A/N Angst....Long chapter...it was originally 2 separate chapters, but I decided that they worked better as one. I also had to do some major refurbishment to this chapter, meaning that I totally rearranged/rewrote it. TWICE. (Hikumi: *growls* Yes, he did. And drove me crazy in the process.)
I know 1:10,000,000 seems like a lot (it is). I did this to demonstrate the power of Vegeta. If SSJ4 Gogeta can only heal the equivalent of Pre-Radditz Goku, and Vegeta can heal Pan half way, who is stronger than Vegeta ever was before becoming Super, then imagine his power now. Just keeping my options open. Who knows? I might stick an evil being of unimaginable power and doom in there somewhere.
Enjoy.
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'I love you too, Vegeta.'
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A greatly weakened Vegeta cruised through the sky with a sleeping Pan in his arms. She was still bloody and battered, and as a result, fell asleep, but she was no longer on the brink of death. Vegeta felt weak, but he wasn't in pain. He looked down at her scared face. Dried blood was still splattered all over her. And all over him. He felt very protective over her. He felt sick knowing that she was in pain every waking moment because of her injuries. He was worried that she might never walk again. He knew that it would crush her spirit. But he vowed to stay with her and help her through those hard times. He would go through another lifetime of slavery under Freeza for her if he had to. He smiled softly as he watched her hair billow in the wind. He looked ahead and saw CC getting closer. He landed at the front porch, just on the grass. Bulma, Trunks and Bra were waiting for him.
'Vegeta! Is Pan alive!?' screamed Bulma as she ran over to Vegeta and looked Pan up and down. 'Ozzy called us up and told us what happened at the concert and that you and Pan never came out! Kami let Pan be safe!' Bulma was frantic.
'Calm down, onna. She's alive. Put her in the regen tank and she'll be fine.'
By this time Bra and Trunks were looking her over too. Bra was on the verge of tears and Trunks just stared. 'Dad? When did you and Panny have those?' asked Trunks as he pointed to the newly mated couples' tails. Bra and Bulma looked down at them with wide eyes.
'What, these?' mocked Vegeta with a sly grin as he swished his tail around Pan's limp one. 'TRUE Saiya-jin have tails. As you can see, those who consider themselves Saiya-jin are gifted with one. Now is Pan going to be healed, or do you wish her to die?'
Bulma got over the shock first and pushed Vegeta all the way to her lab where the regeneration tank was stored. She shooed Bra and Trunks out and closed the door. 'Whew,' she said as she wiped her brow. 'Vegeta, strip her out of that armor, put her into that tank over there and push the green button.' He did so as gently as he could and put her in the tank. He fixed the oxygen mask over her nose and mouth, closed the door and pressed the big green button. The tank began to fill with a familiar purple liquid.
'Vegeta, what happened to Korin and Yajirobe?'
*Oh shit. They fell. They're most likely dead...* 'I guess they're fine,' he said innocently. *That tower isn't *THAT* high or heavy. Is it?*
'I hope. I want you to go check on them and invite them over to stay. You did destroy their home after all,' ordered Bulma sternly. Vegeta left begrudgingly, as he felt that he was breaking his new vow to Pan by leaving her to check on two people who he thought were worthless. *I could swear that there's something going on between those two...* Vegeta shuddered.
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*Ring Ring*
Gohan was lying in bed, Videl resting on his chest. He'd been having...fun the night before. The night before he'd been called by Bulma to report that Pan was missing and presumed hurt. He had wanted to come home, but Bulma had insisted that Pan was alright. He reluctantly remained, and turned to his wife to take his mind off it. He had a gut feeling that Bulma was calling back with news. He leaned over and picked up the old styled phone. 'Hello? Gohan here,' he said into the microphone.
'Gohan? It's Bulma.'
Gohan leapt up from his previous position. Videl looked at him. He mouthed 'Bulma' to her, and she promptly moved next the phone to listen in on what Bulma had to say.
'Go on, Bulma. Is there any word from Pan yet?' he asked hopefully.
'Yes. She's here in a regen tank. She's got some pretty bad injuries that might leave her disabled. I think you should come over right now. She'll be out shortly and will need your support.'
Gohan was already on his way. The moment Bulma finished he hung up, he and Videl got quickly dressed, and then without even bothering to pack, sped out the window. He felt ready to hurt someone.
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Back at CC, Bulma, Bra, Trunks, Goten and Chi-Chi were awaiting Pan to get out of the tank. They were all waiting in a silence broken only by the occasional whisper. They sat in a room just outside the tank room, except for Bulma who was inside. They had all been surprised when they heard that both Vegeta and Pan had tails, Bulma explained that Vegeta was the only one who knew exactly what had happened, and to ask him when he got back.
*Ding*
The fluid inside the tank was replaced with water, which cleaned the ooze from her body. The water drained and she was quickly dried. She was awake, and saw Bulma through the circular window. The door opened with a hiss and Pan literally fell out. Bulma caught her is her arms and held her.
'Vegeta?' She said groggily. 'Where am I?'
Bulma steadied her on her feet. 'You're in CC. You just came out of a regeneration tank. Most of your injuries have been healed. You will have some scars, but you'll be fine. Can you walk?' She still had a long, slender scar across her face, but Bulma noticed that her eye seemed to be healed. The one on her chest was big, but nowhere near as big as she thought it would be.
Pan tried. 'N...no. I still can't feel my legs.' Fear gripped her. no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't get a reaction. 'Where's Vegeta?' she asked. She felt very afraid without him nearby. Bulma wondered why she would ask for Vegeta instead of someone else.
'Here, Pan,' said Bulma as she handed Pan some plain looking clothes. Blue jeans and red top. Blue socks and some old sneakers. 'I'll help you put them on.' For the next minute Bulma dressed Pan. When she was done Pan looked much like she did when she was 14. 'Pan, you're going to have to go the hospital so that they can have a look at why you can't walk.' Pan nodded numbly.
'Fine. But only if Vegeta can come with me. Get him, please?' Asked Pan.
'I'm sorry Pan, but he's not here. I asked him to make sure that Korin and Yajirobe were safe. Why do you want him to be with you?' she asked suspiciously.
Pan gasped and looked at Bulma for the first time since she had come out. She felt shame and guilt as she looked at her. Bulma looked at her with a raised eyebrow. 'Because...he's my friend,' answered Pan uneasily.
'Well...That WOULD explain why you to spend so much time together. I was really surprised when he told me that he was going with you to a concert. I thought he was joking.'
'Come on Pan, the others are waiting for you,' continued Bulma. She got a wheelchair for Pan and together went out into the waiting room.
'Oh kami, Pan, honey! You've got a scar on your face. And on your neck!' cried Chi-Chi when she saw her. 'I'm so glad you're ok!' Pan chuckled uneasily. Bulma looked at the scar on her neck and gasped. *No.* She reassured herself. *She probably just hurt herself there somehow.*
'Hi guys. I just want you to know that I'm fine except for one thing: I can't walk. Bulma's taking me to the hospital to get my spine checked out,' said Pan reassuringly.
'You're pa...pa...paralyzed!?' screeched Chi-Chi. Everyone started murmuring and wishing Pan's health back.
'Well...not entirely. I think I could use my ki to float in a way so that it looks like I'm walking, but I would much rather be able to walk under my own steam.' Chi-Chi felt a bit better. Goten walked over.
'Do you want me to take you, Panny?' Pan looked at him and nodded sadly. She didn't want Goten. She wanted Vegeta. After a few goodbyes were said they left for the nearest hospital. Bulma, Bra, Chi-Chi, Goten and Trunks followed, Trunks carrying his mother, and Bra carried Chi-Chi (I think Bra can fly. I've seen pics of her in the air).
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Pan was staring at Goten as they flew through the sky. She was afraid that he would find her ugly with the scars she now bore. 'Goten?' she asked.
'Yes?' he replied as he looked down at her.
'Do you think that I'm ugly?' she asked gingerly. Goten looked at her earnestly.
'No, of course not. Pan, you are very beautiful. Why would you think otherwise? Is it because of those scars?' She nodded. 'Your not ugly, Panny, so don't worry.' It didn't help though: She was still worried. She felt a sense of dread looming over her. She was afraid of the thought that she didn't think of death as a bad thing at that moment.
They approached the tall, spiffy looking hospital and landed. The others landed shortly afterwards. Bulma motioned for them to follow her in. The lobby had white floor tiles and a few green benches. Goten walked over to the reception desk. 'Hello. Welcome to Satan City general hospital. How can I help you?' asked the blond receptionist flatly.
Goten looked over his shoulder to see everyone else was sitting on the far side of the room. He turned back to the receptionist. 'My niece here is paralysed below her waist. Can you help her?' he asked fearfully. She looked at Pan briefly and picked up the phone and pressed a button.
'Hello? Yes. This is reception. We need a doctor to take a girl to X-ray to check for possible paralyzation. Thanks.' She hung up. 'There will be a doctor with a wheelchair down in a minute.' Sure enough, a minute later a doctor with a wheelchair entered the pristine lobby. Goten walked over to the young doctor.
'Are you the one who needs the X-rays?' he asked Pan. The doctor motioned for her to climb in. She nodded, then reluctantly slipped from Goten and plopped herself down onto the wheelchair. Now she felt even more unwanted and alone.
'I'm Dr. Knee Dell. What is your name young lady?'
'Pan,' she answered quietly.
'Ok, Pan. I understand that you can't move or feel anything below you waist. Correct?' She nodded. 'I'm going to ask you some questions, ok?' She nodded again. 'When and how did this happen?'
'It was last night at Tattoo the Planet, the concert in the Point. I...was enjoying the show, when suddenly a steel beam came crashing down on me. When I woke up I couldn't move,' she half-lied.
'I see...It's a wonder you're still alive. There were quite a few people in here last night because of that accident. They all made it though...Well let's get going anyway. This way,' said the Doctor. Bulma pushed Pan's wheelchair after the doctor. The rest stayed behind.
As Pan was wheeled towards the X-ray Bulma and Dr. Dell talked. Bulma explained to him that she could make it worth his while if he forgot that Pan had a tail. Pan felt like shit the whole time. She had lied when she said she couldn't feel anything below the waist. She could feel a steady, throbbing pain. It was not unbearable, but it was very noticeable. It felt like the pain that's there a few seconds after being punched in the leg, only all over. She took this as a good sign, that her spinal cords were not severed, only damaged. She was suddenly wheeled into a room with X-ray equipment.
'Ok, Miss Pan, I'm gonna help you onto the X-ray bed, and we're gonna check you out,' said the doctor comfortingly.
(A/N I know in real X-rays you can't wear clothes, but I didn't feel it needed to be done here)
He and Bulma helped Pan onto the bed and laid her down. Pan let out an unhappy sigh as the doctor positioned the X-ray that hung above her. Bulma stood next to Pan and comforted her while the doctor went to the little glass room where the X-ray was controlled and took the pictures. She couldn't keep her glance averted from those two scars on her neck.() She knew that small one wouldn't be like those that should have been healed. She wanted to demand how she had gotten them, but managed to restrain herself.() The X-ray moved up and down Pan's body using the rollers that granted it movement. The doctor came out and said that it would take a day or so to properly analyze the damage. Bulma took Pan back to the lobby where the others were waiting. Bulma told them that it would take some time to find the problem and that they should all go home. Pan suddenly felt warm. She didn't know why. She looked about her to see if there was some kind of heating or warm breeze. When she looked outside was when she saw that which made her feel good. Vegeta had just touched down outside and was making his way to her slowly. 'Vegeta...' she said to herself quietly while smiling softly for the first time that day. He very quickly flashed a smile to her that no one saw before putting back his mask on. He reached her.
'How are you?' he asked in a hard voice, but with a soft foundation meant only for Pan's ears. Bulma managed to catch a trace of it though.
'I'm fine now,' she said as she looked up at him with a peaceful look on her now cheerful face. It was the truth. The pain she had felt before was gone. The cold atmosphere had suddenly become sunny and warm, and it was all because of him.
'Can you see through your eye?' She nodded happily. He smiled down at her. 'Good.' She wanted to jump up and hug him. She would have too were it not for her immobility and the presence of the others. 'I'm sorry that I couldn't have been there when you woke up. Bulma made me go the make sure that those two bakas at the tower were alive.' Pan felt a bit disheartened that Vegeta couldn't have been there because of something so trivial.
'Are they ok?' asked Bulma as she tried to find a mark on Vegeta's neck which matched Pan's.
'Ahh....' His eyes were looking up and to the side as if trying to think of something to say. 'I...couldn't find them.' Pan snorted in amusement.
'What do you mean 'you couldn't find them'!?! They could be dead! If they are you'll be sorry, Vegeta!' Vegeta took a very slight step back. Pan was snickering.
'Coward,' she said to Vegeta. Vegeta looked at her like she had said something funny.
'Are you calling ME, the Prince of all Saiya-jin, a coward? Hahaha!!!' He laughed as if it was the stupidest thing in the world. He stood over her, his armor from the night before shining in the sun which was gleaming through the doors, and poked her in the chest while he kept laughing. Bulma then saw it. An identical bite mark on his neck. She couldn't believe it. Couldn't believe that Vegeta had betrayed her for the granddaughter of someone she had known since her teen years. She didn't now what to feel. Remorse? Anger? Hate? She opted on both anger and hate. She was about to do something when Vegeta's insane laughter was cut short by a ki blast sending him spiraling into a wall.
There was Gohan, standing at the entrance to the hospital in SSJ2 mode. Vegeta barely had enough time to power up to SSJ1 when he was rushed by Gohan. He tried to ascend higher, but was still drained of strength. He fought Gohan with all of his strength, oblivious to the cries of protest from family members. 'Dad, stop!!' yelled Pan. He didn't acknowledge her. Vegeta was very quickly losing. He didn't have the power he needed to win. He had finally achieved the power to surpass everyone else on the planet put together, but was so exhausted from getting there that he couldn't use it. It was very frustrating. 'Dad!' Vegeta crashed into a wall. He didn't get up.
'I'll show you to never hurt my daughter again, you scum!' roared Gohan as he prepared a killing ki attack. He released the golden globe of energy. 'DAD, NO!!' Right before it hit Vegeta it exploded when it made contact with the person in front of him: Pan. She had leapt in the path of the blast. It was a good thing she was powered up to max, or else she would have been killed. She now lay in a painful heap on the ground struggling to get up. In a flash Gohan was over to her to help her up. She angrily batted away his hands as he tried to help her. Goten also was rejected when he tried to help. She slowly and painfully made her way back to her wheelchair and climbed in.
'What the fuck are you doing to Vegeta?! Huh?!!' Gohan stared at her before starting.
'He hurt you.'
'No, he didn't. He saved me.'
'But...he's covered in your blood. I could smell it from outside!! I could see it all over his hands! He was threatening you and laughing like a maniac when I came in!! You call that SAVING you?!'
'He wasn't threatening me, dad! We were laughing at something, and he's covered in my blood because he carried me from the Point to Korin's tower, and made sure I was safe. Not because he gutted me or something!' Gohan looked like he had the weight of the world dropped on his shoulders.
'I'm...sorry Pan. But it looked like he had hurt you from where I stood.'
'Maybe you should access the next situation with more care, you baka!' Pan wheeled herself painfully to where Vegeta had come to rest. She bent over to get a better look at him. He was in a sitting position up against the wall in an unconscious state. She pulled herself out of the chair and using her hands, rearranged her legs so that she could sit on them. Vegeta wasn't bloody or broken. Just terribly drained of energy. She gently shook him by the shoulders, but he didn't respond. She knew he was alive, and that he would survive, even without help, but she began to feel alone again. She tried to swallow the lump in her throat. 'Bulma?' she said shakily. She came over. 'Put him in a tank, please,' she asked with a hint of urgency. Bulma did nothing. She was shaking. During the brief skirmish she had changed from hate and anger, to remorse.
'Pan. Why are you and Vegeta bonded to each other?' asked Bulma shakily, barely stopping herself from braking down then and there. Pan blood went cold. She turned around slowly and looked at Bulma's form.
'What did you say?' she gasped out.
'I said "Why are you and Vegeta bonded to each other?" I can see the marks on both of your necks.' She felt herself getting angry again. 'That means that there is something going on between to two. Right?!' She began to breath heavily. 'Are you two fucking?! Or are you using him!?'
'What are you talking about, Bulma!?' demanded Gohan.
'I'm talking about the fact that they're bonded. It's a Saiya-jin equivalent of marriage, and both Pan and Vegeta carry the bonding marks on each other's necks!! They've been spending all week together too!' She turned to Pan. 'I assume that every time you two came out of the GR all sweaty and exhausted you were doing things other than training!! Right!!!?' Bulma by now was hyperventilating. Pan was on the verge of tears.
'Why are you accusing Pan of doing those kind of things!? We both know she'd never do that! Right, Pan?' asked Gohan with a smile. Pan stared at him with shocked, frightened eyes. 'Right, Pan?' He repeated with an uneasy chuckle. 'Pan?' She opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out. 'You didn't,' he said hint of dread and disgust creeping into his voice. 'How could you!?'
'It's not like that!' she cried. 'It was-' She was cut off.
'He took advantage of you, Pan!! Can't you see that!!?!' Pan tried to defend herself, but she was at a loss for words. She felt like it was too much to bear. 'Don't worry, Pan! I'LL MAKE SURE HE NEVER USES ANYONE AGAIN!!!!' roared Gohan as he charged up a very, very powerful Kamehameha. His hair and eyes changed colour. He aimed the blast right at an unconscious Vegeta. Pan knew she had to do something, quick, or else Vegeta would die. What happened next went by in slow motion for Pan. Gohan released the Kamehameha, which was easily enough to destroy the whole hospital. Pan watched in horror as it sailed towards Vegeta. She couldn't block it. She couldn't deflect it. In one moment of shear instinct, she used her ki, and leapt in front of the blast with only one thought in her head. "If he can't survive, I would rather join him in death than live without him." This was her last coherent thought before the blast impacted into her unguarded chest.
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'PAAAAAAAAN!!!!!!' roared Gohan as he saw his only daughter leap in front of his Kamehameha. It impacted, and sent him and everyone else crashing into the ground. Bulma and Bra were knocked unconscious. Goten and Trunks used every ounce of power within them to contain the resulting explosion and save the hospital. When the blast had exhausted itself, they let up the ki shield and dropped out of SSJ1. The lobby was now trashed. They could see the iron skeleton of the building, as the walls and ceiling had been blown away. There was so much smoke and dust that the Z-Fighters couldn't see an inch in front of their noses. After a few seconds, an extremely bright swaying glow could be seen from within the suffocating cloud of ash. A feminine roar of anger could be heard from within. Very suddenly, the ash was blown clear away and Pan was there, floating in the air and breathing very heavily with murder written all over her face. Her now extremely long, golden hair spiked all over the place. It was long enough to touch her ankles. She looked around at everyone's shocked faces. Her hair illuminated the room in a golden glow. She set down. She took a step forward. She wasn't actually walking. Just using her ki to move her legs for her and floating so close to the ground that you couldn't tell. She stepped up to her dad. 'H...Honey?' She glared mightily at him before picking him up by the collar and holding his still SSJ2 form at an arms length. Everyone else just stared in shock, except Chi-Chi, who fainted.
'DON'T "Honey" me, you bastard!! What do you think you're doing!?! Vegeta is NOT taking advantage of me, and if you presume otherwise, then you've got another thing coming!' yelled Pan. She was openly crying as she said this. 'I love Vegeta more than you can imagine, and I feel strongly that you should be punished for trying to destroy what we have!' she said desperately before kicking him out onto the grass outside. She rose higher into the air and rushed him. He was staring at her, bracing himself for a punch to the front. When Pan was a few inches from his face she shifted directions and did a very fast, quite big semi-circle and punched him in the back of the head. He was knocked to the ground. She suddenly saw both SSJ Goten and Trunks leap at her in an attempt to restrain her. She snarled and casually blasted them away. They landed on top of one another. Their hair returned to its original color. She turned back to her dad and gathered a ball of ki the size of an extra large beach ball and aimed it at him, who looked at her with hurt and disbelief on his features.
'STOP IT, PAN!!' begged a new voice. Pan turned her head and saw the desperate face of her mother through her tear-clouded eyes.
'Mom?' questioned Pan shakily. She looked at her hand, then at her dad, then over at Goten and Trunks, then at the hospital. 'Did I do all this?' she whispered to herself. She dissipated the large ball of ki and floated up a bit. She looked at her mother, who was staring at her disbelievingly. Pan's tear-streaked face told Videl all she needed to know. Pan couldn't take it. She hurt her friend and her uncle. She almost killed her dad. She probably killed some people in the hospital. Bulma hated her. Bra and Trunks probably did too. She couldn't take being around them anymore. With an explosion of light and a super-sonic boom she flew into the lobby, picked up Vegeta and at top speed flew away from her friends. Her family. From her entire life.
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I know 1:10,000,000 seems like a lot (it is). I did this to demonstrate the power of Vegeta. If SSJ4 Gogeta can only heal the equivalent of Pre-Radditz Goku, and Vegeta can heal Pan half way, who is stronger than Vegeta ever was before becoming Super, then imagine his power now. Just keeping my options open. Who knows? I might stick an evil being of unimaginable power and doom in there somewhere.
Enjoy.
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'I love you too, Vegeta.'
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A greatly weakened Vegeta cruised through the sky with a sleeping Pan in his arms. She was still bloody and battered, and as a result, fell asleep, but she was no longer on the brink of death. Vegeta felt weak, but he wasn't in pain. He looked down at her scared face. Dried blood was still splattered all over her. And all over him. He felt very protective over her. He felt sick knowing that she was in pain every waking moment because of her injuries. He was worried that she might never walk again. He knew that it would crush her spirit. But he vowed to stay with her and help her through those hard times. He would go through another lifetime of slavery under Freeza for her if he had to. He smiled softly as he watched her hair billow in the wind. He looked ahead and saw CC getting closer. He landed at the front porch, just on the grass. Bulma, Trunks and Bra were waiting for him.
'Vegeta! Is Pan alive!?' screamed Bulma as she ran over to Vegeta and looked Pan up and down. 'Ozzy called us up and told us what happened at the concert and that you and Pan never came out! Kami let Pan be safe!' Bulma was frantic.
'Calm down, onna. She's alive. Put her in the regen tank and she'll be fine.'
By this time Bra and Trunks were looking her over too. Bra was on the verge of tears and Trunks just stared. 'Dad? When did you and Panny have those?' asked Trunks as he pointed to the newly mated couples' tails. Bra and Bulma looked down at them with wide eyes.
'What, these?' mocked Vegeta with a sly grin as he swished his tail around Pan's limp one. 'TRUE Saiya-jin have tails. As you can see, those who consider themselves Saiya-jin are gifted with one. Now is Pan going to be healed, or do you wish her to die?'
Bulma got over the shock first and pushed Vegeta all the way to her lab where the regeneration tank was stored. She shooed Bra and Trunks out and closed the door. 'Whew,' she said as she wiped her brow. 'Vegeta, strip her out of that armor, put her into that tank over there and push the green button.' He did so as gently as he could and put her in the tank. He fixed the oxygen mask over her nose and mouth, closed the door and pressed the big green button. The tank began to fill with a familiar purple liquid.
'Vegeta, what happened to Korin and Yajirobe?'
*Oh shit. They fell. They're most likely dead...* 'I guess they're fine,' he said innocently. *That tower isn't *THAT* high or heavy. Is it?*
'I hope. I want you to go check on them and invite them over to stay. You did destroy their home after all,' ordered Bulma sternly. Vegeta left begrudgingly, as he felt that he was breaking his new vow to Pan by leaving her to check on two people who he thought were worthless. *I could swear that there's something going on between those two...* Vegeta shuddered.
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*Ring Ring*
Gohan was lying in bed, Videl resting on his chest. He'd been having...fun the night before. The night before he'd been called by Bulma to report that Pan was missing and presumed hurt. He had wanted to come home, but Bulma had insisted that Pan was alright. He reluctantly remained, and turned to his wife to take his mind off it. He had a gut feeling that Bulma was calling back with news. He leaned over and picked up the old styled phone. 'Hello? Gohan here,' he said into the microphone.
'Gohan? It's Bulma.'
Gohan leapt up from his previous position. Videl looked at him. He mouthed 'Bulma' to her, and she promptly moved next the phone to listen in on what Bulma had to say.
'Go on, Bulma. Is there any word from Pan yet?' he asked hopefully.
'Yes. She's here in a regen tank. She's got some pretty bad injuries that might leave her disabled. I think you should come over right now. She'll be out shortly and will need your support.'
Gohan was already on his way. The moment Bulma finished he hung up, he and Videl got quickly dressed, and then without even bothering to pack, sped out the window. He felt ready to hurt someone.
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Back at CC, Bulma, Bra, Trunks, Goten and Chi-Chi were awaiting Pan to get out of the tank. They were all waiting in a silence broken only by the occasional whisper. They sat in a room just outside the tank room, except for Bulma who was inside. They had all been surprised when they heard that both Vegeta and Pan had tails, Bulma explained that Vegeta was the only one who knew exactly what had happened, and to ask him when he got back.
*Ding*
The fluid inside the tank was replaced with water, which cleaned the ooze from her body. The water drained and she was quickly dried. She was awake, and saw Bulma through the circular window. The door opened with a hiss and Pan literally fell out. Bulma caught her is her arms and held her.
'Vegeta?' She said groggily. 'Where am I?'
Bulma steadied her on her feet. 'You're in CC. You just came out of a regeneration tank. Most of your injuries have been healed. You will have some scars, but you'll be fine. Can you walk?' She still had a long, slender scar across her face, but Bulma noticed that her eye seemed to be healed. The one on her chest was big, but nowhere near as big as she thought it would be.
Pan tried. 'N...no. I still can't feel my legs.' Fear gripped her. no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't get a reaction. 'Where's Vegeta?' she asked. She felt very afraid without him nearby. Bulma wondered why she would ask for Vegeta instead of someone else.
'Here, Pan,' said Bulma as she handed Pan some plain looking clothes. Blue jeans and red top. Blue socks and some old sneakers. 'I'll help you put them on.' For the next minute Bulma dressed Pan. When she was done Pan looked much like she did when she was 14. 'Pan, you're going to have to go the hospital so that they can have a look at why you can't walk.' Pan nodded numbly.
'Fine. But only if Vegeta can come with me. Get him, please?' Asked Pan.
'I'm sorry Pan, but he's not here. I asked him to make sure that Korin and Yajirobe were safe. Why do you want him to be with you?' she asked suspiciously.
Pan gasped and looked at Bulma for the first time since she had come out. She felt shame and guilt as she looked at her. Bulma looked at her with a raised eyebrow. 'Because...he's my friend,' answered Pan uneasily.
'Well...That WOULD explain why you to spend so much time together. I was really surprised when he told me that he was going with you to a concert. I thought he was joking.'
'Come on Pan, the others are waiting for you,' continued Bulma. She got a wheelchair for Pan and together went out into the waiting room.
'Oh kami, Pan, honey! You've got a scar on your face. And on your neck!' cried Chi-Chi when she saw her. 'I'm so glad you're ok!' Pan chuckled uneasily. Bulma looked at the scar on her neck and gasped. *No.* She reassured herself. *She probably just hurt herself there somehow.*
'Hi guys. I just want you to know that I'm fine except for one thing: I can't walk. Bulma's taking me to the hospital to get my spine checked out,' said Pan reassuringly.
'You're pa...pa...paralyzed!?' screeched Chi-Chi. Everyone started murmuring and wishing Pan's health back.
'Well...not entirely. I think I could use my ki to float in a way so that it looks like I'm walking, but I would much rather be able to walk under my own steam.' Chi-Chi felt a bit better. Goten walked over.
'Do you want me to take you, Panny?' Pan looked at him and nodded sadly. She didn't want Goten. She wanted Vegeta. After a few goodbyes were said they left for the nearest hospital. Bulma, Bra, Chi-Chi, Goten and Trunks followed, Trunks carrying his mother, and Bra carried Chi-Chi (I think Bra can fly. I've seen pics of her in the air).
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Pan was staring at Goten as they flew through the sky. She was afraid that he would find her ugly with the scars she now bore. 'Goten?' she asked.
'Yes?' he replied as he looked down at her.
'Do you think that I'm ugly?' she asked gingerly. Goten looked at her earnestly.
'No, of course not. Pan, you are very beautiful. Why would you think otherwise? Is it because of those scars?' She nodded. 'Your not ugly, Panny, so don't worry.' It didn't help though: She was still worried. She felt a sense of dread looming over her. She was afraid of the thought that she didn't think of death as a bad thing at that moment.
They approached the tall, spiffy looking hospital and landed. The others landed shortly afterwards. Bulma motioned for them to follow her in. The lobby had white floor tiles and a few green benches. Goten walked over to the reception desk. 'Hello. Welcome to Satan City general hospital. How can I help you?' asked the blond receptionist flatly.
Goten looked over his shoulder to see everyone else was sitting on the far side of the room. He turned back to the receptionist. 'My niece here is paralysed below her waist. Can you help her?' he asked fearfully. She looked at Pan briefly and picked up the phone and pressed a button.
'Hello? Yes. This is reception. We need a doctor to take a girl to X-ray to check for possible paralyzation. Thanks.' She hung up. 'There will be a doctor with a wheelchair down in a minute.' Sure enough, a minute later a doctor with a wheelchair entered the pristine lobby. Goten walked over to the young doctor.
'Are you the one who needs the X-rays?' he asked Pan. The doctor motioned for her to climb in. She nodded, then reluctantly slipped from Goten and plopped herself down onto the wheelchair. Now she felt even more unwanted and alone.
'I'm Dr. Knee Dell. What is your name young lady?'
'Pan,' she answered quietly.
'Ok, Pan. I understand that you can't move or feel anything below you waist. Correct?' She nodded. 'I'm going to ask you some questions, ok?' She nodded again. 'When and how did this happen?'
'It was last night at Tattoo the Planet, the concert in the Point. I...was enjoying the show, when suddenly a steel beam came crashing down on me. When I woke up I couldn't move,' she half-lied.
'I see...It's a wonder you're still alive. There were quite a few people in here last night because of that accident. They all made it though...Well let's get going anyway. This way,' said the Doctor. Bulma pushed Pan's wheelchair after the doctor. The rest stayed behind.
As Pan was wheeled towards the X-ray Bulma and Dr. Dell talked. Bulma explained to him that she could make it worth his while if he forgot that Pan had a tail. Pan felt like shit the whole time. She had lied when she said she couldn't feel anything below the waist. She could feel a steady, throbbing pain. It was not unbearable, but it was very noticeable. It felt like the pain that's there a few seconds after being punched in the leg, only all over. She took this as a good sign, that her spinal cords were not severed, only damaged. She was suddenly wheeled into a room with X-ray equipment.
'Ok, Miss Pan, I'm gonna help you onto the X-ray bed, and we're gonna check you out,' said the doctor comfortingly.
(A/N I know in real X-rays you can't wear clothes, but I didn't feel it needed to be done here)
He and Bulma helped Pan onto the bed and laid her down. Pan let out an unhappy sigh as the doctor positioned the X-ray that hung above her. Bulma stood next to Pan and comforted her while the doctor went to the little glass room where the X-ray was controlled and took the pictures. She couldn't keep her glance averted from those two scars on her neck.() She knew that small one wouldn't be like those that should have been healed. She wanted to demand how she had gotten them, but managed to restrain herself.() The X-ray moved up and down Pan's body using the rollers that granted it movement. The doctor came out and said that it would take a day or so to properly analyze the damage. Bulma took Pan back to the lobby where the others were waiting. Bulma told them that it would take some time to find the problem and that they should all go home. Pan suddenly felt warm. She didn't know why. She looked about her to see if there was some kind of heating or warm breeze. When she looked outside was when she saw that which made her feel good. Vegeta had just touched down outside and was making his way to her slowly. 'Vegeta...' she said to herself quietly while smiling softly for the first time that day. He very quickly flashed a smile to her that no one saw before putting back his mask on. He reached her.
'How are you?' he asked in a hard voice, but with a soft foundation meant only for Pan's ears. Bulma managed to catch a trace of it though.
'I'm fine now,' she said as she looked up at him with a peaceful look on her now cheerful face. It was the truth. The pain she had felt before was gone. The cold atmosphere had suddenly become sunny and warm, and it was all because of him.
'Can you see through your eye?' She nodded happily. He smiled down at her. 'Good.' She wanted to jump up and hug him. She would have too were it not for her immobility and the presence of the others. 'I'm sorry that I couldn't have been there when you woke up. Bulma made me go the make sure that those two bakas at the tower were alive.' Pan felt a bit disheartened that Vegeta couldn't have been there because of something so trivial.
'Are they ok?' asked Bulma as she tried to find a mark on Vegeta's neck which matched Pan's.
'Ahh....' His eyes were looking up and to the side as if trying to think of something to say. 'I...couldn't find them.' Pan snorted in amusement.
'What do you mean 'you couldn't find them'!?! They could be dead! If they are you'll be sorry, Vegeta!' Vegeta took a very slight step back. Pan was snickering.
'Coward,' she said to Vegeta. Vegeta looked at her like she had said something funny.
'Are you calling ME, the Prince of all Saiya-jin, a coward? Hahaha!!!' He laughed as if it was the stupidest thing in the world. He stood over her, his armor from the night before shining in the sun which was gleaming through the doors, and poked her in the chest while he kept laughing. Bulma then saw it. An identical bite mark on his neck. She couldn't believe it. Couldn't believe that Vegeta had betrayed her for the granddaughter of someone she had known since her teen years. She didn't now what to feel. Remorse? Anger? Hate? She opted on both anger and hate. She was about to do something when Vegeta's insane laughter was cut short by a ki blast sending him spiraling into a wall.
There was Gohan, standing at the entrance to the hospital in SSJ2 mode. Vegeta barely had enough time to power up to SSJ1 when he was rushed by Gohan. He tried to ascend higher, but was still drained of strength. He fought Gohan with all of his strength, oblivious to the cries of protest from family members. 'Dad, stop!!' yelled Pan. He didn't acknowledge her. Vegeta was very quickly losing. He didn't have the power he needed to win. He had finally achieved the power to surpass everyone else on the planet put together, but was so exhausted from getting there that he couldn't use it. It was very frustrating. 'Dad!' Vegeta crashed into a wall. He didn't get up.
'I'll show you to never hurt my daughter again, you scum!' roared Gohan as he prepared a killing ki attack. He released the golden globe of energy. 'DAD, NO!!' Right before it hit Vegeta it exploded when it made contact with the person in front of him: Pan. She had leapt in the path of the blast. It was a good thing she was powered up to max, or else she would have been killed. She now lay in a painful heap on the ground struggling to get up. In a flash Gohan was over to her to help her up. She angrily batted away his hands as he tried to help her. Goten also was rejected when he tried to help. She slowly and painfully made her way back to her wheelchair and climbed in.
'What the fuck are you doing to Vegeta?! Huh?!!' Gohan stared at her before starting.
'He hurt you.'
'No, he didn't. He saved me.'
'But...he's covered in your blood. I could smell it from outside!! I could see it all over his hands! He was threatening you and laughing like a maniac when I came in!! You call that SAVING you?!'
'He wasn't threatening me, dad! We were laughing at something, and he's covered in my blood because he carried me from the Point to Korin's tower, and made sure I was safe. Not because he gutted me or something!' Gohan looked like he had the weight of the world dropped on his shoulders.
'I'm...sorry Pan. But it looked like he had hurt you from where I stood.'
'Maybe you should access the next situation with more care, you baka!' Pan wheeled herself painfully to where Vegeta had come to rest. She bent over to get a better look at him. He was in a sitting position up against the wall in an unconscious state. She pulled herself out of the chair and using her hands, rearranged her legs so that she could sit on them. Vegeta wasn't bloody or broken. Just terribly drained of energy. She gently shook him by the shoulders, but he didn't respond. She knew he was alive, and that he would survive, even without help, but she began to feel alone again. She tried to swallow the lump in her throat. 'Bulma?' she said shakily. She came over. 'Put him in a tank, please,' she asked with a hint of urgency. Bulma did nothing. She was shaking. During the brief skirmish she had changed from hate and anger, to remorse.
'Pan. Why are you and Vegeta bonded to each other?' asked Bulma shakily, barely stopping herself from braking down then and there. Pan blood went cold. She turned around slowly and looked at Bulma's form.
'What did you say?' she gasped out.
'I said "Why are you and Vegeta bonded to each other?" I can see the marks on both of your necks.' She felt herself getting angry again. 'That means that there is something going on between to two. Right?!' She began to breath heavily. 'Are you two fucking?! Or are you using him!?'
'What are you talking about, Bulma!?' demanded Gohan.
'I'm talking about the fact that they're bonded. It's a Saiya-jin equivalent of marriage, and both Pan and Vegeta carry the bonding marks on each other's necks!! They've been spending all week together too!' She turned to Pan. 'I assume that every time you two came out of the GR all sweaty and exhausted you were doing things other than training!! Right!!!?' Bulma by now was hyperventilating. Pan was on the verge of tears.
'Why are you accusing Pan of doing those kind of things!? We both know she'd never do that! Right, Pan?' asked Gohan with a smile. Pan stared at him with shocked, frightened eyes. 'Right, Pan?' He repeated with an uneasy chuckle. 'Pan?' She opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out. 'You didn't,' he said hint of dread and disgust creeping into his voice. 'How could you!?'
'It's not like that!' she cried. 'It was-' She was cut off.
'He took advantage of you, Pan!! Can't you see that!!?!' Pan tried to defend herself, but she was at a loss for words. She felt like it was too much to bear. 'Don't worry, Pan! I'LL MAKE SURE HE NEVER USES ANYONE AGAIN!!!!' roared Gohan as he charged up a very, very powerful Kamehameha. His hair and eyes changed colour. He aimed the blast right at an unconscious Vegeta. Pan knew she had to do something, quick, or else Vegeta would die. What happened next went by in slow motion for Pan. Gohan released the Kamehameha, which was easily enough to destroy the whole hospital. Pan watched in horror as it sailed towards Vegeta. She couldn't block it. She couldn't deflect it. In one moment of shear instinct, she used her ki, and leapt in front of the blast with only one thought in her head. "If he can't survive, I would rather join him in death than live without him." This was her last coherent thought before the blast impacted into her unguarded chest.
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'PAAAAAAAAN!!!!!!' roared Gohan as he saw his only daughter leap in front of his Kamehameha. It impacted, and sent him and everyone else crashing into the ground. Bulma and Bra were knocked unconscious. Goten and Trunks used every ounce of power within them to contain the resulting explosion and save the hospital. When the blast had exhausted itself, they let up the ki shield and dropped out of SSJ1. The lobby was now trashed. They could see the iron skeleton of the building, as the walls and ceiling had been blown away. There was so much smoke and dust that the Z-Fighters couldn't see an inch in front of their noses. After a few seconds, an extremely bright swaying glow could be seen from within the suffocating cloud of ash. A feminine roar of anger could be heard from within. Very suddenly, the ash was blown clear away and Pan was there, floating in the air and breathing very heavily with murder written all over her face. Her now extremely long, golden hair spiked all over the place. It was long enough to touch her ankles. She looked around at everyone's shocked faces. Her hair illuminated the room in a golden glow. She set down. She took a step forward. She wasn't actually walking. Just using her ki to move her legs for her and floating so close to the ground that you couldn't tell. She stepped up to her dad. 'H...Honey?' She glared mightily at him before picking him up by the collar and holding his still SSJ2 form at an arms length. Everyone else just stared in shock, except Chi-Chi, who fainted.
'DON'T "Honey" me, you bastard!! What do you think you're doing!?! Vegeta is NOT taking advantage of me, and if you presume otherwise, then you've got another thing coming!' yelled Pan. She was openly crying as she said this. 'I love Vegeta more than you can imagine, and I feel strongly that you should be punished for trying to destroy what we have!' she said desperately before kicking him out onto the grass outside. She rose higher into the air and rushed him. He was staring at her, bracing himself for a punch to the front. When Pan was a few inches from his face she shifted directions and did a very fast, quite big semi-circle and punched him in the back of the head. He was knocked to the ground. She suddenly saw both SSJ Goten and Trunks leap at her in an attempt to restrain her. She snarled and casually blasted them away. They landed on top of one another. Their hair returned to its original color. She turned back to her dad and gathered a ball of ki the size of an extra large beach ball and aimed it at him, who looked at her with hurt and disbelief on his features.
'STOP IT, PAN!!' begged a new voice. Pan turned her head and saw the desperate face of her mother through her tear-clouded eyes.
'Mom?' questioned Pan shakily. She looked at her hand, then at her dad, then over at Goten and Trunks, then at the hospital. 'Did I do all this?' she whispered to herself. She dissipated the large ball of ki and floated up a bit. She looked at her mother, who was staring at her disbelievingly. Pan's tear-streaked face told Videl all she needed to know. Pan couldn't take it. She hurt her friend and her uncle. She almost killed her dad. She probably killed some people in the hospital. Bulma hated her. Bra and Trunks probably did too. She couldn't take being around them anymore. With an explosion of light and a super-sonic boom she flew into the lobby, picked up Vegeta and at top speed flew away from her friends. Her family. From her entire life.
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