Chapter 7: Emergency

A/N: Quick Q&A. Super98: just read further.
Vegito: I would assume there would be more conflict between the two of them considering hes know far too many adults and thrust into adult situations, given the mantle of world savior would cause issues in house and home. Though on another part I don't forsee Chi-Chi ever remarrying, dating and being around probably, but thats just my personal interpretation of it, but not something that I didn't think of or change my mind about later.

Iwik: There'll be a reason trust me.
Vukk: Why the age, in the cell Saga Piccolo yelled at Goku scared eleven year old boy, just doing the birth following that i'd assume gohan would be 12. If i recall Trunks was 7 and Goten 6 in the World tournament. But correct me if i'm wrong.

Sorry just wanted to address a few things before I drop the hammer in this chapter.

"Hey, brain wonder!" Sharpener's voice cut through Gohan's normal peaceful moments, peering up from his textooks as the blond jock came over. As it was last period there was little for Gohan to do as he wound down for the day. Mostly being given a tutor position considering teachers at this point didn't bother giving Gohan much actual class work due to his already stellar numbers.

Maintaining a positive 100% score for two consecutive years in every single class bore some sort of perks now and then. So Gohan was in the adjoined study hall attached to the library, a little time for him to get some peace and quiet. But apparently he wasn't immune to Sharpner, who had snuck out of class, or at least Gohan assumed so.

"What can I do for you, Sharpner?" Gohan asked, pushing aside his textbook as a sign in the sheet attached to the clipboard sat on the other side of him.

The blond rolled his eyes, "Can't you just say 'sup dude? You act way too formal and dweebish." Leave it up to Gohan to talk like a friggin secretary in highschool, he can't imagine that the guy wasn't embarrassed about it.

"Sorry, so what do you want, uh, dude?" Gohan laughed, scratching the back of his head awkwardly.

"You're hopeless, but anyway. I need a small favor, well not really me but for my sister."

Sharpner had heard the rumors being spread around, and while he was annoyed at them he'd confronted Erasa about them and she denied it just saying she and Gohan were good friends and that he was being overly petty to just believe high school gossip. He didn't tell her that his source was his own sister and also a slightly more important topic that his big sis wanted Gohan herself. So he was a bit apprehensive about trusting her without taking into consideration the obvious who is benefitting who scenario.

He may be blond and a jock but he knew a setup if he smelled one, and regarding his sister who always seemed to like playing high school as if it were chess. Though this just worked way too well in her favor, and Sharpner had come to respect the other teen. Even if he was a dweeb, the guy had a good heart and it was hard to find faults with someone who was selfless while he himself had been quite a selfish person and given the guy nothing but trouble even after everything that had occured between them.

Even still it didn't hurt to take a little precaution or two. If his sis was wrong then there was no egg on his face, if his sis was right no one had to know and he could win back Erasa and stick Gohan with his big sister. Whether that was truly a positive was yet to be seen, but Sharpner had always had major hots for Erasa and the only real girl he'd tried putting his moves on.

Playing on his own inadequacies had been his big sis's gameplan and he knew she was playing with him on that aspect. But Gohan was too nice of a guy to be doing exactly what he'd told him not to do. I mean, Gohan is way too nice to go for a girl like Erasa and why would she want a book nerd. He isn't confident like I am or willing to do whatever it takes to make you my girlfriend.'

"You have a sister?" Gohan was surprised.

"Of course I do, she's the prom queen, the head cheerleader, and girl's volleyball captain. Sheesh, man, how do you not know that? Keena Banks and my last name is banks . How do you not make the association and third, my sister's a freaking amazon' how do you miss her?"

Gohan had to downplay that he really didn't know. "I go right to class, I guess I just don't ever notice her, and she's a senior so I don't have any classes with her, and it's not like you mention her."

"Well I do, and guess what she's studying for her SAT's and since you are Mr. Freaking Perfect Scores, I need you to fill in my sister for your tutoring hours. She's got aspirations of going division one schools but she needs about fifty more points to get into the bracket." The later part was true enough. "You turned Erasa into practically an all B student by raising her grades over ten percent, so I don't think it would be too hard for you to give my sister a hand now would you?"

The demi saiyan released a sigh on the inside. He was a little worried that he'd be setting him up with his sister, but if it was for grades then it wasn't a problem. That he understood easily. "Well what hours does she want?"

"Do I look like her secretary?"

"No, but you came here to ask me, I thought you'd know when she'd need help." Gohan said in response giving him a look back showing: 'You came to me'

"I'd assume since she has eighth period study hall she could come today and work that out with you. But I need you to agree as a favor, and I know that you have trouble around girls so consider this an early message that she'll be stopping by cause you'll agree, right?"

He really didn't have any reasons to refuse, but there was a slight concern. "Why me? I mean wouldn't she use the other senior tutor?"

"I suggested it." He lied, "Most of the school knows about how good you are in every subject and since I want my sister out of my hair this is a win win for me. My sister goes on to college sooner, you get to do your thing with helping chicks get better grades and I get some peace and quiet. So all around everyone comes out on top." He stopped and then put a hand out to Gohan. "So, you gonna do me a solid for my sis?"

"I mean sure, if she needs help but aren't the SAT's months away?" Gohan reached out and shook Sharpner's hand, agreeing already to help Keena.

"Is this really coming from the guy who is three chapters ahead on every subject? You're telling someone else that they are prepping too early?"

"Fair enough, dude. Fair enough." Gohan conceded that fact as Sharpener just released a laugh.

"Now you be nice to my big sis, cause she'll raise hell if you treat her wrong." The younger brother warned. Gohan nodded, "Maybe if you help her out enough she'll invite you to the senior dance in a month. Get yourself prom king and a date with the best girl in school, besides my girl Erasa." Sharpner said, giving himself a thumbs up and still playing the card to see the other guy's reaction.

Gohan just blushed. "N-No I'm fine. I don't need any of that." I already have a girlfriend and it's the one you think is yours.'

"Alright, solid dude. Catch yah later." Waving as he walked away, not casting another glance backwards. The door closed behind him and Sharpner slipped out his phone to send his sister that her little scheme was good to go ahead.

He hadn't felt different after talking to Gohan, the guy was pretty much on the up and up and even if nothing came of it he can feign ignorance by just doing as he was asked. In his mind he was the only innocent party as Erasa could be cheating on him with Gohan, but he doubted Gohan was the kind of guy to do that to him.

It was maybe thirty minutes later the bells had rang and Gohan attempted to read the upcoming texts, but found it becoming a struggle to keep his usual ironclad focus as another girl appeared to be coming into his life. Didn't he have enough? Going to his phone Gohan could see a series of selfies sent by Erasa for him with Videl. It always brightened his day to have a little peace that he got from someone else as the tension back at home wasn't getting any better.

Paris didn't speak to him, which was fine enough by him, but her presence only wore more and more on his nerves. She seemed to be becoming exceptionally skittish and paranoid around him, not that he was entirely blameless for that. But whatever her nerves issues were, Gohan had no remorse for her. His brother was always his priority.

Slipping his phone back into his pants pocket Gohan then felt a presence. Mostly because its ki signature was one like Videl's, though she was probably the strongest presence actually in school, for a human anyway. But this one had a little bit of spunk in it as well. Gohan looked up as the door was pushed open and in walked the CLIQ leader, though that information wasn't privy to him. Wearing basketball shorts and a full size t-shirt that exposed portions of her midriff when she stretched. Her blonde hair whipped up into a bun ponytail.

'Well I guess she has gym for the seventh period.' It was the only logical reason why she was wearing so little. But Gohan maintained his composure, for the most part, greeting her with a hello.

"Thanks so much for helping a girl out. I know my little brother asked you and all but it really, really means a lot to me." She said, shaking Gohan's hand which he offered. Gohan just laughed, missing the scrutiny of the blonde who felt the other teen's hand. It was soft but firm and there was no pasty or dryness either. 'Not a shut in? Well that's a plus' Having already given him a markup for his non limp wristed handshake either. Coming around she took a seat 'close' to him, but she didn't jump in his lap yet.

Him being unaware of the reason for her visit set out several sets of questions from previous SATs from guides and study books that the library kept. Explaining what he had made for her, Gohan's persona of student to educator flipped, pushing each one of the tests in front of her a short mess of five questions each one varying in difficulty to properly assess how well his tutoring student was along. The questions of Math, Science, and English were all commonplace, and ignoring the writing and history portions that were less formulaic and more rehearsal memory, Gohan thought this would be a good start.

"So which subject would you like to pursue first?" Putting it up to her.

"I don't know, I'm not really great with either of them, why don't you pick for me?" Keena said, her voice just a little sweet as she gave Gohan a brilliant smile. 'Definitely cute, that nice angled chin and that long black hair is just yum, he can have that total bad boy look but he's also smart and super kind. Plus he's not a jock which I can't stand.' Already she was ready to start passing out a score for the young teen tutor.

"Well, Math is a good problem solving exercise and gives people the most trouble, let's start with this one first."

"So are you going to help me with these or do you want me to do them myself?"

"You can do them yourself, if you get them wrong we'll go back over them." He assured her.

"And you really know all of this?" She said, curiously leaning forward from her chair just enough to tease the very top of her t-shirt showing off her female curves. As her bra was visible from their current position. Wanting the boy to start getting some subtle hints was key, while she had a pretty good suspicsion that he wasn't gay, she didn't want to have her mid senior year be marred by her trying to pick up a guy batting for the other team. That would be really embarrassing, but she could slide in that question later.

"Yeah I got a perfect score on the practice SAT test online, we can do one of those pre and post tutoring to see your progress since you're shooting for a high 1300 plus score, right?"

She blinked, "Wow really? You're that smart or are you teasing me?" Bringing a hand up she squeezed her fingers around his bicep playfully.

Scratching his head Gohan nodded, "Yeah, I'm really good at tests everyone says."

"No doubt, well I think this will be a huge benefit for both of us and if you can get me over a fourteen hundred I promise I'll have a surprise that will leave you breathless." Laying a quick flirt on the table, she saw the way Gohan's cheeks flamed up, 'bingo'. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding," She said, waving him off, though that was a lie, "You are too cute Gohan." Playing it off as a joke and something the teen was already used to with Erasa, Gohan let it slide, clearing his throat and letting Keena take the tests. Remaining quiet as she worked diligently.

About twenty minutes later she pushed the test in front of him, having actually tried to do most of it herself she had given up totally on one problem. "Here, this is the best I can do."

Gohan pulled over the test quickly scoring her answers. "Ehh, well you got two right." He admitted looking up to see her face pout. "But that's not a problem, we can start working on it and go from there. If you hadn't gotten any right I'd be worried but there's a place where we can begin." Doing his best to sound reassuring he touched her shoulder much like how his father and mother had done for him, "Trust me you'll be-"

The door to the office was almost thrown open and Gohan practically jumped out of his chair.

Standing in the doorway wearing a disinterested scowl and training clothes was none other than- "Vegeta-! H-Hey what are you-"

The prince's glare looked over Gohan studying him ignoring the drivel that the first son of Kakarot was giving him. The mere fact that he'd had to come to this hormonal infested hell was not on his shoulders but of the endless bitching of Bulma. First she wanted to get married, then she wanted him to start potty training Trunks, then she wanted him to smile in pictures, now he needed to go play Dad for Gohan because of Kakarot's woman needing help since the idiot had stayed dead. Was there no end to the shit she made him do? If it weren't for that tongue of hers able to perform miracles he'd rip the damn thing from her mouth if it would get her to shut up.

But he was here now and smelling the fucking horny teenage girl next to Gohan. He wondered if he should just tell the boy to fuck her and then get on to whatever problems he was having. A good lay often solved the basic problems first and then he could work his way up. But he also didn't want Kakarot's genes to keep spreading so he shot that one down.

"I don't-" Whatever he was saying Vegeta came back into he immediately ignored. "Shut up boy and follow me, and do not make me have to tell you twice." He interrupted.

"But Vegeta I just can't leave school. I still-"

"Is that a challenge, boy?" His face pressing into a hard mask, "Are you telling me, Prince Vegeta, that I have to obey stupid rules from an Earthling school? Well if so, we should probably have a proper debate about that then shouldn't we?" Vegeta brought up one gloved fist and cracked his knuckles.

"N-No No! I'm right behind you-" He said hastily sensing the growing hostility would benefit no one, and Vegeta was not the person he wanted to piss off, ever. "Keena sorry but I have to-"

"NOW-!" Vegeta snarled, turning and walking away, he'd not be stuck in this irritating hell hole any longer! Crossing his arms over his chest, Vegeta strode back out the way he came as Gohan hurriedly followed after him leaving one very confused blonde who just saw a jaw dropper of a man come waltzing into school and take Gohan out? She wished she would've come here sooner, but wait- Gohan had actually left leaving her behind?

Vegeta marched through the hallways pushing open the doors to one of the side entrances as Gohan was right behind him. A slight grunt of approval from the prince and he took off blasting into the air with a huge burst of speed, he did not care if any humans saw him. Married to Bulma Briefs meant most people didn't bother him, but he wouldn't have to be here if it wasn't for said wench either. 'Humans, they're so aggravating.'

Gohan quickly phased from sight jumping up enough before flying after Vegeta, not sure why'd he'd even be here, but he had to follow along. There would be more chaos in school by refusing and if he dipped out a few minutes early he could probably explain a family emergency. Picturing Vegeta going to the front desk and signing him out, chances were less than hell freezing over and Vegeta turning over a new leaf on life at the same time.

But their destination was somewhere not forgotten, traveling at a good pace Vegeta and Gohan reached the area where Gohan had killed Cell. Where Gohan's life as a young boy ended and he was forced to become a man all when he was only eleven. Quite the heroic tale if it didn't end the way that it had.

"Vegeta?" Gohan asked slightly perspiring from the effort he'd put himself through just keeping pace with the prince, who didn't seem affected in the least, but Gohan attributed more that being Vegeta than anything else.

"This will do," he said to himself, "Gohan, do you have any idea why I would be here in the first place?"

He had one guess. "Because Bulma said something to you?" Gohan watched Vegeta's head slowly rotate back towards him, all the years of being a cold and ruthless killer were showing off in spades as Gohan regretted even opening his mouth.

"Because you took a blast for me that might've killed me I'll ignore that stupid remark boy, but you've used up your one gratituty from me already so don't say something so utterly stupid like your father would." Snorting, Vegeta gave him another disgusted look. "Gohan, out of the sliver of respect I have for you - which is saying alot - I have to ask: what the fuck is wrong with you?"

"What?" Here I thought Vegeta and I were going to have a conversation about something, but it's Vegeta. Did I ask for a poet?

"You killed Cell, you surpassed me for but a few moments, your own clown of a father, my son and all of the other weaklings here. You accomplished something that no one else will be able to do for dozens of millenia, so what hardships can you possibly be going through that warrant your mother calling my wench to tell me to have a 'fatherly chat' with you when I'm not even remotely close to the third class that spawned you?"

'Can't it ever be easy? Seriously, did mom tell Bulma to tell Vegeta of all people to come have a talk with me? We're the furthest things from each other.'

"You don't seem to be moving your lips, boy, Are you going to speak or not?" Vegeta already used up his patience going to that fucking school and now when he was here doing the one good deed for the day, in making sure that he got laid for the foreseeable future, the fucking spawn of Kakarot wasn't even talking. Was five seconds not enough? "Son of Kakarot, start fucking talking about what the problem is now!"

"I don't fucking know!" Gohan shouted back, a rush of pent up stress flooding out, not used to being talked down to, and especially by Vegeta who managed to be both condescending, mocking, and impatient like it was an artform. Bringing his hand to his head, "There isn't any problem with me, the problem is with everyone else." Who thought this was a good idea? What sense did any of this make, Vegeta was barely a father to Trunks on the few times he'd seen him and on top of that he didn't even have a real high opinion of Mirai until he died.

The last person that should be out here having a lecture with him or giving a heart to heart should be Vegeta. Someone who slaughtered billions of lives, destroyed planets and maintained a sick level of enjoyment in brutality. Old memories of how Vegeta nearly killed his father, beat him up on Namek and threatened his life on more than one occasion were not so easily forgotten.

Vegeta snorted, "Then why am I out here? Why do I have to play father to a boy that isn't even mine and acting like his Earthling existence is difficult. You don't have the faintest inkling as to what true hardship is." He felt Gohan's ki rise up, 'There it is.' If he was going to be dragged into this he might as well get his own stress relief. So being the colossal prick that he was - and proud of - he pushed just that little bit more. "What's the matter, boy, do I need to call your damn mommy out here?"

The switch was flipped, Gohan striking out at Vegeta with a cross, the prince's forearm already deflecting it, and before the teen could hope to block Vegeta smashed his face with his own hook. It dazed him, and the sting of pain that he hadn't felt in years from a hard punch ignited something inside of him. His hair flashed gold and Vegeta did the same. The pleased smirk on his face as Gohan released a yell and threw a flurry of punches at Vegeta. They weren't aiming to kill him but to make him hurt.

Glancing off of his forearms, Vegeta kept up a solid guard. Letting the teen wear out some of that adrenaline. Feeling a little bit of a rush himself, the prince couldn't recall the last time he'd faced a real opponent.

Gohan dropped a heel kick onto Vegeta's shoulder knocking him slightly off balance but it wasn't enough. The prince had Gohan now sitting wide open his leg in the air, a quick five cut combination made the teen gag and clutch as his stomach.

But there was to be no mercy, grabbing Gohan's forehead he drove his knee straight into it. Rolling end over end several times. Gohan could taste the iron on his lips as blood now flowed from his injured face. Growling, the demi saiyan clenched his fists tightly getting back up, grabbing the top of his once fine dress shirt and tore it off. "I'm not going to hold back Vegeta, since you want to piss me off, fine!" Focusing Gohan reached into that old well of untapped power and with a crash of lightning shooting up and around him his body quickly ascended.

"Good, I was getting bored seeing how soft you've gotten. But I guess that's another good reason your father stayed dead; he wouldn't have to see how weak you are now."

Vegeta powered up as Gohan reached him with frightening speed, the two of them beginning to start slugging with unrepentant rage, one from being called out and using the sour point of his father's abandonment of him. While the other got some revenge against the man's son whom he'd never had the chance to fight with, so leaving him to settle his debts with his son.

"Come on, for how strong you were against Cell you really have let yourself go!" Taunting the younger fighter, "No wonder you've become so pathetic, you aren't even a warrior anymore. Nothing but a pitiful disgrace."

His words were biting into Gohan's mental focus, and despite knowing that the prince was intentionally working him up, he was already pissed off that he just simply didn't care.

"Like you would understand Vegeta!" Catching the prince's arm with both of his fists before swinging him up and over, driving Vegeta's blond hair head first into the ground. "You don't know me at all. You don't know everything that I've gone through!"

Vegeta pushed himself from the ground sweeping out of one Gohan's legs causing him to fall backwards, using Gohan's outstretched arm as a way of wrapping up his wrist in a hard armbar, and then without a hint of restraint began to wrench hard on the younger saiyans arm.

Biting down hard, Gohan's teeth grinded over each other as he resisted Vegeta's attempt to break his arm, rolling over him to push him off but Vegeta rolled through and kept him pinned and unable to just brute force his way out of the hold.

"The only thing that I know, boy, is that I had it far worse than you and you get a little butt hurt because your daddy isn't here isn't anything fucking new!" Vegeta could hear Gohan grunting as he pulled tighter on his extended limb. "My father handed me over to Frieza when I was young, my father abandoned me! You, your third class father at least had the decency to blow himself up for you unlike my own."

The image of his father's great sacrifice, caused by his own ignorance, made Gohan roar and charge a blast of ki with one arm. Throwing it right at Vegeta's leg. He'd either have to let go or possibly lose a limb.

He released just as the ki scorched his training pants. "I grew up in hell, boy, I know what pure misery is, and you moping around because you don't have a father, or your hawk-like mom isn't around to say she loves you and that she cares about you, it's all sentimental human piss and pales in comparison to true hardship!"

They clashed again, Vegeta and Gohan locking fists both of them nearly the same height with Gohan edging him out by an inch or two. Their heels broke through the soft surface digging deep into the rocks below as the other tried to force another to submit by sheer force and willpower.

"It doesn't mean I wanted this life. I didn't ask to become the world's savior, I also don't need advice from a no good bastard like you!" Gohan buckled Vegeta's arms and tossed him upright before landing two savage blows to the gut. The second connected and rounded Vegeta overtop of him and slammed him straight back into the ground. Allowing the teen to throw down some heavy blows into the saiyan's chest. "You didn't even save your wife and son from Gero." He slammed him hard in the face with a front strike before backhanding him. "You hit Trunks when all he wanted was for you to stop and plan out their next move. You couldn't even give a shit until your son had a hole through his chest." Vegeta's face was repeatedly hammered by four more blows. "Like you're one to talk about knowing what it is to have a father let alone BE ONE!"

The last blow was stopped by a strong grip. "You weren't brought up a monster, boy." Vegeta spat fresh blood from his mouth onto the ground. "I was raised to be emotionless, to care for no one but myself. Unlike you and your pretty little world where you had everything!" Slamming a flat palm against Gohan's chest. "BIG BANG-!"

Gohan exploded up into the air littered with fresh cuts and burn marks as he landed over fifty meters from Vegeta who rubbed his face with the back of his gloved hand. "You stand over there with once power unmatched, you fought me as a child, you battled the Ginyu force, Frieza, the Androids, Cell and what you find difficult is not having a fucking daddy and mommy around? Hah, what a joke."

Slamming his fists into the ground, Gohan tore himself back to his feet and charged Vegeta. The two of them swinging for the stars and both connected with a tsunami equivalent of force. Both parties were flung backwards, but the impact of being hit in the head was momentary. Jumping back, Gohan slugged Vegeta's shoulder to be kicked in the ribs. He countered with an elbow to the jaw, and met with a knee to the chin. Stumbling backwards, Gohan was hit again with another direct kick square to the gut.

"Don't think you have anything to say to me, boy! Learn what it's like to experience hardship when you have these-!" Grabbing his own shirt Vegeta ripped apart the blue tank top. A source of both pride but also a brutal reminder of who he once was. The numerous scars he bore across his body, some small marks, others jagged cuts, many older but there were still quite a few that weren't so well aged as the others. "You've never had the meat from your bones ready to slop off after a beating, you've never had to bite down so hard on your own tongue to prevent yourself from swallowing it. So keep your pitiful dreary life story to yourself."

It was a rough sight to behold, but Gohan wasn't going to roll over and start groveling before anyone, especially a man like Vegeta. "I never said my life was harder, Vegeta, but it doesn't mean I can just pretend everything is okay. My father left me behind, I barely know my own mother, and for two years I practically raised Goten by myself! I became a fighter at half your age, and I spend every moment still trying to make everyone happy. I'm not sociable, I know more about textbooks than about basic human interaction and no matter what I do I'm wrong and spend everyone fucking minute second guessing myself! Me! The person who saved the whole Kami damn planet before I was even an adult!" Gohan's voice almost cracked, "I just want to have my family back, I want my father to be there and stop living it up on the other world, I don't want to become Goten's father figure, I want to be his brother and most of all I just want to be able to see my mother again. I just want a family that I recognize, I don't want the stupid nanny or the luxuries that we now own. That's all I want!" Throwing his hands down to his sides Gohan unleashed a burst of ki as blue sparks rippled up and down his body, the very energy shaking the ground slowly before huge sections of rock and dirt ripped upwards. "Why is that so much to ask for!"

A hard smack connected, sending Gohan sprawling onto the ground. It wasn't something to bring pain, but sense back to the recipient. Vegeta was standing over him again. The prince's teal eyes masked his emotions but he did not lash out further. "Stop living in your past, Gohan. The world changes and as a saiyan we do not run from a challenge, we stand up to it, we fight it. Just like when I came here to Earth and decided to stay…" Vegeta's teal eyes faded to black, he powered down and then a miracle occured before Gohan's eyes.

His hand reached down allowing Gohan to grasp it and pull himself up and to his feet. Losing his own golden transformation, Gohan was shocked silent. Still grasping his arm, Vegeta leaned in ever slightly. "Don't ever make me do this again."

The prince of all saiyans had reached out a hand, to him, to help him. Vegeta had done something for teenage Gohan. It might not be conventional or even legal. But Vegeta in his own strange way was there for him.

And it was more than Gohan could say about Goku.

Releasing his hand, Gohan felt the exhaustion flood his body. The rush of a hard fight, one he hadn't had in years had taken quite the toll on him. Despite parts of his body hurting, joints aching, sweat covered, and exhausted, he felt a lot better. Piccolo had helped calm him down before, but Vegeta had gotten him to let loose. Not to keep holding onto everything that was bottled up inside and let it all hang out for the world to see.

Vegeta was probably the closest person to being able to understand him. Piccolo could somewhat but Vegeta was a saiyan who dealt with hardships. Piccolo was a Namekian and had a completely different perspective on life, and trying to grasp human and saiyan ideas were probably not going to work very well with him.

"Hnn," it was all the prince said now cracking his neck, "You're getting rusty boy.'' It was about as nice of a hint that he was willing to give to Gohan about pursuing further training.

"Yeah, being a fulltime student and teacher takes a lot of my regular time and whatever else I do spend with Goten and try and do some training it never amounts to much."

"I can tell," But that seemingly was all the prince had to say on the matter. He'd come out here and done what was asked of him. It was up to Gohan to decide on what he would need to do with it. With their come to terms moment now over Vegeta departed without even looking back. Keeping his mask together, the saiyan prince would still admit that Gohan was a formidable challenge, but he wouldn't be forever.

But what little of Gohan's better outlook was quickly shattered.

He'd arrived home twenty minutes later, milking his flight a little bit as he wasn't ready to explain this all to Paris and he was hoping that the school wouldn't go crazy considering he'd basically left without any sort of permission. That said, it was Vegeta, disaster incarnate.

It was roughly five in the afternoon and when Gohan showed up he could tell that something was off. The penthouse was disheveled, not the usual experience when the nanny was supposed to be around, but also that said nanny and little brother were not there.

His phone was still back at school in his locker, figuring it was too late to go back now and get it and just go home. There wasn't any he really needed it for anyway, but he figured he'd make a call to his mom and see if she knew what was up.

Dialing the number, Gohan fished out a back of frozen vegetables from the freezer to put on one of the lumps on his forehead. The number rang twice before it picked up. "Hey Mo-"

"GOHAN!" The voice shouted, hysterics weren't usual. "Gohan, Kami, where have you been, are you with Paris? Is everything okay?"

'Okay?' Shaking his head, "Mom, what are you talking about I just got home, I was with Vegeta and-"

A wail of frustration escaped. "No, no, no, why today, why freaking today?!" Chi-Chi's breathing was hyperventilating.

"Mom, what's going on, tell me?" He said, becoming more and more worried. His mother didn't get panicked for anything and hearing her like this now was making Gohan fearful. Gohan couldn't believe it… he practically exploded from the penthouse. Not caring if anyone saw him flying or not. He burst back into his ascended state and shot over the city. His entire focus on finding Goten as he was currently in the hospital suffering from an overdose.

The staff inside weren't ready for the tornado that whipped itself up outside as Gohan's entire body snapped to halt and he rushed inside of the emergency entrance. "Where's my brother?!" He shouted, garnering the attention of both hospital staff and security, an irate man screaming with no shirt on inside a hospital would be a mild cause for alarm.

"Sir, this is a hos-"

"Where's Son Goten. Where's my baby brother?" Gohan grabbed the practitioner by the arm looking square into her eyes with his flaming teal ones. It startled the woman who let out a slight shriek breaking Gohan's grip momentarily, the strength of his hands and fury in the flaring out from his eyes terrified her. Security rushed over as the teen backed off holding up his hands.

Taking a moment the staff, security, and Gohan all took a quick breath.

"Sir, ah," The spike of adrenaline was still coursing in her veins. "Sir, you need to calm down."

"S-Sorry, Sorry." Still sweating, Gohan's aura decreased and the parties relaxed. It wasn't the first time someone came rushing in here, but it was by no means something they enjoyed. "Son Goten, my baby brother. He's three years old and my mom said they brought him here."

With cooler heads able to take a moment and begin processing things more rationally they directed Gohan to the pediatric unit. Gohan was led back by a nurse to a fortunately empty glass room. A picture of a dancing starfish and sponge was on the cutout for the room as the sliding glass door was opened up.

What he saw made the monitors flicker as his emotions spiked. The nurse turned, "Please, sir, we-" But Gohan wasn't there. Blinking, she then looked back and saw that Gohan was already next to the bedside. His hand brushing his little brother's head. A small child IV line was in his wrist and a small oxygen line was running up to his nose as he slept.

"Goten-!" Gohan's fingers curled overtop of his brother's head, making the line and brushing back the hair from his forehead. "Why isn't he awake?"

Still partially baffled by Gohan's disappearing act, the nurse came over. "Sir, he's been given Narcan which helps limit the effects of the opiates he ingested, we already pumped his stomach earlier with charcoal and that was… well unexpected."

"Unexpected? What do you mean, is he dying is he-!" Panic flaring up just like his blond hair.

"No-No, he's recovering right now. It's just that your brother had so much packed into his stomach we were originally concerned that he may have a blockage." Unknowingly getting a half saiyan to puke up what was the equivalent of five full course meals by forcing charcoal down his stomach to counteract the poison was the only real option at the time. But no one was ready for the literal torrent of puke that the small boy was vomiting out from his body. He filled up an entire trash bag for a regular sized garbage can all the while crying and screaming once he had been revitalized with Narcan. They had already given him the charcoal before waking him up considering his age. "He's doing fine now, it's just the lingering effects of the opium in his bloodstream just making him remain asleep. But his heart rate is a little elevated and his temperature is hotter than we'd like, but right now we're not seeing anything that warrants greater concern."

Gohan shook his head looking back at his brother, shame filling him for letting this happen. He knew Paris was no good to be looking after Goten, if he was at home none of this would be happening! "Where's the woman who brought her here?" Gohan asked, his malice struggling to be concealed.

The nurse shook her head, "Sorry, I know the police came and spoke with her but I haven't seen her since then."

Well that was only half a question answered but Gohan just turned his attention back to his unconcious little brother. "Is there anything else I can answer or help you with, sir?"

Gohan shook his head before pausing. "Do you have a phone I can use?"

"Sure, there's one right beside the bed."

He spotted it and Gohan nodded, "Thanks." With that the nurse left Gohan to his privacy, grabbing the phone he dialed one number right away. It rang a few times before it was picked up.

"Kame Residence, happily married man Krillin at your service." The voice on the other end said way too loudly and clearly to not be sarcastic.

"Krillin, it's Gohan."

"Gohan? Hey what's going on, haven't heard from you what-"

"Krillin, I need you to get Dende to West City General as soon as possible, I can't leave right now so I need a huge favor from you."

"Whoa, is everything okay, Gohan? Are you hurt or-"

"No," Gohan cut him off, "Goten was exposed to some opiates and apparently ate them, I need Dende here to heal him. Please Krillin, as a huge favor for me or my dad I can't leave and my mom isn't here yet."

"Say no more dude, I'll-" The phone was picked up by another party. "I heard, I'll do it. I'm faster than Krillin." Shockingly it was Eighteen. A muffled Krillin protested. "Babe, you're two months pregnant you shouldn't be-" "I can fly faster than you plus I'm an android. You go check in on Gohan."

"Thank you." Gohan said, smiling, a fresh batch of tears in his eyes as even an android was jumping up to help him. A huge relief.

"It's not a problem. You'll just owe me a favor of my choosing later." She said before clicking off the phone.

Smiling slightly, Gohan wiped his eyes before resting his head down on the side of the bed. Uncomfortable as it was, the older brother didn't care at this point. For all his mistakes, he didn't want to see Goten like this and he hoped that either Dende or if needed senzu beans could repair any permanent damage.

Staying on his knees, Gohan just laid his head down beside his brother's and waited while his hand held onto the small one. The annoying beep and squeals of hospital chairs, the prattling of nurses were drowned out by the heartbeat Gohan focused all of his attention on. Swearing to himself that he'd never let a mistake like this happen again.

I did say hammer

R&R