Piccolo rejoined the room with ice pouch in hand and leaned close to Gohan gently pressing it to his cheek. "Kid… I don't see you as always needing to be saved."
"But you do have to save me so often." Gohan sighed and grabbed the ice pack to free Piccolo from holding it there but he remained.
"Because I want to." Piccolo replied, his eyes only in Gohan's view and soft in expression. "Don't think you're useless by staying away from conflict. Because the old man is right."
"Tch, old man." Kami chuckled to himself. Hearing Piccolo admit he was right, he considered the moment being had and, more or less satisfied with Gohan's health now, he left the room.
"I'm not at my best when I fear you're in trouble." Piccolo whispered. "I'm unfocused, erratic, and more likely to throw myself between you and whichever foe we're facing. The last of which only causes you more pain and I promised not to do that. I know you want to help and… it means a lot that you'd be willing to step up and help solve any issues. I'm not upset about that. Asking you to stay home wasn't ever because I thought you were weak or unable to help. I just can't bear to see you hurt or worse dead."
"I feel the same while trapped at home thinking about you-" Gohan started but was interrupted by the rest of the fighters returning and pouring into the room. Piccolo was quick to return his hands to himself and stand straight whilst they were busy helping in the wounded.
"We need Senzu please!" Krillin called out, he cradled a broken arm to his chest. Behind him Tien and Yamcha carried a near unconscious Vegeta who was bleeding quite a bit from a head wound. Gohan hastily leapt from the table to make space for him. He kept his eyes away from the scene, trying not to think about how everyone looked in the fight against Vegeta. The smell of blood was already unsettling.
"Mr. Popo is on his way back hopefully with more. I have only a few here." Kami returned to the room with the senzu, hastily feeding one to Vegeta.
"Hey kid!" Yamcha smiled as he spotted Gohan. "What are you doing here?"
Gohan gave a sheepish half smile and rubbed his neck. "Got myself into trouble."
"Are you alright?" Tien asked glancing between Gohan and Piccolo.
"I am now, thank you." Gohan nodded.
"Bruise on your face looks horrid." Yamcha said. "Hope Piccolo showed the guy who gave it to you what for."
"Don't worry, I will." Piccolo muttered as his brow twitched and arms crossed. Gohan lightly kicked him in the back of the leg. Piccolo couldn't help the bold grin as it reminded him of when Gohan was much younger and weaker; in attempts to fight the much larger man he would kick Piccolo's shins. They were no harder than playful taps then when he meant to cause pain. Piccolo wondered how hard they would hit now if Gohan really meant it.
"Shouldn't you be home though?" Krillin asked as he double checked his arm after eating a senzu.
"18 knows the location of their house now. It won't be safe there until after we beat them." Piccolo answered.
"So that's where she went." Tien scrunched his brow. "She left shortly after we arrived declaring we 'weren't worth the time'."
"She has been that way for the last few fights." Yamcha said. "The really weird character was Gero arriving out of nowhere after being absent from all the other bouts. He took one ki shot at Vegeta and instantly removed his ability to function let alone fight."
"Don't let that old man concern for long." Vegeta said as he sat up and adjusted his gloves. "I won't let him get me again. He already had one broken arm, therefore he's not immune to damage."
"It wasn't worth the risk after seeing how fast he took Vegeta out, so we escaped back here." Tien said more to Piccolo and Gohan.
"Gohan found him in Gingertown after everyone there just vanished. His new appearance isn't settling nor is his tail." Piccolo explained "He sucked Gohan's energy dry in just a few seconds with it before I snapped his arm."
Vegeta 'hmph'ed at the last few words. Krillin's face twisted with uncomfortable confusion "With his tail?"
Tien spoke next. "Three attacks in one day. They're elevating it."
"I think Gero's attack was different. Gohan was probably right that something happened to those people, there wasn't evidence that they left normally. Unlike 17 and 18, whom we can barely handle, we don't know Gero's abilities or skills." Piccolo said.
"So they might start really hurting people." Yamcha frowned.
"We're the only one's challenging them this entire time, they might hunt us out now. They know about Goku's house and eventually they figure out this place." Tien said.
"18 is most likely already searching the remains of this town, wondering where she lost Piccolo and Gohan. She had nearly caught them when they arrived." Kami explained.
"What?!" Yamcha exclaimed, he began pulling his hair in anxiousness. Everyone seemed to only tense up at the news.
Then another figure joined the group from the stairs that led to the main floor. Chichi straightened her hair as best she could. "Alright I'm here. Where's my son?"
"Mother." Gohan spoke, stepping forward from Piccolo's side and gave a calm smile. "I'm here, I'm fine."
She rushed to him, glancing for any damage as she yelled. "He flew you through a window and you fell down the stairs!"
"I assure you, Kami looked me over and restored my energy. I don't even have any bad cuts. The bruise on my cheek is all that's wrong and that will heal like it never happened." Gohan explained calmly.
Chichi sighed and thought for a moment. "Alright. Now where's your father? I certainly have an earful for him after taking this long."
Gohan's eyes widened in realization. He looked around the room, everyone else turning away from them, like they held a secret. "I- I don't know actually."
He had just assumed that he was initially out with the others or in a kitchen or something. Maybe he was just in another fight or task. He felt uneasy with how casual he was about Goku's absence even with everyone else around.
"My dear… he's in the other room." Kami said with a somber tone. He walked with Chichi to the door behind Piccolo. "You should prepare yourself. It won't be an easy sight."
Gohan's blood turned cold, freezing still as he watched his mother run into the room. He tried to follow but felt a hand on his chest, Piccolo held him back. He was further disheartened at the sight of Piccolo's face. Jaw clenched as his eyes were turned away, his brow trembling.
Piccolo slowly moved his hand after a moment, deciding that he couldn't really say anything to help. He whispered "I'm sorry."
Gohan hastily went through the door, stopping dead just as soon as he entered. In the middle of the room, a large table held Goku. Pale and still as a corpse. Wires and tubes were attached to Goku's body, the ends of each hooked up to strange devices around him. A glass mask over his face was connected to a much thicker tube than the others as it snaked to a large canister on the floor. Any other scenario, Gohan would have loved to ask about the odd tools and figure them out. Yet the sight of his father halted every thought. I just assumed he was fine… that nothing could hurt him.
He couldn't hear anything said between Kami and Chichi. His mind did make some half of a note about them being in the room with him, but it was like he was alone. He carefully approached Goku's side. Being closer he could see more clearly how Goku's face wasn't rested or peaceful. Half of his expression didn't even match the other though both were of clear pain. It was as if each had frozen at different times; a living statue of torment. Gohan had to force himself to breathe as he gently grabbed Goku's hand. Tears raced down his face as he puzzled over the sensation. It's so firm. I can't even tell if there's blood pumping through it properly.
"Dad?" Gohan's voice was broken and quiet. He was praying for any response, but Goku only continued to twitch subtly as his body struggled through his unnatural condition.
"Make it work! It's healed worse things than this!" Chichi screamed desperately at Kami. She gripped her skirts as she fought the urge to cry. "You said it saved Gohan when he was-!"
"It's not the same." Kami explained patiently. "This isn't an injury the senzu can heal. Miss Briefs described it more like a disease."
Chichi choked on a sob for a second. "Th-then… the dragon balls!"
"We're already collecting them." Kami nodded. "Yajirobe and Oolong have four currently."
Chichi quieted and approving the path of action, gave a short nod. Kami continued speaking in her silence. "We're keeping him as comfortable as we can until they're all gathered. Miss Briefs has equipped him with every technological convenience and device and is working daily to discover anything medically to help."
"He doesn't look comforted to me." Gohan finally managed to speak up through gritted teeth.
"Whatever it is, is slowly paralyzing his body. The pain you see is what he had been through before we could get him here. It was a while longer before we brought Miss Briefs to see him." Kami replied.
Chichi stood next to Gohan, resting her hand over his over Goku's. She gave him a sad look before turning to her husband. She leaned down and kissed Goku's cheek, letting out a hurt whisper. "My Goku."
Gohan rested his elbows on the table and covered his head with his arms. It was impossible to imagine his father even casually hurt or bleeding let alone the state he was in now. Seeing it broke something in him. He had tried to be strong and dependable, but he felt like a small child again. Without his father to help and his life in danger again.
He cursed how familiar that feeling was.
Time either stopped working or lost all meaning during the time Gohan was in that room. It felt like forever had passed and yet also barely any time at all. He quietly left, glancing around to see that everyone had more or less dispersed to other rooms and activities. Piccolo though, remained by the door with his back to it like he guarded it. Gohan could practically taste the guilt rolling off of Piccolo in waves.
Thinking about it, he wanted to be angry; at least a little. He knew it was impossible even if his body had the energy left to feel it, he could never be truly mad at Piccolo. He understood too well why Piccolo did the things he did. Even if he did manage to be angry, he had already been given his apology.
Knowing no one would witness him, Gohan grabbed the back of Piccolo's gi and buried his face. He felt Piccolo tense before relaxing again. He waited to see if Piccolo would speak first but nothing could be heard. "You lied to me. You said everyone was fine… that everyone was safe."
"I did." Piccolo softly replied. Gohan could feel his voice rumble through his chest. "I'm sorry."
Gohan tried to respond but words were dry in his throat. He pressed harder into Piccolo, his sore eyes trying to cry more despite how empty a well Gohan had become.