Disclaimer on first chapter

Author's note:

A big thanks to those of you who have reviewed this so far. We should know this is a very different genre of story for DoC. Now then, on with the show, and please, keep up with the reviews!

Justice

"Murder? They think I committed murder?" Gohan understood now why Videl had had him sit.

Videl shook her head. "No, they think Great Saiyaman committed murder." she corrected.

"Yes, but he is me! And I was here last night…."

The girl leaned down to his seated level and grabbed the front of his shirt in her fists. "That you and Great Saiyaman are one in the same is a little known fact, Gohan! One the cops don't know," she lowered her eyes, "one that I won't tell them."

Videl let go of his shirt then, and sat beside the teen on the now infamous couch. She laid a hand on his thigh and looked at him earnestly. "Look, the captain called me in because he hoped that where I 'know' Saiyaman that I can find him and bring him to justice."

Gohan's eyebrows drew together. "And you…"

"And I'm going to tell them that I can't find him! Gohan, Just don't go out as Saiyaman for a while. We can find the real murderer our selves and you won't have to risk…"

"My identity." Gohan closed his eyes and considered for a moment. "I can't ask you to do that Videl, you would have to lie."

"Gohan, this is no time to go all moralistic on me!" she yelled.

He winced, apparently the war drums weren't as far gone as he had hoped, and replied, "Yes, I think this is the perfect time to go all moralistic on you. Great Saiyaman is supposed to stand for things like morals, justice, and standing up for the little guy. If he, if I can't trust that the police can find the real murderer…"

"Oh for Kami's sake, Gohan. Look around you! The police station here doesn't exactly have the best reputation for solving crimes on their own!"

"It doesn't matter, Videl. I am innocent. We both know that, but the only way to really prove that to the police and to the city itself will be by using their methods. If the officers on the case don't find the real killer, we'll go after him or her after we prove Great Saiyaman's innocents."

"Gohan, you moron! If we find the murderer first, WE can prove Great Saiyaman innocent all that much faster!"

"No." Gohan stated solemnly and hit the small red button on his watch. "I think we need to leave this one to the justice system. If Saiyaman is who they think did it, then they won't believe it if we did bring anyone else in as the real killer. Even with you and your reputation backing it Videl."

The girl closed her eyes and growled deep in her throat. "They've known me for quite a few years Gohan, I think they would believe me!"

"Videl," he looked at her from behind the dark shade of his outfit's glasses, "Great Saiyaman is famous. Anyone would want to be associated with a case where a famous person is being brought to 'justice.' Even at the cost of said justice. Right?"

Her hand tightened on his leg. Not as a comforting gesture, more as a way to keep from hitting someone gesture. "Yes, your right," she said grudgingly, "Your going to need one hell of a lawyer."

"Why? We have witness to say I was here last night."

"What we have are witness to say Gohan was here last night. What the prosecutor has, is a witness to say Great Saiyaman entered Mr. Pulaz's building last night during the time period when his murder was said to have taken place. And besides Gohan, our witness were all drunk!"

"You weren't. Drunk, I mean"

Videl stopped in the middle of continuing her argument. "How do you know? You were plastered!"

"You didn't show any signs of it this morning. But, they have a witness? If I was here, how could I be there?"

"Yes, they do. I don't know. You were definitely here all last night. I would say maybe the witness mistook someone else as Saiyaman, but I don't think anyone is blind enough at anytime of day to mess up and mistake your costume."

Saiyaman scowled and played with the buckle of his belt. Videl was amongst those that thought the costume was ugly. He liked it. "I don't know either. I suppose though, that your going to have to work on that one on your own for a while. Suspected murderers get put in a jail cell until trial, right?"

"In this case, probably. I don't think they'll put the trial off for to long with two big names like this involved. Otherwise you would be put in prison."

The young man looked down at his lap then, "Oh."

Videl felt sympathy for him then. Typical male, he was going to be all strong and resolute about what needed to be done, but he was still just a teenager like her. "Are you sure you want to go through with this, Gohan?"

He nodded and met her look with a smile. "Yeah. Uh, whenever your ready."

Videl nodded, yet hesitated for a moment. "I won't handcuff you Gohan, but they will when you get there. Just as fair warning. And they're probably going to want to unmask you, and take finger prints…"

"No, I don't think so. I mean, they'll want to, but even a suspect can manipulate."

Videl snorted. "I'm sorry Gohan, but I just don't see you as the manipulative sort. But… I know if you don't want them to do something, they will have no way to make you do it. We should go then."

Sharpner's head popped around the corner then. "You guys done, or what? Woah, Gohan why the costume, you guys going on call?"

"Not exactly," Gohan stated and stood. "But I guess you could say that."

Videl tangled one hand in with Gohan's and began leading him to the door. "Thanks for the party Sharpner. I'll get in touch with you soon, your probably going to need to testify."

"Testify? What the hell do you mean testify?" Sharpner abruptly realized he was talking to an empty doorway. "Damn it, Videl."

The feisty girl lead Great Saiyaman by the hand through the air. He of course knew where the police station was at, but Videl was supposed to be taking him to justice. Gohan closed his eyes and swallowed. Accused of murder. He had never imagined such a thing ever happening. Of all the scenarios he had run through in his head about what would happen by coming out in public as a hero, he had never thought of being framed for a crime. What else could explain the situation?

Gohan felt a squeeze on his hand and looked up to see Videl offering a strong smile for him. She was being very kind about this. They were best friends of course, but Gohan was very used to her scathing tongue. He was surprised that it wasn't choosing to make a guest appearance now. Speaking of tongues, he feared his mother's when she found out. He groaned at the thought. Videl heard it. "What's that for, Gohan?"

"My mother. Who is going to tell my mother? She won't ever let me go out again, I think, after hearing this."

"I would suggest you tell your mother."

"When? I'm going to jail, remember?"

She giggled. "You really aren't fine tuned on the points of our justice system are you? You are allowed one phone call when you get there. Call your mom then. And, just tell her the truth, Chi Chi is an intelligent woman, I think she will understand."

Gohan wasn't amused. "If you say so, Videl. Can I ask you a favor?"

"Of course, anything."

"Would you find me a lawyer? I don't want some court appointed one. I trust your judgment on finding a good, honest lawyer."

Videl gave him a very flat look. "An honest lawyer. Uh huh. Well, I will try Gohan, you can count on that."

"Thanks, Videl. You're a wonderful friend."

She blushed then, odd for her, and they continued they're journey in silence. The police station was a low flat building with no architectural creativity whatsoever. Yet, even though they flew in above it, it seemed to loom before Gohan. As it stood, this was going to be his home for the next… however long until trial. He had committed himself to it.

They flew down and startled passer bys by landing on the side walk right before the stairs to the main entrance. Videl loosed his hand and grabbed a hold of his wrist instead. Gohan felt his heart sink. That was it, the last straw. He was here, and going in.

Videl took the lead, and as she guided him through the front door they were met with a round of applause. Gohan felt ill. She was the one getting the applause, he was getting sour looks. How could all of them, whom he had helped solve so many crimes, turn on him so quickly? Or, maybe all was to harsh. Gohan scanned the faces in the sea of officers. A few looked sympathetic, looked like they knew he was innocent. Very few.

Sgt. Hernandez (his nametag said as much) stepped forward and quickly slapped a pair of cuffs on Saiyaman's wrists. He then slapped Videl on the back and congratulated her on brining in the murderer. Videl scowled. "Suspected murderer, Sergeant. I believe he is innocent, personally, and will do every thing in my power to prove it so!"

"Do you now? He has a past history and all, with the baby dinosaur thing."

"That baby dinosaur had been stolen from his parents by that cruel circus man, and you know that!"

"There is no such crime as stealing from an animal parent. There is one about stealing from a man. I say Saiyaman here has just been feeling above the law, and has finally gotten caught at it." A loud huzzah from fellow officers followed that statement.

Videl raised her fist and likely would have hit the man, but Gohan laid one of his cuffed hands on her shoulder. "It's not worth it Videl. I need you out there, helping me. Not in here with me for assault of an officer."

The sergeant was startled. Apparently Videl had never raised a hand against any officer before, or so the murmurs that spread though the crowd said. Gohan could not stand to put Videl through any more of this. "Thank you, Videl. I think maybe you should leave now. I'll see you later?"

She was shaking mad. It took a moment, but finally Videl nodded her assent to Gohan. He smiled then and raised his cuffed arms to the Sergeant to take hold of. "I believe you need to do some things with me, before we can go any farther, right?"

The officer snatched at the chain between Saiyaman's cuffs and dragged him off towards the back mug shot and information room. That was the last Gohan would see of Videl for the next two days, even if he didn't know it right then.

******************

Videl watched the bright red cape disappear from her view before looking about at all the faces that stared at her yet. "What are you all looking at? Don't you have jobs to do, crimes to fight? Get back to work!"

She then turned on her heel and stormed out of the precinct. They were all morons. True, she was good friends with some of them, but at the moment they were all morons. To blame Gohan… Saiyaman of murder. How ridiculous was that? She fairly growled. And to bring up the whole baby dinosaur thing! She had even believed the Great Saiyaman was the one in the wrong that day. That was before she knew him.

That had been the day when Videl had gotten her proof that Gohan was indeed the newest protector of the city. The little nerdy boy who aced all of his entrance exams was the guy who could stop a plane form crashing and catch a bus without effort.

And now Gohan was her friend. Her best friend actually.

Videl took off into the air with out any particular destination. Gohan, she realized, was the one person she could trust to confide in at this point. Confide everything, not just the little things. Not that she had told Gohan everything of course. If she told him that maybe, just maybe, she thought of him as more than just a friend… Videl shuttered. For all of her brave façade, she was to chicken to do that. Perhaps when this whole thing was done with.

On that note, Gohan had asked her to find him an attorney. Videl knew she would need help with that. She wasn't all that familiar with the who's who in the law business around the city. She only brought criminals to justice, and didn't often have to sit in at trials. That, and the girl was also not of age to have an contract an attorney for Gohan. One needed to be eighteen to do that.

Videl considered her father. He would be able to afford the lawyer after all. Daddy though, didn't think to highly of Gohan. He would likely recommend a lawyer who would roll over at the first piece of evidence against his defendant. Someone else then. Someone who could afford it, and who would be willing to help find a good lawyer. Maybe even someone that all ready knew Gohan's secret identity.

Bulma Briefs!

Giving a war whoop and doing a quick summersault, Videl switched directions towards Capsule Corporation. Bulma was perfect! She would be willing to help, and had all the resources they could possibly ask for. Maybe she even knew a good attorney, after all, a company as big as Capsule Corporation had to have seen a few lawsuits in its time.

Landing lightly in the front yard, Videl ran to the door and hastily pressed the doorbell. Bouncing on her toes impatiently for a moment, she hit the doorbell button again. Upon raising her finger to the button a third time, the door was gruffly pulled open and she was greeted with an angry, "What is it, woman!?!"

Vegita, of course. The man was perpetually angry. "I need to talk to Bulma! Please?"

The prideful Saiyan grumbled something under his breath before opening the door all the way. "She's in the kitchen."

Taking that as an invite inside, Videl ran past him and through the house. Gohan had only brought her here a couple of times, but a Saiyan's favorite place is the kitchen, she knew where that room was. Vegita closed the door and followed behind her. Having the brat's young woman running through the house was odd. Especially when the boy himself was not with her. Having nothing better to do, the Saiyan prince decided he would stick around and find out the reason.

Before reaching the doorway, Videl was all ready calling out to her savior. Bulma met her there. "Videl? What is it?"

"Bulma, Great Saiyaman has been accused of murder!" Gasped Videl.

"Murder? They're accusing little Gohan of murder? That's horrible, where is he?"

Bulma maneuvered Videl to sit down as she asked her questions. Vegita took up a discrete position in the doorway. This was getting interesting. "Yes. It seems Mr. Pulaz.."

"The rich American guy?"

"Yeah, that's him. He was killed last night. A witness says they saw Great Saiyaman entering the scene of the crime. It doesn't look good. Gohan is at the PD right now. He said he wanted to leave the justice system to prove he didn't do it."

Bulma bit her cheek. "What did Chi Chi say to all of this?"

"I don't think she knows yet…"

"How can she not know if Gohan's all ready at the station? Didn't they come pick him up?"

Videl looked down at the floor. "Actually, I brought him to the station, but I didn't bring him from his house. You see we were at a party last night and Gohan was a bit tipsy to be going home to early."

"You got Son Gohan drunk? Wow, you may not want to tell Chi Chi that part."

Vegita just restrained a burst of laughter as he leaned against the doorway. The boy drunk, that was an amusing prospect. He would have to keep that in mind for some entertainment sometime when Gohan was over. Videl shook her head. "No I didn't plan on telling her that. Honestly, Gohan is the one that will have to tell her the whole thing on his phone call home." She cringed, "I don't envy him that."

"I know what you mean. I'm glad you told me and all, but why did you come rushing here first with the news, Videl?"

"Well, Gohan asked me to get him a good lawyer. I need some help and was hoping maybe you could…"

"Help? Of course! I know a couple that have covered our law suits over the years. Oh, but Gohan will never be able to afford an attorney. That's fine. I can pay that." Bulma was on a roll now. "We need a lawyer that won't be affected by the need for fame or glory, of course. That just wouldn't do at all."

Videl grinned and hoped up from her seat, happily throwing her arms around the older woman's neck. "Oh thank you so much Bulma! I knew you would help!"

"For Gohan, anything. Now, I think we need to go visit Mr. Aka first. He wins every trial, I hear." she stood and grabbed her bag and coat, guiding Videl to the door.

Both women were surprised when Vegita fell into to step behind them. Bulma looked suspiciously at her lover. "What are you doing, Vegita?"

"I'm coming with you. What does it matter to you?"

"What about the kids, Vegita?"

"Your parents took them to the fair, woman."

"Don't you have something better to do then? Training?"

"No." And he stayed right in step behind them.

Bulma growled and mumbled something unrepeatable. "Fine, but you get the back seat and I'm driving."

Videl felt a little nervous caught in the middle of the argument, but the prospect of Vegita going along with bothered her more. The man had an air about him that both angered her and scared the shit out of her. Which angered her further. But the Saiyan prince had obviously made up his mind. Though, why he would want to go along to meet an attorney completely baffled her.

Bulma's driving, Videl discovered, was a frightening experience. She clung the chicken bar attached the Capsule Corps mini van dash. Despite traffic and road hazards, the blue haired woman made it all the way across town in the fastest amount of time Videl could have imagined. The normally complaint filled Vegita sat markedly silent in the back seat.

Stepping out of the vehicle at the lawyer's office building, Bulma lead the team up to Mr. Aka's office. The secretary attempted to get snooty about not having set an appointment, but Bulma would hear none of it. Telling the woman who she was, Bulma was quite satisfied when the secretary blanched, realizing she was talking to the most powerful woman in the business world, and buzzed Mr. Aka to let him know he had an appointment, now.

Mr. Aka stood and offered an extravagant bow, before offering each a seat in his office before the large wooden desk. Vegita offered him a cool glare and made himself comfortable in the doorway, Bulma and Videl each took a seat.

"Now then, Miss Briefs, what may I help you with today?"

"I was curious about how you would feel about taking on a murder case. We know the suspect is innocent, we need it to be proven."

In Videl's mind, the man opened his mouth and reveled the stupidity of all men rolled into one. "Lady, I can convince the court that your kid is Elvis for the right money."

Videl and Bulma exchanged looks. This was going to be a very long process.