians! They only use their fists and never their brains!"

"You were right to destroy them, my lord, to be sure. But don't lose hope. It seems we know where to find more Dragon Balls. We just have to beat anyone else to them," Zarbon says attempting to placate Frieza. "We should chart a course to Namek immediately. We're approximately thirty days away."

An evil grin spreads across the tyrant's face. "Yes. Immediately. Where is the Ginyu Force?"

"Gallivanting from port to port doing whatever they want, I'm sure. You know their affinity for debauchery," Zarbon says.

"Contact them now. Tell them it's time to report for duty."

---

Gohan stirs awake the next morning feeling like somebody ran over him with a truck, well actually like two different Saiyans tried to kill him which is worse. "Ow," he moans feeling his head. He tries to focus his eyes on his surroundings as he blinks. "Where am I? Mom? Dad?" He looks down at his arm and sees something shoved in his skin then finally surveys the area. "Dad! Mom!" he hollers sitting up in bed.

Goku, already somewhat awake, very gently manages to turn his head. "Hey, son. Stay put okay? Push the button on the remote by your bed. The red one with the white cross on it."

Gohan does as instructed and thirty seconds later Paula comes in.

"Good morning, sunshine. Glad to see you looking so perky!" she says as she looks at his monitor checking his vitals. "How are you feeling baby?"

A confused Gohan narrows his eyebrows trying to remember all of yesterday. "Um, I'm okay, I guess. Where are we?"

"You're at Wukong Hospital little man. My name's Paula. I'm your night nurse so I'll only be here a few more minutes. Can I see your arm baby? I need to check your blood pressure."

Gohan looks to his father for permission unsure about what's going on.

"It's okay, son."

Gohan sticks out his abnormally muscled little arm and watches the nurse do her work.

"Also, I brought you a treat since there's no risk of you needing surgery," Paula says pulling a vending machine muffin out of her pocket. She did just buy that for herself, but he doesn't have to know that.

Gohan's eyes light up. Like his daddy, food is definitely his love language. "Thank you, Ms. Paula," Gohan says opening it up and taking a bite.

"Aw no fair Gohan. They still haven't let me eat anything," Goku whines.

Focused on his muffin and all of the medical equipment his eyes return to the thing sticking into his arm. "What's this?" he asks innocently.

Paula smiles feeling him trust her. "That, baby, is an IV. It helps me keep you hydrated or give you medicine or nutrition. Is it hurting you?"

He shakes his head. "No ma'am. Just looks funny."

"You have some sweet manners. Your parents taught you well," she compliments the whole family.

"Thank you. But, what's wrong with my momma?" he asks looking at the end of the room where his mom is still sleeping.

"She had a hurt stomach, but they fixed it last night," Paula assures him. "She's just sleeping right now." Paula walks over to Goku. "You seemed to sleep pretty well. Only woke up when I gave you meds or checked your vitals. The older gentleman said you've been away from your family for a year until yesterday? Must've done your heart some good to have them with you."

Goku smiles. She's spot on with that observation. Just then, Chi-Chi begins moving in her bed.

"Chi?" Goku says as he tries to turn his head that way.

Paula quickly walks over to her and frowns. Chi-Chi's blood pressure is lower than she'd like. "I'm gonna go get Dr. Machi. I'll be right back."

Paula scurries out of the room and retrieves the Chief of Surgery. Gyu Mao sees the nurse rush out as he sits in the waiting room across the hall and goes into the room with his family. He hugs Gohan immediately and stands by his bed as Dr. Machi walks in. All business, he goes right to Chi-Chi, checks her vitals, and gives a medication order to Paula for her blood pressure.

"Chi-Chi? If you're awake, this is Dr. Machi at Wukong Hospital. I'm going to check your incision, so you'll feel hands on your stomach."

"Huh?" she asks blinking her eyes open. "What happened? Where's Gohan? Where's Goku?" she asks beginning to panic when she sees the vaguely familiar doctor standing at her bed.

"Chi-Chi, baby we're right here. We're fine," Goku comforts.

"Goku?" She tries to sit up but quickly regrets that and falls back on the pillow.

Gyu Mao rushes over to her and takes her hand. "Honey, everyone is here and as healthy as they can be. Gohan is perfectly fine and Goku is right there," he says nodding his head to her left.

She rolls her head over and sees her husband and sighs a happy breath. "Hi," she smiles.

"Hey beautiful. We're good. See?" He gives a cheesy grin and Gohan sits up on the other side and waves happily to his mother.

Her eyes fill with tears but now that she's got that taken care of, she becomes acutely aware of how much pain she's in. "Agh," she winces.

"Chi-Chi, do you remember me?" Dr. Machi asks. "We met when you arrived yesterday."

"Yes," she confirms. "What happened?"

"You had some internal bleeding from a blow to your stomach. We found the bleed and corrected with surgery. I expect you to make a full recovery, but you will be in pain and the incision site will be very sore. You already had an infection on an older wound so I've started antibiotics on that which should prevent your incision from infection also."

Chi-Chi knows the old wound he's talking about. She got cut a few days ago when she was sparring with Piccolo and they were running low on medical supplies. Using what she had to treat Gohan's injuries, she let hers go untreated knowing she could get medical attention soon.

She nods slowly taking all of this in. "Okay. How are my boys?"

Dr. Machi updates the family on where they all stand health wise at the time. It's not long until an orderly retrieves Goku and takes him to be scanned again and Chi-Chi and Gohan go back to sleep.

Later in the day, Krillin makes his way to their room with Roshi and Bulma. He and Gohan should both be discharged by tomorrow morning and have been relieved of their IVs.

Bulma, already strategizing after Krillin informed her of the Namekian Dragon Balls, informs the group that she's preparing a trip to Namek.

"How?" Goku asks. "We don't have a ship."

"I'm still working out that little detail."

"Little detail? That's a massive detail," Krillin states.

"Have I ever let you guys down before?"

Krillin and Goku look at each other and reflect on all the times Bulma has nearly gotten them killed but don't feel like getting yelled at. "No," they say in unison.

"I may have a solution," a familiar voice says tapping on the window.

"What in the world?" Bulma asks walking over. "Who the heck is that?"

"Hey! Mr. Popo! Long time no see!" Goku says seeing the mysterious man hovering outside.

"Yes, Goku. Nice to see you all. Like I was saying, I believe I have a way to get to Namek," he repeats.

Bulma lights up. "I'm listening!"

"I know the location of Kami's ship. The one in which he was sent to Earth," he proffers.

"Oh wow! That's great! Where is it? Can I check it out?" Bulma asks overjoyed.

"Of course. Come along," Mr. Popo says extending a hand to Bulma so that she can climb onto his carpet.

"Erm…" Bulma turns around nervously and looks at the guys for confirmation this is safe.

"Don't worry Bulma. You'll be fine," Goku comforts.

"Oo..kay…" she says taking the stranger's hand and climbing out the window. "I'll be back," she says and then they're gone in a flash.

A few seconds later, Dr. Machi walks back in followed by Dr. Hiller to check on his patients and go over Goku's most recent scans. "Goku, this is going to be some personal information so anyone you don't want to know should leave the room."

"Oh, I don't mind. Everyone here's family."

Dr. Machi nods and puts three x-rays up next to each other. "Now, Goku, the picture on the left is your x-ray from yesterday when you first arrived. As you can see it's a jumbled mess. Almost as if your bones exploded inside and were held together by your skin."

Chi-Chi's stomach turns seeing the images.

"Well, that does make sense. I really overdid it with the Kaioken," Goku chuckles.

"The Kaio-what?" Dr. Machi asks.

"It's a technique King Kai taught me in Other World."

Dr. Machi blinks trying to understand and turns to Dr. Hiller.

"I told you," she snickers. "I stopped asking questions."

"Right. Now, over here we have your x-rays from the middle of the night and the ones we did this morning. Dr. Nilsson was right. You heal at an abnormally fast rate. You're still in no condition to move but look how everything appears to be weaving itself back together. You could very well be walking in thirty days. I cannot emphasize enough how miraculous that is. All I have to say is I'm glad you were the one out there fighting yesterday and not anyone else because nobody on Earth could've withstood that."

Chi-Chi smiles thinking about her husband's new strength. She didn't think he could get much stronger than he already was, not for lack of faith… she just didn't know it was possible.

"That's our Goku," Gyu Mao says proud of his son-in-law.

Dr. Machi turns his attention to Gohan. "How are you feeling, champ?"

"I'm okay. Sore mostly, and hungry, and tired of this bed. I'm ready to go home. Plus," he reaches down and scratches his bandages, "I'm itchy."

Chi-Chi giggles. She's never heard her son complain so much to a stranger. He must really be over this.

"Oh, I'm sorry Gohan. They were supposed to bring you food," Dr. Machi notes as he looks at the orders in the computer to make sure he entered that properly.

"Oh, they did but it was only one tray," Gohan says as he keeps scratching.

Chi-Chi chimes in. "Goku and Gohan eat significantly more than humans. Feeding Goku is like feeding fifty people at once and feeding Gohan is like feeding ten. And he's only five years old."

"Right. I'm sure Dr. Nilsson included that in his notes, and I overlooked it. My apologies, Gohan. I'll make sure you have more food brought to your room straight away."

"Umm…" Gohan says nervously afraid to state his request.

Gyu Mao walks over to him. "What is it grandson?"

"Well… umm… it's just… I haven't had pizza in a really long time. Mom and I only ate wild game and mushrooms and fruit for the last year. Would it be okay if I had some, Dr. Machi?"

Chi-Chi and Goku both melt hearing their son's innocent request but wait to make sure Dr. Machi says it's okay.

Dr. Machi smiles. "Gohan, you can eat whatever you want," he says with his hand out for a fist bump.

"NO!" Goku and Chi-Chi both shout seeing his fist out and everyone freezes.

"A very gentle fist bump Gohan," Chi-Chi instructs as she places her hand over her stomach. Jolting like that hurt.

Gohan rolls his eyes. "Geez, Mom. I know that." He very lightly taps Dr. Machi's fist.

Chi-Chi lets out a breath. She saw that poor man's career end in a flash but thankfully her kiddo can control his strength.

Dr. Machi can't help but ask, "Is Gohan really that strong? He's only five."

Goku and Chi-Chi both nod. "Right now, Gohan is the second strongest person on the planet after me," Goku boasts of his child. "Actually, he's the strongest at the moment since I can't even walk."

Dr. Machi fakes fear and takes a step back from the unassuming little boy. "Well, then maybe we'll call it quits on the fist bumping. If you broke my hand, I'd be out of a job," he teases.

Gohan flushes but remembers the promise of pizza. "So, can I order some pizzas?"

"I'll go get you whatever you want, Gohan," Gyu Mao offers to Gohan's delight.

"Honestly, Gohan, I can discharge you. I just need you to take it easy for a while," Dr. Machi informs the family.

"Really?! I can go eat pizza at a restaurant?!" Gohan jumps up on his bed.

"Well, I can't give you permission to leave. That's up to your parents. But I think you're fine," Dr. Machi chuckles.

Gohan hops his little bandaged body down and runs in between his parents' beds. "Can I go? Please?" he pleads.

Goku and Chi-Chi both giggle at their son's antics.

"Baby, after the year you've had, I'm not sure I'll ever be able to tell you no again," Chi-Chi says warmly.

Gohan turns his head to his father waiting for his permission.

"What your mom said, son," Goku smiles.

Dr. Machi nods. "I'll go work on his discharge papers. Shouldn't take more than thirty minutes or so." He and Dr. Hiller leave the room.

Chi-Chi's starting to get ready for more pain medication but Bulma shows back up with a plan.

"Hey, guys! We can do it! We can go to Namek!" she cheers.

"Really? That ship's going to work?" Krillin asks.

"I mean I have to make some major repairs to it, but I estimate the work to take a little over a week."

"Wow. So, a trip to Namek. Okay, Bulma. Let's do this," Krillin says offering to go.

"Great! I'm thinking about ten days from now. Will you feel up to traveling? I don't want to wait any longer than we have to but obviously I can't go alone."

"Oh yeah, I'll be good by then," Krillin says moving his bandaged arm.

"I'm going, too," Gohan says quietly.

"What was that Gohan?" Goku asks.

"I'm going to Namek, too."

Pain or not, Chi-Chi sits up in her bed. "Gohan, you most certainly are not," she says having to tell him 'no' much sooner than she expected.

"I am, Mom. Piccolo died for me. And I'm going to bring him back," he defies.

Chi-Chi swings her legs around and stands up out of the bed. Krillin offers an arm but she waves him away and leans on the bedrail.

"Chi get back in bed," Goku firmly requests.

She ignores him. "Son Gohan. You are not leaving this planet. Do you understand me?"

Gohan stands up. "I am Mom. I'm going."

Chi-Chi's heartrate starts to climb.

"Gohan, sit down! You're upsetting your mother," Goku orders.

Gohan sits back on the bed and turns his eyes down and the room fills with an awkward silence.

"Are you really not going to say anything?!" Chi-Chi yells at her husband.

"Maybe… we should go…" Bulma says as she, Krillin, and Roshi sneak out.

"I'll be right outside when you're ready, Gohan," Gyu Mao says sensing this is a conversation meant for the child and his parents.

Pushing through her pain, Chi-Chi grabs her IV and marches over to her son in her hospital gown.

"Chi. Get back in the bed. You're going to hurt yourself," Goku says feeling completely helpless.

"If you're not going to deal with this, I have to!" she shouts.

Normally, Gohan would cringe being on the receiving end of his mother's anger, but this time he's going with his convictions.

"I'm sorry, Mom. I'm not trying to make you mad. But I am going to Namek. I am."

Chi-Chi sits on his bed next to him. "Gohan, you almost died yesterday. YESTERDAY. Do you understand that? Every bone in your father's body is broken. I just got you both back and on the mend. I won't allow you to leave. You are mine and I'm responsible for you."

Gohan gets more frustrated. "What about Piccolo? And Tien, and Yamcha, and Chiaotzu? Who's responsible for them? They all died because I wasn't strong enough yesterday. I'm responsible for them."

Chi-Chi and Goku's hearts break hearing the burden their son has placed on himself.

"Come here, son," Goku says.

Gohan walks to his father's bed and levitates so that his father doesn't have to strain to look down at him.

"Sit. There's room."

Gohan carefully takes a seat next to his father.

"Not one single thing that happened yesterday is on you. None of it. They caught us all off guard and if it's on anyone, it's on me."

"But Da-"

"But nothing. Gohan, you shouldn't've even been there yesterday. And I hope you and your mom are never put in that situation again." He takes a breath before he says something that's really going to piss Chi-Chi off. "I support you wanting to go to Namek but if your mom isn't on board then you're staying here."

Chi-Chi throws her hands up and wobbles out of the room.

'Shit,' Goku thinks to himself. "Chi…" he hollers but she keeps going.

"Chi-Chi? What the hell are you doing?!" Dr. Machi reprimands as he walks back to their room with Gohan's discharge papers. He immediately grabs a wheelchair and guides her down to it.

"I had to get out of there for a minute," she says still trying to calm down.

"Okay…" He attaches her IV bag to hook on her wheelchair and pushes her down the hall. No, it isn't typical for a doctor to give this kind of attention to his patients, especially the Chief of Surgery, but these aren't typical patients.

"Thank you," she winces as she adjusts in the chair.

"Don't thank me. I don't condone this little trip, but mental health is just as important as physical health. If you need to clear your head, clear it fast because we're going right back and I'm knocking you out."

She chuckles a little bit but even that hurts.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he offers.

"No. Just need to think about it. Can we stop here for just a second?" she asks when they get to a large window that overlooks a city park. She looks down at all of the families playing together, having picnics, and feeding ducks.

"Higher Daddy!" Gohan squeals as his father pushes the toddler on the swings with one finger.

"If he pushes you any higher Gohan you'll go to outer space," Chi-Chi teases as she sits on a blanket next to the swings.

"Just a little higher, Mom?" Goku asks for her permission before he uses a little more force.

She sighs in exasperation. "A little."

Goku uses one more finger and "Whoops!"

Gohan soars out of the swing giggling, blissfully unaware that he's in danger.

"GOKU!" Chi-Chi stands up to grab him but Goku flies up and gently collects their son.

"I got'em Chi. Don't worry," he says landing back on the ground.

Chi-Chi throws her head back and rubs her temples. "My boys. What am I going to do with you?"

She sighs. 'Daddy won't be there to catch you this time, Gohan,' she thinks to herself and ponders her options. "Okay, Dr. Machi, I'm ready to go back."

The kind doctor rolls her back to her room. Gohan's sitting quietly on his bed with guilty eyes turned to the floor and Goku's staring at the ceiling soaking up the quiet before he gets yelled at. He watches as Dr. Machi rolls her back to her bed and helps her get hooked back up to everything before checking her incision. "You've popped some stitches," he frowns seeing her bleed. "I'll grab my favorite resident to stitch you back up. I have to go check on a few other patients," he says before placing Gohan's discharge papers on the table and leaving the room.

"Come here, Gohan," she says calmly.

Gohan saunters over and sits on the edge of his mother's bed scared to make eye contact.

"Look at me," she says firmly. He slowly turns his eyes. "You're right about having responsibilities but you're wrong about anything that happened yesterday being your fault. That is not a thought you will entertain ever again. Do you understand me?"

Gohan nods. His parents' words have gotten to him and he feels a little lighter.

"You can go to Namek on one condition."

Gohan's expression becomes hopeful.

"I'm going with you."

"Chi?" Goku asks of this new information.

"You heard me. I won't be completely healed but by the time we actually get there, I'll be fine."

Goku opens his mouth to argue but Chi-Chi raises her hand. "Son Goku. Our child is not going to be millions of miles away without one of us. You're wrapped like a mummy, meaning your going isn't an option. So that leaves me. This isn't open for discussion. Or he can not go at all. You two pick."

At that moment Gyu Mao walks back in. "Gohan, you ready to eat buddy?"

"Are we all in agreement?" Chi-Chi asks her boys before she dismisses Gohan.

Goku and Gohan look at each other and nod not seeing any other way. "Good. Gohan, there are clothes for you in that bag that Dad brought. Change and then you can go."

He kisses her cheek and takes the bag to change.

"Oh, and Dad, please bring back Goku some food. I know I can't eat yet but Goku is different. His body is different, and he needs real food."

"But the doctor said-"

"I don't care what he said. You let me deal with that. IV nutrition isn't going to cut it for him. He needs real protein and sustenance."

Gyu Mao nods and chuckles at his daughter's orders. He's just thankful she feels like bossing people around. Once Gohan is ready, he leaves with his grandfather.

"So… Namek…" Goku starts.

"What about it?" Chi-Chi asks still frustrated he thew her under the bus.

"You sure this is a good idea?" he questions.

"You're fine with sending our five-year-old but not me?" she barks getting worked up again. "Shit," she winces and looks down and sees more blood coming from her incision.

"What is it?" he asks trying to look.

"It's nothing. They're taking care of it soon. But tell me, how are you okay with sending Gohan and not me?"

"I'm not thrilled at the idea of either of you going, Chi-Chi. I'm sorry, but Gohan is a lot stronger than you. I worry about him less."

"Strength is not the only important factor when doing something dangerous Goku," she points out.

"No but it can go along way in not getting killed. Me being the perfect example," he argues. "You took one hit from that asshole yesterday and it wrecked you. Gohan took multiple hits before and after the senzu bean. He's strong Chi-Chi and it matters."

"He's a child with limited decision-making skills. Yes, he is smarter than every other child his age, but he is still a child."

"Chi-Chi, if you're there, you're a liability. You're one more person he has to take care of if things go south."

"If you're worried about things going south then he shouldn't be going at all!"

"Gohan and I are made for situations like that! You're not!" He regrets the words as soon as they leave his mouth, but he can't retrieve them now.

Chi-Chi stares at the ceiling as her eyes water. "You don't respect me at all," she whispers but loud enough for him to hear her.

Goku sighs. "Chi-Chi, you know that's not what I meant. You are so strong and an incredible fighter. All I mean is that Gohan and I are literally built differently. You saw it for yourself on those scans."

She understands to a degree, but her mind isn't changing. "I'm going Goku. He's not going without one of us."

"Okay, Chi," he surrenders. "I really don't want to fight, babe. I just got-" but he's cut off by another knock on the door as is the case at hospitals.

An extremely handsome doctor with auburn hair and blue eyes walks in with a small tray of instruments. "Uh, hi there. Son Chi-Chi?"

"That's me," she sighs still looking at the ceiling.

He senses the tone in her voice and assumes she's annoyed with him. "I know. I'd be sick of getting stuck, too. But this won't hurt. I'm going to numb the area before I stitch you up."

"Oh, you're not the problem," she scoffs.

He walks over to her confused and puts on latex gloves. "Okay, raise your gown over the incision for me if you can."

She uses her good arm and lifts up her hospital gown and sulks when she sees his reaction. "Is it that bad?"

He blushes. Being somewhat new to one on one interactions with patients, he forgets he has to control his face. "Your incision is fine. I'll just stitch you back up. I just hate how beat up you are. What happened? I heard you were in a fight or something? My shift just started so I'm out of the loop."

"Something like that." She winces as he numbs the area.

"Well… At least they missed your face," he says with a hint of flirt in his voice.

Chi-Chi's eyes pop open and she rolls her head over to look at her husband's expression.

Goku glares at the doctor whose back is to him.

"Oh, what's this?" he asks seeing the exposed mark just above her collarbone. "That looks like an old scar unlike all these other scrapes and bruises. Get in a fight with a vampire, too?" he jokes.

"No, just a birthmark," she says with the prepared answer to that question. It's not the first time someone has asked.

"Are you sure? Have you ever had it checked? Doesn't look like any birthmark I've ever seen," he says as he ties off his last stitch and brings his latex covered finger up to touch her mark.

Goku's about to lose his mind.

"Oh no don't touch it," Chi-Chi says quickly.

The doctor looks at her puzzled but backs off. "Sorry. I'm going into plastics I think, so I notice weird skin things. Not that your skin is weird… Your skin is great… Not great in a weird way. It's healthy. Oh hell. I'm sorry. I've got to work on my bedside manner," he says completely blushed.

"Ahem," a voice says behind him. "Dr. Maddox, if I could take some of the pressure off since this sweet lady doesn't want to embarrass you, that's her husband right there so she's not even available. Plus, she could kill you with her pinky. Don't you watch the news?" Nurse Paula stands there with her arms crossed having come back in for her next shift.

Dr. Maddox's blush turns from pink to bright red. He turns to Goku. "I… I am so sorry. Patients share rooms all the time and I just thought… And Ms. I mean Mrs. Son you're all stitched up. It looks much better." He quickly gathers up his tools and tray and leaves the room.

"Now, Goku, when you're better don't you go killing my baby resident. He's completely harmless. These new young hot shot doctors, especially the cute ones, can't control themselves," Paula says as she goes about her tasks.

"They don't teach 'don't hit on the patients,' in medical school?" he rolls his eyes.

"It's definitely frowned upon, but some people have fallen in love that way. It's rare but it happens." Finished checking on Goku she walks to Chi-Chi's bed. "Honey, I don't know anyone that can turn a man's head in a hospital gown, but you are wearin' it," she teases.

Chi-Chi chuckles. "Well maybe this will show Goku that he needs to be nicer to his wife."

Feeling that her anger is easing up, Goku sees his chance. "I'm hurt. And I saved the world yesterday. You can't be mad at me too long," Goku pouts playfully.

Chi-Chi feels her anger melting completely seeing his adorable face. "Five more minutes and then I'll be over it," she winks.

He smiles and settles back completely to relax in his bed.

"Chi-Chi, you're overdue for meds. I hear you've had a lot going on today and you've got to be hurting," Paula says.

"Well… You're not wrong," she admits.

"Okay, honey. How about a nap?" she says as she starts pumping the meds into Chi-Chi's IV.

"That sounds nice. Just make sure Goku gets the milk and peanut butter pickles…" Chi-Chi trails into nonsense as the pain meds enter her system.

"You got that Goku? Milk and peanut butter pickles," Paula giggles.

He chuckles back. "Yeah, I got it."

Paula gives him his meds next. They don't knock him out but do make him relax even more. He turns his head over and watches his wife sleep. He was hoping when he was alive again, their bond would automatically restore. It didn't. Even though his death wasn't permanent, the loss of the bond was. King Kai explained how marking and bonding works to him, but he wasn't sure if they would reconnect. He didn't have a case study where a Saiyan bonded with a different race, died, then came back to life. Goku thought that was fair.

No matter though. It doesn't change what he knows. "Mine," he whispers as he looks at her.

Ten days. Then she and Gohan are away from him again. But he's not letting her leave the planet without sinking his teeth back into her skin.

---

"Did you bring your research?"

"Yes, and all of Goku's hospital records from the last nine days," Dr. Nilsson says pointing to the duffle bag on his shoulder.

The old man reaches out to take it.

"Not so fast. I've more than delivered and it's time for you to do the same. I told you where you could find them," Dr. Nilsson says nodding toward two sleeping teenagers on medical tables attached to different machinery, "and now I'm giving you all of my research on Goku. I want my money and I'm not giving this over until I get it."

The old man narrows his eyes. "Very well. Let me see it first."

Dr. Nilsson opens the bag and pulls out a folder. He quickly thumbs through it to show that it's not empty.

The old man nods and walks to his desk.

"What are you doing with them, anyway, professor?" Dr. Nilsson asks about the teenagers.

"That," the old man points to his work, "does not concern you." He continues rummaging through his desk and picks up an envelope. "It's funny. After all this time, you still call me professor," he says walking back to his former student.

Dr. Nilsson shrugs. "Well, you were my genetics professor. Habit."

The old man hands the envelope to Dr. Nilsson. "Yes. The good ole days," he smiles.

Dr. Nilsson looks in the envelope and counts the cash. "Great. Well it's been a pleasure Dr. Gero," he says using his former professor's proper title. He heads for the exit ready to get the hell out of that creepy lab in the mountains.

"One more thing," Dr. Gero says stopping Dr. Nilsson in his tracks. He pours them each a glass of champagne. "I'm out of people to celebrate my new discoveries with. You saw how I was excommunicated from the scientific community. Just one drink?"

Dr. Nilsson sighs and feels sorry for the alienated old man. "Sure." He takes the glass. "What are we toasting?"

"How about… ah, I've got it. To the good ole days," Dr. Gero says holding his glass out.

"The good ole days," Dr. Nilsson says clinking their glasses and taking a sip. He fails to notice that Dr. Gero did not drink his. Not three seconds later, the biologist begins choking, his face turns purple and blood begins filling his mouth. He falls to his knees and looks up at his former professor as if to ask "Why?"

The mad scientist watches the man's life leaving his eyes. "You know too much, Lucas. I'm sorry, my boy. You really were one of my favorite students and I do thank you for all of your help. It should be most helpful in finalizing my plans."

The man chokes a little more. "Don't worry, Lucas. It's almost over."

Dr. Nilsson falls face forward and takes his last breath.

Dr. Gero takes the folder out of the duffle bag and rifles through it. "Hmm… Yes… Very interesting. Goku heals remarkably fast," he says looking at Goku's progression x-rays since his fight with the Saiyans. He claps the folder closed and walks toward a petri dish of clear liquid. "We have work to do."

---

Chi-Chi walks through the hospital armed with a capsule of Goku's favorite foods. Feeling like herself for the first time since being discharged two days ago, she merrily cooked in her kitchen all day long. "Knock, knock," she says reaching his door and pushing it open. "It's just me. Wait. What the hell are you doing?!"

She walks in to find Krillin cheering and Goku and Roshi locked in a heated arm-wrestling match.

"Umm…" Goku and Roshi say in unison before they quickly let go of each other's hands.

"Hey, Chi. Master Roshi and I were just…"

"We were just shaking hands! Definitely not arm wrestling!"

Chi-Chi growls. "Don't lie to me! Master Roshi, you know Goku is hurt! How could you let him talk you into this?!" she screams.

"W-we just wanted to check something is all…" Goku stutters.

"What?!" she says tapping her foot waiting for an answer.

Goku decides to take one for the team. Plus, he really likes seeing her attitude. "Well… they just wanted to know if they could beat me at arm wrestling while I'm hurt. They can't if that makes you feel better."

"THEY?!" she screams again.

"Nice going, Goku! Why'd you have to throw me under the bus?!" Krillin says shaking his fist.

Goku's just so happy to be back and that he and his friends are on good terms again after their painful chat a few nights ago that he laughs at the situation. Not ready for this moment to end he decides to make it worse. This should really set her off. "Oh, and Chi. Just to test my reflexes, they fired small blasts at me to make sure I could block with this hand."

"GOKU! Do you want us in the hospital with you?!" Roshi screams at his student. They all turn their heads and wait to be reprimanded.

Chi-Chi doesn't make a sound. Nothing is scarier than a quiet Chi-Chi.

'Whoops. Went one too far,' Goku thinks as they all freeze in place.

Chi-Chi takes a few slow steps toward the group, places her bag on his side table then walks to the foot of his bed. Roshi and Krillin quake in silence.

"Uh, Chi? I'm sorry," Goku says nervously.

Chi-Chi looks out the window and assesses her surroundings. He's in a corner room now so there isn't anyone behind him. She looks him square in the eyes while he remains frozen, preparing for the screaming.

"Yah!" Chi-Chi moves like lightning and sends her own small blast to Goku's right side. He catches it quickly with his right hand and stares at her shocked. Krillin and Roshi gulp. "Well, at least you're healing," she states.

The boys all let the breaths out they've been holding. Feeling more relaxed, they finally take in what Chi-Chi looks like. Her hair is down, she has a touch of makeup on, and she's wearing a sundress that buttons down the middle that hits her just above the knee.

"You look great, Chi," Goku compliments but then scowls when he sees Roshi gawking.

"Oh," she blushes. "Thank you. I saw Dr. Machi before I came in here. I'm sick of hospital gowns so wearing something like this makes it so I don't have to change." That's part of it. The truth is, it's been so long since she felt feminine or had any real quality time with her husband that she wanted to look pretty for him. "But I think it's time for Goku to get some rest. I need to speak with him before we leave for Namek tomorrow. Speaking of, are you ready Krillin?"

Krillin laughs nervously. "How ready can you ever be to go millions of miles into outer space for the first time?"

"Yeah, I know the feeling," Chi-Chi says placing her hand on her stomach to calm her butterflies.

"You guys will be great," Goku encourages. He doesn't feel great about them going and would do anything to go himself but that's not an option under the present circumstances.

Roshi nods. "Goku's right. It's a quick job and then you'll come home, and we can celebrate everyone's return. But yes, we'll give you two some privacy," Roshi winks at Goku less than subtly. "Come on, Krillin," he says as they head toward the door.

"Bye, guys. See y'all tomorrow," Krillin says as they exit.

Goku turns his eyes to Chi-Chi. "You really do look incredible, babe."

She blushes again. How long has it been since they've gotten to flirt with each other? She walks over and gives him a quick kiss. "Thank you, honey. And I'm so glad they finally unbandaged your head. I've been missing that head of hair," she says running her fingers through it.

"Where's Gohan?"

"At Bulma's. We're staying there tonight so we don't have to travel so far tomorrow. Plus, I want to be able to come see you before we leave and we're leaving early. Now," she says getting the capsule out of her bag, "I come bearing gifts."

Goku's eyes pop open. He doesn't have to be bonded with her to know that only means one thing. She opens the capsule and a massive spread of all his favorite foods take over the room. "Chi! You cooked?!" he says excitedly as his mouth waters.

She smiles proudly. "I sure did. I'm a little out of practice so it may not be as good as usual. For the last year I've been cooking venison, boar, rabbit and other game with very few seasonings over an open fire so having my whole kitchen to play with again was a real treat."

Goku pulls her down with his good arm and kisses her. "You're amazing. I'm sure it's perfect." And as predicted, it was. He makes quick work of the meal, so thankful to finally have his wife's cooking again.

"And now for dessert," she says bringing his favorite chocolate peanut butter cake over.

"I'm sure that's great but that's not what I want for dessert," he says caressing her bare arm with the back of his hand.

More blushing. "Goku, don't be silly. Now, eat up." She cuts a small slice for her and gives him the rest of the cake. Okay, maybe there are two things he wants for dessert because this cake is awesome.

Just as they finish up, there's a knock on the door and their favorite night nurse walks in to do her rounds. "Well, if it isn't my favorite patient? How're we doing tonight Goku?"

"Hey, Paula. I'm okay. This is easily the best I've felt in a while."

"I bet this pretty company helps," she winks. "Hey Miss Chi-Chi. How ya doin' honey? Scar healing nicely?"

Chi-Chi gives her favorite nurse a sweet side hug. "Yes ma'am. Goku missed you last night. He said Raul's not as gentle," she teases.

"He wasn't," Goku pouts. "And his hands are all cold and callousy. Yours are soft and warm," he says buttering up the nurse who brings him Jell-o and pudding whenever he asks for it.

"Now, Goku you know I'm a married lady," she jokes making the young couple laugh.

"He's a lucky man," Goku flirts for more treats.

"Nuh uh. I see how much you just ate. You expect me to believe you need more food?"

"Fine," he playfully whines.

"Big date night planned, Chi-Chi?" Paula teases.

"I wish. But I did book our trip to Adventure World today. Three months from now."

"Oh, that little boy is going to be so excited. Be sure and take lots of pictures of those sweet moments," the nurse advises. "Okay, you two have fun and stay out of trouble. Buzz if you need me."

Once she's gone Goku waists no time to pull his wife back down and kisses her hard, even trailing one hand to her breast and squeezing. "Damn, that's even better than I remember."

Chi-Chi catches her breath.

"You're not going to Namek without me marking and bonding with you again."

"Marking?"

"Yeah. That's apparently what it's called when Saiyans mark and bond with their mates. But to my point, you're not leaving the planet without me being able to know what's going on."

"Goku I'm going to be millions of miles away. We could only reach each other from our house to the castle last time."

"I know. And it might not work the whole time, but I'll feel better about it. Apparently if something happened it would make it easier for me to find you. After what happened with Vegeta and Nappa, I'm not taking any chances."

She nods. "So, do you just need to bite me?"

"I guess I could just bite you," he yanks her down again. "But it's gotta be more fun the other way."

Chi-Chi pulls up instantly. "Goku, are you crazy? You can only move your arm. Your whole body is broken. You're covered in cast. Someone could walk in. No. The answer is no."

He picks her up with his good arm and forces her to straddle him not wincing at all. "See, Chi. I'm fine. You know I'm healing fast."

Chi-Chi gives an annoyed growl. She's already lost. She knows that. Hell, she wants it just as bad as he does. But that doesn't mean she isn't going down swinging. He pulls her down for another kiss, this one deeper, then uses the remote of the bed to sit upright with her as much as he can.

"Gah, I've missed your scent," he says breathing her in.

She sighs. "Goku, this is not how our first time is going to be after a year. I had it all planned out. I even bought something new to wear I know you'll love."

"You know I don't care about that." He unbuttons the front of her dress and slides it off her shoulders.

She hugs her torso with her arms knowing how beat up she still looks from the fight, but he shakes his head.

"Let me see, Chi." He hasn't seen her battle wounds yet, only heard about them, and he needs to see them with his own eyes.

"Goku, I look horrible. Can this not wait?"

"I need to see it," he says bluntly.

Chi-Chi slowly lowers her arms.

He cringes internally seeing the bruises and scars on her body, especially her surgery scar right in the middle of her perfect abs just above her belly button. That never should've happened to her. "I'm sorry I didn't get there faster, babe. I'm so sorry."

She leans down and kisses him seeing him get worked up. "Shh, Goku. I'm fine. Everything is fine."

He looks one more time and something stirs in him… that fire that only she makes him feel except this time it's even hotter knowing that she fought… knowing that there isn't another woman on this planet that could've taken a hit like that and walk away. He takes his good arm and runs it up her side before softly exploring her battle wounds with his fingertips. "You're so beautiful, Chi."

She chuckles. "You're the only man in the world that would look at my body right now and say that."

"Maybe, but it's true Chi. I hate that you're hurt but I love that you're so damn strong."

She blushes and melts at his praise causing her to rock on him gently for the smallest moment.

"Don't stop," Goku instructs.

She looks down at his eyes and sees that he's serious. This is happening so she needs to get on board. Happily defeated, she reaches behind herself and starts massaging his length.

Goku pulls her breasts to his face, slides the cups of her bra to the side and takes one in his mouth. He moans feeling her rub harder.

"Am I hurting you, Goku?"

"Chi-Chi, you're as light as a feather. You couldn't hurt me if you tried."

Her whole body rouges as his hand explores her curves and face before he runs his fingers through her hair. "You knew better than to wear your hair down," he playfully scolds. He reaches underneath her and tugs her panties to the side. "I want it, Chi. It's been too long. Give it to me."

Feeling less concerned that she's going to hurt him, Chi-Chi raises her body then lowers herself onto her husband very slowly.

"Oh, fuck," he says tossing his head back against the pillow.

"Did I hurt you?" she panics and stops moving.

"No, Chi. I promise. You can't hurt me. It feels so good. You're so tight."

"It's been a year, Goku," she reminds him as she slides down further. Once she's all the way down she sits still and looks in his eyes. "Hi," she smiles.

"Hey, beautiful," he says pulling her in for a deep kiss. "You're not hurting, are you?"

"No. I… may have taken a small dose of Bulma's crazy pain meds before I came over in preparation. I had a feeling," she smiles.

"Yeah and you wore that dress," he says before he explores her mouth with his. "I love you so much Chi-Chi."

"I love you, too." Adjusted, she begins slowly rocking back and forth and up and down on him.

"Faster, Chi," he orders.

She follows.

He kisses her neck and juggles her breasts with his one hand, giving them both equal attention. "More, Chi."

She moves harder and faster.

"More, Chi!" he howls.

"Yes! Goku! I'm close already!" she cries as she pulls her hair back with her hands.

"Don't stop baby. Ride me, Chi! That's it…" He looks down at her somewhat faded mark and licks, preparing to claim her again.

Chi-Chi twitches her hips on him and leans down to bite the mark she gave him on their honeymoon, partly to mark him again but partly to muffle her screams.

Feeling a rush from her orgasm, Goku roars and bites down hard on his mate and takes back what's his, filling her up.

They sit there for a moment as they come down from their high and close their eyes as they feel their bond connect.

*Mine,* Goku says telepathically.

*Always.*

Nurse Paula was going to knock on the door to bring back some more pudding cups because she can't deny her favorite patient but thought it best that she come back later.

---

Chi-Chi rushes down the hall of the hospital to beat her son and her father to Goku's room. She bursts in without knocking.

"Chi?" Goku asks worried.

"Hey, babe. Listen. Don't have much time but whatever you do, do not make fun of Gohan's hair. I sent him with my father yesterday to get a haircut and of course I think he looks so handsome, but I know you and he hates it and well…"

Knock. Knock.

"Do not say a word!" she whisper-yells before opening the door.

"You know you could've told me this through our bond…" Goku points out.

"Oh… Yeah. Kinda forgot. Again, not a word." She opens the door.

Gohan and the Ox King walk in. Goku's eyes widen in horror and hilarity when he sees his son. He does everything he can to contain his laughter. "Um, hey guys. You're looking… um… sharp Gohan," he says really trying not to snicker.

Chi-Chi glares at her husband. *Don't you dare.*

Gohan can't even look up from the floor.

Chi-Chi squats in front of her son. "Gohan, honey. You look so handsome. Please don't be embarrassed."

Fed up, Gohan rolls his eyes. "Mom. I look like a little baby. It's not just the haircut but you dressed me like a two-year-old."

"What's wrong with the haircut?" Gyu Mao asks truly stumped but is ignored.

Chi-Chi's jaw drops to the floor. "Now you wait just a minute. You look precious. Goku, doesn't he look precious?!" she asks her husband looking for some support.

Goku finally cracks in laughter. "Sorry, Chi but I gotta side with Gohan on this one."

Chi-Chi's cheeks turn bright red in embarrassment and takes another look at her little boy. "I'm sorry, Gohan. Maybe I did dress you a little young. I just haven't gotten to dress you in anything so cute for so long and I wanted your father to see how cute you are before we leave. I guess I did get carried away. You're not my little baby anymore. Our bags are outside. You can change when we get on the ship. Okay?"

Well, damn. Now Goku feels bad. He stops laughing and watches the sweet negotiation between mother and son.

"Okay, Mom. Can we stop on the way and shave my head?"

Gyu Mao throws his hands up. "Again, what is wrong with the haircut?"

Chi-Chi laughs. "Not a chance, little boy. It'll grow back. Now, go tell your father bye."

Goku sits up in his bed. "Okay, punch me as hard as you can," he says holding his palm up.

"Nuh uh, not as hard as you can," Chi-Chi interjects.

Goku winks at Gohan communicating that they're not going to listen to her. Gohan rears back and punches his father who absorbs the blow – not as hard as he can, but it definitely wasn't soft.

"Gah, son. You are strong," Goku says shaking the pain out of his hand. He pulls Gohan onto his bed. "Now, take care of everybody okay? And listen to Mommy. Oh, and I got you these," he says handing Gohan a box with headphones and a CCPod loaded with music. "Okay, well your mom picked'em up for me, but it was my idea. Bulma can get kinda whiny after you've been with her too long. Now, you can tune her out."

"Goku, that's not very nice," Chi-Chi chimes in even though she's very aware of how right he is.

"What? It's just true. Don't tell me you didn't pack your own."

Chi-Chi turns her eyes to the ceiling neither admitting nor denying.

"Thanks, Daddy," Gohan says hugging his father's neck. "I'm gonna miss you."

Goku hugs his son a little tighter than usual. He can't believe he's already going to be away from them again. "Me, too son. But it'll fly by. And I'm pretty sure we have a vacation planned when you get back?"

Gohan's eyes light up. "Yes! Adventure World! We are going to have so much fun. Here!" Gohan reaches into his bookbag and pulls out an Adventure World brochure. "You can have this. I've already circled everything I want to do so now you can too. Mom said we won't leave until we've done everything we wanna do so don't circle stuff I've already circled." He leans forward to whisper in his dad's ear, "You know, so we can stay longer."

Goku nods in agreement on this very serious business. "Understood."

Chi-Chi's eyes water getting to see her boys play together again and seeing her son get to be a kid for a moment. If she could pause this moment and make it last longer, she would.

"Okay, bud. You and Grandpa go outside and wait for Mommy. I need to talk to her for a sec."

Gohan grimaces. "Eew, are you gonna kiss her?"

"What? Me? No way, girls are icky," Goku winks at his wife.

"I know you're lying. I see you kiss Mommy all the time," Gohan refutes.

"Well then you better get out so you don't have to see it again," Goku playfully warns.

Gohan rolls his eyes. "Come on, Grandpa. Trust me, it's the worst."

Gyu Mao waves at Goku. "I'll check on you later son," he says to his son-in-law as they walk out the door.

Chi-Chi walks to her husband's bed and sits beside him. "I hate this," she says bluntly.

"I know. Me too. I should be going with you. Actually, I should be going instead of you."

She shakes her head. "No way. You're not leaving the planet without me or going anywhere without me ever again. Understood?"

Goku smiles a sad smile feeling how anxious she is about being apart. "Whatever you say, Chi." He pulls her chin down and gives her a soft kiss. "I'll miss you. But it'll be interesting to see how far our bond can reach."

She bends down and kisses him even deeper.

"Come home to me, Son Chi-Chi," he says running his fingers through her hair.

She blushes. "That's my line."

"Well that's because I'm usually the one who's leaving. Now it's your turn."

"I suppose so. At least you'll be completely healthy when we get back. Hey, maybe these Dragon Balls will be different and can grant multiple wishes. We could just wish ourselves home instead of having to fly back," she says somewhat hopeful.

"You never know."

They look in each other's eyes one more time before devouring each other's lips in a frantic, needy kiss.

"I love you, Chi."

"I love you, too, Goku. We'll be home as fast as we can."

She walks out of the room and leaves the broken warrior in his bed. If this is how she feels every time he's had to fight, he'll never disregard her concerns ever again.

---

"Sorry for the crazy takeoff everybody but it should be smooth sailing now!" Bulma says as she unbuttons her seatbelt. "You are now free to roam about the cabin," she imitates flight attendants.

"I think I'm gonna be sick," Krillin says running to the lavatory.

Chi-Chi and Gohan go to their shelves and unpack their few belongings. "Gohan, where did you get those?" Chi-Chi asks when she sees him pulling out his purple gis that match Piccolo's.

"Well, I went back out there yesterday."

"To our cave?"

Gohan nods. "Yeah. I got the other clothes Piccolo made for us since ours got so torn."

She should be annoyed that her child went all the way out there without asking but at this point, that's the same as any other kid riding his bicycle in his neighborhood. Instead, Chi-Chi smiles when he hands her one of the orange gis Piccolo made for her. It had clearly been laundered and any tears mended. "Thanks, baby."

Gohan stands up and looks at his reflection in the ship's window. "We're on our way, Piccolo."