For disclaimer, see chapter one.

Author's Note:

Ah, and our darling boy gets to see a jail, personally. *Nods at Enchantress101* Thank you for the plug in advance, darling ^_^ I've noticed the lack of notoriety. However, it does make me appreciate those of you that have reviewed all the much more. Thank you all! As always, read, enjoy, and review!

Jail Time

Pulled along as he was, Saiyaman had very little chance to look about his surroundings. He had never personally been this far into the building before. Usually, he and Videl would just drop the criminals off at the front desk and be on their way. It seemed things were different form the criminal's point of view though.

He was jerked roughly to the right suddenly and into a little room. It was painted a disgusting orange color. Way to make a person feel nervous right off the bat. The room consisted of three doors, two of which lead off to smaller rooms that reminded our hero of confession booths. On the one door-less wall stood a computer desk with an ink pad and a tiny camera set up with a ruler positioned against the wall.

There was also another officer in the room. A man Saiyaman recognized, he had already saved him on three different occasions after all. Sergeant Rund. Hernandez pulled him to a stop, drew himself to his full height (a good foot taller than Gohan), and ordered. "Take off your glasses, turban, and gloves."

Gohan swallowed. He had known this would happen, had implied to Videl that he would know how to handle it. However, he really hadn't actually put any thought to it. He needed to come up with something fast. The boy groaned inwardly, he stood no chance. Slow thought processing was a distinct Son trait. Gohan cursed it. He was, in the end, saved the effort.

"Hernandez, is that necessary? We can take the mug with it on. And who needs finger prints? Anyone can recognize Great Saiyaman." piped up Sergeant Rund.

"It's the protocol, Rund. Our not-so-Great Saiyaman is not above protocol."

The second officer rolled his eyes. "Please, Hernandez. Throw out your hand book all ready, its useless and we all know that. Great Saiyman sir, if you'll hold this number card and stand facing the camera next to that ruler."

Gohan did as he was asked. Its seemed that what went around came around, and one good turn deserved another. He would have to thank Sergeant Rund when this was all over. And until then, he knew of at least one man on his side in the police force. "Very good, sir. Now if you'll just stand profile. Wonderful."

Still, that thing that had sunk in his stomach hadn't come back up. Being booked like a common criminal. No, not a common criminal, a murderer! It was a frightening prospect. For all the battles he had faced, all the challenges brought before him, never had it been anything like this. The flash snapped. In this challenge, he faced potentially spending the rest of his days in prison.

"Ok then, we'll just type up a quick profile for you to send to the government data base. Sgt Hernandez, you can go on back to your desk, I'll handle things from here."

"Hey, I'm the one that brought him back here, I get to do the booking, Rund. This isn't fair!"

"Hernandez!" Rund's tone held an authority of a man who held a higher standing in the force, despite having the same title. "Go back to the front desk!"

Grumbling, the man trudged out of the small booking room. Rund sat back in his chair and breathed a sigh of relief. "That man is the most rat like fink on this force. He's been saved by you before, but the first chance he has, he turns on you. I'm sorry about all of this Saiyaman sir, a good many of us don't believe you did this."

Gohan shook his head. "They all cheered when Miss Videl brought me in, Sergeant Rund. I don't know that all that many really do believe me innocent. I am gratified however, that you do. Thank you ever so much."

"Is that what that loud cheer was about?" The tall brunet man closed his eyes. "Figures. Kami, I wish they wouldn't be so quick to turn on you. This is proving only that it takes very little to bring out the worst in people. Anyway, we do have to type up your profile quick, and then I'll get you set up with the phone in one of our 'private' rooms. Saying of course, that you need the phone?"

"Yes, please." Saiyaman nodded.

The half Saiyan answered the questions posed to him on autopilot. His mind was on other things. If, he were for some reason, actually convicted of this wretched act, he would spend a lot of time in prison. Granted, given his strength, speed, and general 'special' abilities, if he really didn't want to be in prison, he wouldn't be. What would that say about Great Saiyaman though? Would Gohan be able to stand not being able to go out and help people? Because Great Saiyaman would be a black listed name. No, no, this whole thing was the wrong line of thought. Think positive.

Profile finished, if vague do to the circumstances surrounding the enigmatic hero, Great Saiyaman was ushered into one of the confessional rooms and set up with a phone of the same disgusting orange as the paint. Sergeant Rund said he had fifteen minutes and left the room, closing the door behind him. That was a relief. Hearing ones hero explaining sheepishly to his mother that he was convicted of murder, probably wouldn't do a thing for Rund. It would be quite embarrassing to Gohan.

Working up his bravado, Gohan slowly dialed in his home phone number. "Hello," chimed his mother's voice, "This is the Son residence."

"Hi Mom."

"Gohan? Dear, what are you calling for? Do you need to stay later than we discussed?"

"Uh, not exactly, no."

"Well then what is it dear?"

"You know Mr. Pulaz, right?"

"That rich old American that has been all over the news lately? Of course. What does that have to do with anything?"

"Well, he was murdered last night and uh… Great Saiyaman is the prime suspect."

A moment of silence followed and then Chi Chi fairly shrieked in his ear, setting the war drums to their terrible music again. How long did it take for a hangover to be rid of, anyway? "Accused of murder? Oh, my poor boy! Where are you?"

"I'm calling form the PD. This is the phone call they allow."

"Oh no! Your all ready their? Do they REALLY think that you did this Gohan? How could they think anything like this out of my little boy? Are they Going to put you in jail? What about school tomorrow?"

"I, yes they're going to put me in jail. And no, not all of them believe me guilty. I think I need to ask you to call me in sick to school until whenever the trial for this is all over with."

Chi Chi gasped, and Gohan feared for a moment that she would faint on the other end of the phone line. "Trial? Oh dear Dende, this really is serious. Do you know who they're assigning to you as a lawyer? Or when the trial is?"

"They… they haven't set a trial date yet. As to the lawyer, I asked Videl if she would find me a good one. "

"Oh dear, Videl must be so upset about this. I contact her at once to see if I can help. I should call Bulma as well, I hate begging her for money, but attorney's are expensive."

Gohan was stunned, and couldn't help but half grin. "Wow Mom, you know quite a bit about this process, don't you?"

"Well things have changed a little since I studied this sort of thing. As the daughter of a man like Ox King, I needed to learn these things."

"Oh, of course." Rund rapped lightly on the door, signaling that Gohan had to wrap up the conversation. "Uh ,Mom, I have to go. My phone time is up."

"It is? Oh dear. Well, I'll look into this Gohan, and I'll bring your father by as soon as we can to come visit you. And you'll have to make up all of the homework you miss when this whole business is done with! Gohan, my sweet little boy, I love you."

"Thanks Mom. I love you too."

"You'll…," She sniffled, "You'll be all right there, Sweetie?"

"Yeah Mom, I'll make it. Tell Dad and Goten I love them. I'll miss you guys while I'm here…"

He heard his mother break down sobbing on the other end f the line. "We'll miss you too, baby!"

"Good bye, Mom, I'll see you soon then."

"Good bye, sweetheart." she sniffled and the line went dead with a click.

Gohan held the phone close to his heart for a moment and fought off the tears that wanted to come to his own eyes. This was no time to break down. Considering normally he would hate being called baby by his mother at this point, it was a comforting pet name.

The door creaked open and Seargent Rund stepped in. "Saiyaman sir, I need to take you to the jail now. Don't worry, its just a short walk across the street."

Gohan set the phone down on the receiver and stood, offering his cuffed hands to Rund. "All right."

The sergeant took the chain between his cuffs and looked down at the floor. "Look, Great Saiyaman, even if no one else says it, we do appreciate your cooperation in this matter. After watching you throw cars around, I'm well aware that these hand cuffs would be nothing to stop you if you really didn't want to be here."

Gohan looked up at the man. He wasn't all that much taller that the half Saiyan, but he was a good deal older by the look of him. It was odd to hear that sort of respect out of one's elder. "I wouldn't go against any of you. I'm innocent, and the only way to prove that , I'm afraid, is to go along with our country's fine justice system."

Rund laughed and began guiding Gohan out the back door. "If only all of our suspects had your outlook, Mr. Saiyaman. This job would be so much less violent."

Great Saiyaman was guided across the street to a large brick building that housed both the Satan City courts, on the top two floors, and the Satan City Jail, in the sub floors. Gohan deftly removed his belt and watch at the metal detector, which were kindly returned by Sgt Rund once though. He was then guided to an elevator at the far end of the first floor. A guard stood their on duty and nodded to Rund as he guided his prisoner through the sliding doors.

"Saiyaman sir, I'm afraid that I can't be sure if you'll have any friends on the inside here. The Jail guards are a separate staff from the police force. They're a pretty inside group." The man scowled. "Then, if I had to be indoors with all of these criminals all of the time, I would probably be a surely, sunless guy too."

"That's all right, Sergeant. As you said before, I can take care of myself. But, thank you for your concern."

The doors slid open again, this time to the basement level and Rund guided Gohan to the guard who assigned cells. Saying a brief good bye, he left Gohan in the hands of the prison staff. The young man felt that weight in his stomach sink a little bit deeper.

The assigning guard was a big, burly woman. She looked as if she had just stepped out of the stone age. Were Gohan a normal man, he would have felt very intimidated. Despite her size and first appearance, she was a strangely detached person in that she was neither gentle or gruff in taking Saiyaman to his cell. Luckily for him, she felt no reason to issue one of the jail uniforms either.

Pressing the button to the cell, the door slid open. The burly woman unlocked his cuffs, pushed him into the cell and closed the door with a swoosh. Saiyaman curled his hands about the bars and watched her walk away. A gruff clearing of a throat behind him startled Gohan out of his skin. Had he been paying attention, different Ki sensing skills would have told him he wasn't alone. They were now screaming at him. The presence of five beings stood or sat behind him.

Great Saiyaman slowly turned around.

A giant of a man stood behind him. Gohan felt foolish, everyone in this city seemed to be taller than him when he wasn't feeling his best. He was getting bad vibes off of the giant and his four companions to say the least.

"Great Saiyaman," he boomed, "My name is Big Simon. Do you remember me? You put me in here. A long with my four buddies. I don't know why you're here and I don't care." Simon cracked his knuckles, "What I do know is, you ain't gonna make it out of here in one piece!"

Gohan swallowed. This was going to be a long night.

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

The wheels of the blue mini Van squealed as Bulma laid rubber out of Mr. Aka's parking lot. "That," she stated triumphantly, "is why cars with wheels can be better than air cars in town."

Videl once again had a solid grasp on the dash board chicken bar. "No kidding. That man was an insensitive prick. I hope he balls when he finds out he let the biggest case of the year slip through his fingers because of that remark."

Bulma grinned. "I would so love to be a fly on the wall when that happens."

They drove in silence for a bit. It was interrupted by the musical notes of Bulma's cell phone. She picked it up and Videl; silently listened in to her half of the conversation. "Bulma Briefs." she stated curtly.

The blue haired woman's face then changed quickly, along with her tone of voice. "Oh, hello Chi Chi Do you know that… Oh, Gohan called you? Yes, I know its horrible. … Oh, how do I know? Videl came over and asked me to help her find Gohan a lawyer right after she left the police station. … Yes, she's here with me… No we're in the car. We just left one Attorney's office, he was a prick. … You want to help us find a lawyer? I don't know Chi Chi… I, yes of course you should be involved, he is your son, but… You want to bring your family to Capsule Corps until this is done with? Well of course, we have plenty of space. I… wait for you? Chi Chi, we really must hurry. …Oh, your going to let Goku use his instant Transmission. O.K. then, we'll head back there. I'll see you in a few, Chi Chi, bye!"

Bulma had barely hung up the phone when Vegita leaned forward from the back seat. "Your going to put Kakkarot's family up at our place, woman?"

"Yes, Until this whole thing with Gohan is over with."

"What!?! Couldn't you just post bail on the boy or something? I don't want to put up with Kakkarot and his wench!"

Bulma turned and glowered at her lover. The mini van swerved dangerously and Videl feared she may not live to see Gohan through this. "Chi Chi is NOT a wench, Vegita! She is a great woman and Goku is a great guy! And where I own Capsule Corporation, and pay the bills on MY home, I can put anyone up there that I please!"

Grumbling, Vegita sat back. This round was lost, but there would be other opportunities. Bulma smiled, pleased with her victory. "Speaking of which, Videl, would you like to stay with us for a bit, until we get Gohan out of there?"

The girl shook her head. "I'd love to, but I don't think dad will go for it."

"Mr. Satan? Hah, give me three minutes on the phone with that man and he'll let you sleep naked in the same bed as Gohan."

Videl blushed a brilliant red, yet managed to thank Bulma. Gohan's friends and family sure were an odd lot, but even with all of the teasing, they were better than putting up with her own father most of the time. If she stayed at Capsule Corps, Bulma and Chi Chi would be the support she would need. Videl rested her chin on her hand and watched the city go by out the window. 'Hang in there, Gohan.' she thought.

*Author looks about* Can I ask you guys a favor? I haven't decided what the second genre for this story should be. I'm sure we all agree that it is foremost a mystery. For the favor, do you all think this would be a mystery/romance, mystery/humor, or mystery/drama? Just let me know in the review form. Thanks!