Mended 9
Several days had passed since Zarbons tearful admission. Dodoria expected things to be hell, but to his surprise, everything seemed fine. When he'd returned that morning, Zarbon seemed calm, well presented… not drunk… he'd told Dodoria he didn't feel able to talk to him yet, Dodoria accepted this and gave the other man space.
Over the next few days Zarbon appeared to be as he always was- busy with work and in control. Dodoria kept an eye out to check for signs of drink or drug use, but Zarbon seemed to be coping surprisingly well. The only thing Dodoria had picked up on was that during their training matches Zarbon put in a very low effort, but he dismissed that as the other man feeling slighted for him rejecting his advances.
Little did Dodoria know it was the calm before the storm.
It was a week later that there was one of those annoying niggles in the back of Dodorias mind- Zarbon had totally ghosted him the entire day, but he ignored it, putting it down to Zarbon just being difficult. He continued to ignore it until well into the evening… until it got to the point that he realised he wasn't going to have any peace until he'd shut it up by confirming there was nothing wrong.
He buzzed Zarbons scouter but as it automatically connected he could only hear water running and got no other reply.
Annoyed, he made his way down to Zarbons room. Not feeling like they were on well enough terms for him just to walk in, he knocked and waited. After there was no answer he begrudgingly typed in the key code. INVALID COLD. He'd changed it…
He lumbered to the control room, booting up the necessary computers until finally he got into the system and disabled Zarbons door code completly. Walking back to his room, Dodoria gave him the chance to answer again and buzzed his scouter- the only sound was still running water.
Dodoria frowned, it had been close to an hour since he'd last called… why was there still a sound of running water?
Quickening his pace, Dodoria reached Zarbons quarters with an uneasy feeling in his gut. Letting himself into the room he did a quick sweep over with his eyes and was relieved to see everything was in order- no immediate alarms. He then knocked on the bathroom door, but got no reply. He pushed his ear up against the door and heard running water.
With a horrible feeling of dread starting to cover him, Dodoria opened the door. Hot steam burst out, so thick Dodoria couldn't see into the room at all. Waving his hand to try and clear it, he stepped into the room and slowly the steam started to clear. Dodorias legs felt like lead as they carried him towards the shower cubical, through the fogged up glass he could just about make out something green towards the bottom. With his hand trembling he pulled open the door, and there, propped up against the wall on the floor of the cubical, was Zarbon. His skin had a horrible light purple tint and his head lulled to one side with his eyes closed, a tourniquet and a needle hanging out of his arm.
Feeling bile rise up into his throat Dodoria sprung into action, hitting the shower switch off and delving in to pull the needle out of his arm. After grabbing Zarbon and swinging round to leave he noticed the mirror on the other side of the room for the first time, his heart almost stopped as he read out the word written across it in red lipstick; 'Sorry'.
Everything thing seemed to go in slow motion- as if Dodoria was weighted down by a great gravitational pull as he flew down the corridors and to the medic bay, strait in the operating room as he shouted for doctors. Upon seeing it was the general that needed treatment everyone jumped into action- no one wanting to be responsible for not treating one of Friezas favourites efficiently.
The team of doctors ran do the bed where Dodoria had laid Zarbon down and then stalled- they all expected a physical wound- not to be met with this.
''Is… is he alive?'' Dodoria asked shakily.
A wide eyed doctor shone a light into his eyes holding his breath. ''Barely… It doesn't look good… what has he taken?'' he stuttered as he looked at the tourniquet and the needle mark just below his inner elbow.
Dodoria thought back to that first night he'd spoken to Zarbon upon discovering the cuts to his arm. ''Heroin… I think… possibly mixed with cocaine or vodka…''
The doctor shouted at several medics as they ran around attaching machines to him and putting a catheter in each hard before he turned back to Dodoria ''Do you know how long ago he injected himself?''
''….at least an hour ago'' Dodoria barely whispered
The doctor looked at the machines which were now hooked up to him. After an agonising wait, some started to beep. ''Right…. his heart beat is almost not existent and in a pathological rhythm – get the crash gear charged up in case he flat lines. Breathing support- get a ventilator down his throat and treat as acute ventilatory failure. I want an ECG done right away. Hook him up to one IV line of Nalolone and another for a saline drip. I want a blood toxicology done asap too so we know exactly what we're dealing with!''
Dodoria took a step back as he gazed at Zarbons body almost completely covered by various machines and monitors. He watched as someone removed his jewellery and the tourniquet from his arm before removing the rest of his clothes- several doctors gasping in shock as the generals sleeves were taken off and the scars were revealed.
The shouts and clattering and beeping machinery all turned into one combined drone as Dodoria zoned out- everything seeming so surreal as almost everyone of the ships medics crowded round trying to stabilise Zarbon. Finally he realised someone was talking to him.
''…What?'' he asked the medic as he turned round.
''…I said we need to submit a direct report to Lord Frieza, strait away. Are you aware of anything we need to know regarding general Zarbons condition such as previous drug use, and if anything has occurred emotionally which may have triggered this overdose?''
Dodoria felt his heart plummet. With a sigh he confessed everything he knew to the medic about Zarbons alcohol and drug addiction, and his prostitution- watching as the medic scribbled down to do a hepatitis and sexual transmitted diseases check on his bloods too.
After the medic had scurried off Dodoria turned his attention back to Zarbon and finally approached the head doctor. ''Tell me… will he survive, doc?''
The doctor looked over at the bed. ''He's in a critical condition… I can't say. If he makes it through the next 24 hours his chances will improve… but he'll still be in intensive care. There's a chance his heart could stop at any moment.''
Dodoria went cold all over, zoning out to the point he didn't even realise someone was escorting him out of the room and into a waiting area.
…
''… General Dodoria… Dodoria, sir…?'' the pale skinned medic asked timidly, concerned about his death being impending for waking the short tempered man. Dodorias eyes opened groggily, his brain trying to recall everything that had gone on. ''Sir… It's Lord Frieza, he's summoned you to his quarters immediately.'' With a baffled nod Dodoria rose up and stumbled off towards Friezas quarters, his legs moving automatically as he was still half asleep.
By the time he reached Friezas quarters Dodoria was very much awake. He entered strait away and was met with Frieza and a large screen projecting King Cold, he dropped into a low bow after approaching.
''Rise, Dodoria'' sighed Frieza rubbing his temples ''What the fuck has been going on?'' Dodoria recalled what he knew, mirroring the document that had been sent to Frieza earlier. After he'd finished Frieza looked at him sceptically ''…and you don't think anything else has happened to push him over the edge apart from you rejecting his advances…?''
Dodoria looked down at his feet. ''I know it sounds rather farfetched… being Zarbon and all, but…''
''Not that farfetched, the man did always have strange taste in men…'' King Cold interjected, contributing to the conversation for the first time.
''I wouldn't bother wasting the time on him, unplug the machines'' came a voice from behind King Cold. Friezas head shot up with a start.
''Cooler!? Father, is Cooler there with you?''
Just then Cooler wandered into view on King Cold screen. ''Hello, brother. I was just visiting father when you called. I told you my general, Salza, was far superior to your little Zarbon…''
Before Frieza could reply King Cold spoke. ''Silence, Cooler. Zarbon was one of my top commanders for years, and has pushed the Frieza Force forward into territory never seen before. Frieza, my son, this man is far too valuable to dismiss. You are to do everything in your power to get him back to full health.''
Frieza nodded in agreement. ''That was my plan already, father'' he confirmed as he glared at Cooler in the back ground.
Dodoria left Friezas quarters relieved that the crazy tyrant would help Zarbon and not kill him. After returning to the med bay he found Zarbons condition unchanged.
…
The next few days were a blur, Zarbon was still yet to gain consciousness- he'd been put into an induced coma but didn't seem to be coming round from it. With trepidation the ventilator was removed, and it was a relief when he continued to breath by himself.
Dodoria went over and over the past few days in his head. Why hadn't he just told Zarbon about his feelings? Why had he been such a coward? Zarbon fort his demons everyday- yet Dodoria didn't even have the balls to admit he'd started having feelings for the other.
The Ginyu Force were away on a mission but they'd all called for checkups on the general, Dodoria explained the overdose and alcoholism to them but kept out the part about his self harming- he didn't think Zarbon would want them to know, and saw no reason to tell them.
One day Dodoria was dozing in a chair next to Zarbons bed when a machine started beeping, alarmed he jumped up and sprinted to the next room to shout for a doctor- when the doctor hurried in he looked over his stats and smiled. ''It appears the general is finally starting to come round, it may still be a few hours until he wakes up- it will probably be beneficial for him to see you or someone he's closer too when he comes round, instead of just us.''
Dodoria nodded as his heart jumped into his mouth at the thought of Zarbon finally waking up –he had no intention of going anywhere anyway.
The medic looked at Dodoria and cleared his throat. ''I must warn you though, sir, the generals body has been through a lot, there is a chance he could have suffered permanent damage… there's also a change he might have amnesia and not remember much, either short term or for the long term.''
Dodoria nodded, trying to keep his eyes from watering as this latest warning nearly pushed him over the edge. Every time there was a slight bit of good news about Zarbons recovery, it was instantly clouded by something bad- it was a relentless up and down roller coaster ride. They'd already discovered some permanent lung damage… what if he had brain damage and didn't remember who he was… didn't remember who Dodoria was…?
Dodoria stayed by Zarbons bedside, it was only around 10 minutes later that the machinery beeped again and Zarbons eyes started to flicker slightly. Dodorias hands grasped the bed railings, willing the other man with everything he had to wake up. After an agonising wait, Zarbons golden eyes finally flickered open. He gazed at his lap, unblinking.
''Z…? How are you feeling…?'' Dodoria prompted. Zarbons eyes seemed to focus and he finally blinked. ''…Can you talk? Can you hear me? Please, try to say something…'' Dodoria almost begged.
Slowly, Zarbons eyes wandered over the thin blanket that covered his body and to his hands which laid in his lap, gathering up energy- he finally tried to speak. ''Would… would you look… at that… they've gone and… broken one… of my nails…''
A huge smile hit Dodorias face and he almost grabbed the other man in relief. ''Oh thank Frieza! You're you! Fuck Z… you've had me so worried…'' he breathed grabbing Zarbons hands in his tightly.
Taking a few shallow breaths Zarbon managed to turn his head slightly towards Dodoria, then paused to take a few more breaths after the small action exerted him. His eyes flickered up to meet Dodoria. ''How… how am I alive?'' he panted, his eyes so empty and haunted.