For disclaimer, see chapter one.

Author's Note:

*Grins* to set a few minds at ease, after my last few escapades in the writing arena, my muse had the bright idea to come up with an outline for this story. There shouldn't be too many fears about my finishing this one. Once again, thank you for all the wonderful reviews. Read, enjoy, and keep up with the fantastic comments!

Trial Date

The paper rattled as Gohan flipped the page. Sitting in a small, featureless room left very few options as to what entertainment was. And, even though the front page was depressing, there were other, more uplifting stories to be read. Like the interesting article on the American comic book hero, Superman. The character always did amuse the young man, for obvious reasons.

Of course, there was also the comic section. If that wasn't uplifting, he didn't know what was. Gohan took another drink of his bottled water. The food restriction had been lifted and he had received dinner later after Videl left. If the portions the jail served could be called a meal. The Garfield comic related to his food dilemma quite well.

It had been so wonderful that Videl had brought that cake. At least for an hour or two yesterday, he felt some semblance of full. Not now though. Perhaps if he were a normal human, the breakfast of a small egg patty, a single piece of toast, a hash round triangle, and a one cup portion of orange juice, would have done something for him. Gohan considered. No, that wouldn't even satisfy a normal teenage male. Let alone a demi-Saiyan. He silently damned his Saiyan side, again.

The young man was aware that it was Tuesday morning, after all, he had received breakfast. Other than the meal though, Gohan had his watch to tell him the time of day. No windows in this room to stare longingly out of. Only a small sliding door built into the cell door to allow his food in and trays out.

The guards seemed to have a fear of him escaping too. Granted, Gohan was aware he could escape right from this room, but they weren't. He was being treated like dirt as a result, and he knew it. Every other inmate was allowed a shower every other day. The typically sanitary Son Gohan, was not best pleased to have gone three full days with out shower.

Not that he really stunk or anything. Yet. Another result of being locked down was that Saiyaman was not allowed any exercise period. None. Aside from whatever activities he could manage in the nine foot by six foot cell. And those activities were hindered by the little metal toilet and sink, and the bunk. At least the sink offered some sort of sanitation.

The exorcise topic came right back around to the food dilemma. He really didn't want to perform too many activities during a food shortage. Something would have to give. But Gohan couldn't just sit still either. So he fidgeted. He rattled the paper more than was absolutely necessary. He scuffed his feet on the floor. And the young man spent a lot of time changing positions. All of which still burned energy.

Videl had said his parents were coming to visit today. Even with the word being out that Great Saiyaman had parents, it would be worth it. After all, they lived way out there. No one in the city would really recognize the Sons. Gohan was in desperate need of some contact with his parents. Mother, specifically. She always knew how to make things at least a little better in a nasty situation.

And this situation really sucked.

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

Miss Sarah Sweena was a delicate woman who would have been quite beautiful were in not for the large, thick, glasses and the librarian style of dress. Despite these things, she had a presence in the room that one could not miss. Despite her record, Videl was quite impressed with the woman.

Mr. Satan's daughter and the president of Capsule Corporation were the only two sitting in with Miss Sweena this morning. Chi Chi had taken Goku and were off to visit their son. Bulma had left Vegita at home to watch the children. That concept on it own was way too amusing. With the Son woman gone, they were allowed a little freer speech with the attorney.

Sarah steeped her hands in front of her face and began the conversation again. "So, what we know is that the prosecutor's witness, a Mr. Laus, says he saw Great Saiyaman enter the building at 12:15 Sunday morning. They have no solid proof, no pictures, no shred of cloth. Only a witness. That is what my papers say."

Bulma nodded, "Yes, actually, that's more than we had been told, but yes."

Sarah adjusted her glasses. "And what do we have to prove he was not there? Besides Miss Videl's word."

Videl shifted uncomfortably. Gohan had been right, they did have witnesses, and they were in fact witnesses to Great Saiyaman being around. Of course, Gohan hadn't remembered prancing about in that ridiculous costume singing at the top of his lungs. Probably a good thing. "I uh… we have witnesses to Saiyaman being some place else that evening, including me."

Of course, they were witnesses Videl had had some vague hope that Chi Chi would never have to find out about. Gohan would never be able to leave his house again, but he wouldn't be in jail. Miss Sweena raised her eyebrows. "Go on."

"Well, he showed up at a party we were at on Saturday night…"

Sarah stood and placed her hands on the desk leaning forward. "He showed up at a party? He was there the whole night?"

"Ah, yes. I picked him up there to bring to the PD when we heard the news, actually."

"Why didn't you tell me this information before? This is fantastic!"

Videl shifted again, "Well… uh…"

Sarah's eyes narrowed. "This isn't as good of news as I'm hoping for, is it?"

"No, its not. The party was sort of an underage drinking party…"

The lawyer leaned back and closed her eyes. "Let me guess, everyone there was drunk."

"Well, no. I wasn't drunk. I had a bottle of wine cooler, that was it. But, that still won't fly well with the court, I know."

"No, it won't. However, this is still better than nothing. If you'll just write down the names and numbers of the people who saw Great Saiyaman there, I'll call them and see if I can get them in here tomorrow, say nine-ish. You guys of course, should come then as well if at all possible."

Videl took the offered pen and paper and did as asked. Bulma responded to the woman with a smile. "Nine tomorrow morning, no problem. Thank you, Miss Sweena."

Handing the names and numbers back, Videl and Bulma stood. "No, thank you. If we are lucky, we may just have a chance of getting Great Saiyaman out of this mire yet." and she escorted them to the door.

On the way back down to the parking lot, Bulma couldn't restrain her curiosity. "Videl, I know Gohan was at that party and all, but isn't it lying to say Saiyaman was there?"

"No, it's not. Gohan was a really funny drunk for a couple of hours. He hit the button at one point and out popped the Saiyaman outfit. So… in that respect, Great Saiyaman was there."

Bulma narrowed her eyes. "That's not good. Then anyone at that party would know his secret identity!"

Smiling, Videl replied. "Actually, only two people besides me saw it. Sharpner and Erasa, who knew all ready. The other two guys there had all ready passed out. So, Sharpner and Erasa are the ones that are going to get a phone call today."

"Really. OK then." Bulma considered for a moment before getting a truly devious expression on her face. "So, what exactly did Great Saiyaman do that night?"

Videl grinned and proceeded to tell Bulma of that night's entertainment. Laughter followed the two woman into Bulma's lovely white van.

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

Goku and Chi Chi sat on the far end of the table in the tiny room. The place had two doors, both solid metal, a table, and four chairs. That was it. The whole thing grated on Chi Chi, her son didn't deserve any such placement as this!

The door they faced opened slowly and a guard walked Saiyaman in. The guard then stepped out with a quick reminder to both parties to knock on the door when they were finished. Chi Chi stared at her boy for a long moment. He looked disheveled, tired. And those guards had him handcuffed!

Dredging up a smile, Gohan was the first to break the ice. "Hi Mom, Dad."

That was all it took for the mother to launch herself at her son. Chi Chi pulled her eldest tightly into her arms. He made an effort to return the gesture, but was blocked by the rattle of his cuffs. The boy gave up with a sigh and leaned into her embrace. Chi Chi allowed him that comfort for a moment before pulling back and gingerly touching the metal about his wrists. "They could have at least taken these evil things off of you to visit your parents."

Gohan shook his head and pulled off his glasses. "The rules say the cuffs have to stay on for visiting. After all, a criminal could turn on any one, even his own parents."

Chi Chi grabbed her son by the shoulders and gave him a solid shake. "I don't ever want to hear you talk like that again, Son Gohan! You are not a criminal no matter what these rotten police and jail guards say!"

And Gohan smiled again, a sad smile Chi Chi realized. "I know, Mom. Thank you," he looked at his father to involve him in the next statement. "Thank you both for coming to visit me."

"Oh, Gohan, my baby boy, they couldn't hold me off if they wanted too! How are they treating you Sweet heart? Are they feeding you well enough? You seem a little thin."

"It's all right. They pretty much leave me alone. I get breakfast lunch and dinner on schedule everyday."

Chi Chi noted how Gohan had carefully skirted each of her questions. This time, she would let it go. Chi Chi had to grudgingly admit that those were not the important issues of their visit anyway. "Videl told you that we found a lawyer, right?"

"Yes, Sarah Sweena."

"Oh good. Bulma and Videl are talking to her right now. They set a Trial date."

Gohan looked up, "They did?"

Goku stepped into the conversation then. "Yup, its on Friday."

"This Friday?" Gohan was obviously confused, "So soon? I've always heard it takes months for things like that to go through."

The father nodded. "Yup, so soon."

Chi Chi picked up to explain it further. Gohan had always been a detail oriented boy. "It seems that with two big names involved, the court decided that sitting on this for too long would be explosive. The soonest they could schedule a trial date four was Friday, so that's when its set."

Gohan visibly brightened. "That's wonderful news!"

Chi Chi bit her cheek. That little piece of news made him so happy. Then, what exactly was this place doing to him? She hadn't lied, in the hug she had found him to be to thin. And his eyes were so sad. She felt as if she were looking into her son's eyes when he was ten again. That was not a pleasing comparison.

To think that two days in this wretched place could induce a similar sort of depression that the entire fight with Cell and loosing his father had done. It was taking a step backwards for Gohan. Chi Chi felt tears begin to well up at the corners of her eyes. She pulled her son back into an embrace and kissed him gently on the forehead. "We love you, baby, you just remember that in this place. We love you. We are doing everything we can to help you."

"Thanks, Mom. I needed that. I love you too."

Chi Chi then pulled back and hurriedly knocked on the door to exit. She was going to break down crying, and that was the last thing Gohan needed. She remembered the effect that had had on him after Cell. When she had found out that Gohan could hear her crying at night… Chi Chi shuddered and began sobbing outside the door.

Chi Chi felt her husbands warm arms encircle her then and looked up into his warm, beautiful face. This wasn't the same as Cell. This was just a few morons accusing her son of murder. She had to stay strong, for her boy.

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

"I don't know Goten, what if your brother really did kill that fat guy."

Goten pouted. "Come on Trunks! You know Gohan would never ever murder anyone!"

"All the news people seem to think he's guilty. Its all over the TV."

"Momma says you can't always believe what you see on TV. And my brother wouldn't ever do that!"

"All right, whatever. Just serve the friggin' birdie."

Goten through the little white shuttlecock into the air and whacked it as hard as he could at Trunks. How dare he even suspect that Gohan could a killed that guy. Great Saiyaman was Goten's hero, even if that was only because Saiyaman was his older brother. To have his beat friend say such things…

"So, if Gohan didn't do it Goten, tell me who did."

The little boy drew his eyebrows together. "I don't know."

Trunks nodded. "Maybe that Blow hard Mr. Satan did it."

"Why would he wanna kill the fat guy?"

"Maybe he wanted money or something. Whatever."

"But, Mr. Satan is rich. He's got a real big house, like yours."

"Well, he doesn't like your brother, maybe he killed the guy to have Gohan take the fall."

"I guess," Goten returned the birdie over the net, "But I don't think Mr. Satan did it Trunks. He's all talk."

Trunks swung at the white projectile and missed with an oath. He picked it up and served it back. "I know that, Goten, but someone killed the guy. And your brother's getting the heat for it."

"Yeah. I wish he would be here. I miss him."

"Come on, its not like he died. You'll see him again."

"I guess."

Vegita stood in the shadow of the building watching the badminton game, listening, considering. The brats had a point. One that he would have to keep in mind.