Disclaimer: I don't any part of Dragonball.
Note: Not much to say. Um, I won't be able to update or even work on Love's Pain next week. It is finals week here at MTSU and I desperately need to study. Thank you to everyone that has reviewed. I love each and everyone of you very much. It makes my day when I see that I have new reviews and each one of you are great for reviewing.
Love's Pain
Going Home and Changes
When Gohan and the others finally returned to the hospital they found Pan crying and Trunks desperately trying to talk to her. Gohan looked at his daughter in concern, knowing that she was not suppose to become upset and Trunks was definitely upsetting her. Gohan turned and told the others to wait while he would go find out what happened while they were gone. He frowned as he walked into the room and thought of all the things he was going to do to Trunks for upsetting his daughter.
When Gohan walked in he heard Trunks begging Pan to listen to him and Pan crying for him to leave her alone. Sensing that Pan was in danger of hurting herself, Gohan walked over to the two and stood in between them. He reached out and grasped Trunks shoulder, shaking him lightly to gain his attention. "Trunks, it would be for the best if you left now." Gohan said quietly but sternly.
"Please Gohan, I just wanted to talk to her." Trunks pleaded with him.
"I know but right now you are hurting her and I want you to leave. Pan wants you to leave."
Hearing Gohan say Pan wanted him gone, sent pain straight to his heart. Trunks looked at Gohan with his sorrow in his eyes as he turned and walked out of the door. Everyone moved out of the way as Trunks came out of Pan's room. Seeing the hurt on her brother's face, Bra tried to stop him as he walked past her, but Trunks shrugged her hand off his arm and kept on walking. Bulma started to to call him back but Vegeta stopped her.
(Inside Pan's Room)
"Pan, sweetheart I need you to calm down. Trunks is gone and he won't come back if you don't want him to. Please Monkey, relax. Hey I got a surprise for you outside. Do you want to know what it is?" Gohan asked trying to divert her attention to him. When Pan nodded to talk to her. "Mom is out there, along with Grandpa Goku, Grandma Chi Chi, Bulma, Vegeta, Bra, Uub, Marron, and her husband Mike. Uncle Goten said he would stop by with Parisu later on. Do you want me to let them in?" Gohan asked her as he hugged her still trying to get her to quit moving around.
"I want Momma right now." Pan said as she settled down and held on to Gohan's hand.
"Okay Monkey, I'll go get her, but Pan you are going to have to see everyone sooner or later. They have been worried about you and they are only going to sneak in here to see you, if you don't allow them in soon. I know you have been through a lot, but they all love you and want to be here to help." Gohan turned to leave to get Videl, only after he made Pan agree to let everyone in to see her after she spent some time with her mother. Gohan was stopped by Pan's hold on her hand. He tried to gently tug it out of her grasp but she only held tighter. "Monkey, you are going to have to let go if you want me to get your Mom." He said softly, freeing his hand. "I'll be right back."
(Outside the Hospital)
Trunks paced restlessly outside in the hospital's courtyard. His heart was broken and his mind was jumbled. 'Why won't she just listen to me? Dammit, I just want to make sure she is alright. Is that to much to ask for?' Trunks turned and destroyed another bench in the courtyard, as he became mad at the whole situation. Realizing that he had destroyed a couple of trees and all the benches but one, Trunks sat down before he could inflict anymore damage to the once beautiful courtyard. He dropped his head into his hands and tried to make sense out of everything when he heard someone speak to him.
"Hello Trunks."
"Hey Gohan." Trunks replied miserably before he jumped up to yell. "GOHAN! What are you doing out here? Is Pan alright? Why aren't you with her?"
"Trunks sit down. She is fine. I got her to calm down and she is with her mother at the moment."
"Okay, look I'm sorry I upset Pan. I just wanted to see her."
"I understand, but her doctor said that she is to stay calm and relaxed at all time until she is released form the hospital. Unfortunately, when you are around Pan is neither calm nor relaxed. I'm sorry to say this but I need you to stay away until she is hundred percent better and is out of the hospital. I know it will be hard on you but I also know that you don't want to see my daughter in anymore pain. Now I want you to tell me what happened up there." Gohan said sitting down beside Trunks.
"Fine, I'll stay away, but promise me that I can see her if she decides that she wants to see me."
"Okay, I promise. Now tell me."
"Well after everyone left to go to your house I went in her room to be with her. After a while I fell asleep holding her hand. I don't know how long I slept for but I woke up to Pan yelling and struggling. I think she was having a nightmare because she kept screaming Brolli's name and jerking at the hand I was holding. I tried to reassure her that Brolli was dead but she wouldn't listen. When she finally woke up, I tried to hug her and tell her everything would be okay, but she started yelling at me to get out, and to not touch her. I tried to reason with her, I told her I was sorry and I knew it was all my fault but I would make it all up to her. She wouldn't listen, she just kept yelling at me to leave. Then you came in."
"Thank you. I'll try to see if she will see you in a few days, but I can't promise anything."
"Thanks for trying, I will stay away because I would never do anything to harm her, but I really want to see her."
"Okay, well I need to go back and check on everyone. See you later Trunks."
"Bye Gohan."
Trunks watched as Gohan walked back into the hospital. He knew that there was no way he could see Pan today, so Trunks decided to go home and try to sleep.
(Pan's Room)
"Daddy, where have you been?" Pan asked as Gohan quietly walked back into her room.
"I had to take care of somethings. Did you and Mom have a nice visit?" Gohan asked looking around the room for Videl.
"Yes we did and Momma went to get me something to eat. I haven't eaten in a few days and I'm kind of hungry."
"That's fine. While she is gone I'm going to let everyone in. Okay?"
"Yeah, I guess. Better to get this over with now."
"Sweetie, just remember they love you. Even Vegeta, though he will never show it. I f it gets to be to much for you then I will get them to leave, but right now I want you to try to let them fuss over you."
"I will try."
"That's my Monkey. Hold on I'll go get the heard." Gohan walked out of Pan's room again to e met with expectant faces. He smiled before he told them to go on in to see her. Everyone scrambled to get up and run into the room. (Well everyone except Vegeta, who deemed it beneath him to act like a third class and Mike who didn't know Pan that well.) Before they could reach the door, Gohan stopped them and warned everyone that Pan would look bad and that she was to stay calm and he would hurt the first person to upset her. Everyone agreed to keep her calm before Gohan let them in.
The first thing Chi Chi did was to break out into tears at the sight of Pan. Gohan shot his mother a warning look before he walked back over to the bed and sat down next to Pan. Everyone started talking at once, over-whelming Pan, but she tried not to let it show because she knew how important it was to her family and friends to be there. She stifled a sigh and smiled as each person came forward to hug her gently. She talked a little but mostly listened. She felt herself drifting off into sleep, only to be woken up by her father placing a kiss on her forehead. "Where is everyone?" She asked sleepily.
"I made them leave when you fell asleep."
"Sorry. I didn't mean to. It's just I was so tried."
"It is more than okay. You rest and I'll see you when you wake up."
"I love you Daddy." Pan whispered falling back into sleep.
"I love you too, Monkey." Gohan said as he slipped out her room.
Pan slept for the rest of the day and she didn't see anyone else except her parents until she was moved out of ICU three weeks later. While she was reading a new book Gohan had brought her, Pan heard a knock on her door. Her visitors where two people that she had been dying to see. "Uncle G! Parisu! I'm glad that you are here." Pan said excitedly putting her book down.
"Hey you. It's good to see you awake and looking better." Goten said as he went over to hug Pan.
"Yeah well it pays to have Saiyan blood in you. Most of my bruises are gone and my ribs are at least some what better and they are healing nicely."
"Hey Pan! How are you?" Parisu said as she hugged Pan once Goten moved out of the way.
"I'm better, especially now that you are here. How are you doing?"
"I'm okay, thanks to you. I could feel you helping me and I know that I owe you my life."
"It was nothing. I couldn't let that monster hurt you anymore and besides Uncle G would have killed me if I didn't try to save you." Pan said winking at Goten.
"Well I am still appreciative. I have great news to share with you and a question to ask you."
"Alright, shoot."
"Well Goten and I are engaged."
"What! Let me see the rock. Wow Uncle G, I'm impressed. That is one beautiful piece of jewelry. Not to big and not to small." Pan said as she held Parisu's hand to look at the ring better. "Okay what is the question?"
"Will you be my maid of honor? It would mean a lot to me if you would."
"Hell yeah I will!" Pan said jerking up so that she could hug them both again. "Ow, that was bad. Note to self no quick movements." Pan complained as she wrapped her good arm over her stomach.
"You okay there Pan?" Goten asked worriedly.
"Yeah, the wound in my stomach makes it hard to move to much. Okay back to a happy subject. So when is the wedding? You aren't going to make me where one of those puffy dresses are you? What all do I need to do?"Pan asked rapidly in excitement.
"Wow, slow down Pan. We haven't set a date but it will be after you are better. We are thinking about next summer." Goten said.
"And no I won't make you wear a puffy dress. In fact you can help me pick out the bridesmaids dresses. I'm not sure what I need you to help with and and honestly everything can wait till you are better. When are they going to discharge you?" Parisu asked.
"Well Daddy said that in two weeks if I'm still doing better then I'll be released. Then we will get Dende to heal me completely."
"Why are you waiting?"
"Well, Vegeta had him come down the day after I woke up, but we decided that it would look bad if I was perfectly fine after everything that has happened. So now I have till I'm released."
The trio was interrupted when the door to Pan's room opened up and Gohan walked in carrying some lunch for Pan. "Sorry guys if I knew that you were here I would have brought extra food." Gohan said setting the food in his arms down.
"That's okay Gohan, Parisu and I were about to leave anyway. We just wanted to tell Pan the good news." Goten said as he hugged her and kissed Pan's forehead. He watch for her reaction when he said who they were going to see next. "We have to go tell Trunks the good news. He has once again buried himself in his work." Pan's face became an emotionless mask when Goten mentioned Trunks name.
"Goten is going to ask him to be the best man." Parisu said not realizing the situation between Pan and Trunks.
"Yeah well good luck. Tell Bra, Bulma, and Vegeta I said hi if you go by Capsule Corps." Pan said as she watched them leave. She desperately wanted to say that is Trunks was best man then she couldn't be the maid of honor, but Pan knew she would hurt Parisu's feelings. Just because she was unsure about Trunks didn't give her the right to ruin someone else's wedding plans. She was so lost in her thoughts that Pan didn't realize Gohan had quit talking to her and was now studying her. "What's up Daddy?" Pan said when she found him staring at her.
"That is what I would like to know." Gohan said, still watching her intently.
"Nothing much. So have the doctors told you anything new?" Pan asked trying to change the subject.
"Well yeah he did. He said that since you were doing so well. You can could be released tomorrow. You have to come back in a month for a check up, but you are free."
"Are you serious? I can go home and sleep in my own bed, at my own house? Oh Daddy, I can't wait!"
"I know you are, Monkey. Do you want to go to your apartment or stay with Mom and me?"
"I kind of want to go to my place. I really miss it. Plus, Dende can heal me tomorrow and I will be okay on my own."
"Alright. I'll tell Mom and go on and get your release papers started. Bye Monkey."
"Bye Daddy!"
(Trunk's Office)
Trunks was pacing his office wondering how Pan was doing. He hadn't been able to see her since she woke up, but that hadn't stopped him from thinking about her constantly. Gohan had said that he had asked her if Trunks could visit and Pan said that she didn't want anyone to visit her. Trunks had tried to throw himself back into work at Capsule Corps but that hadn't worked because he stayed to distracted to do any actual work. Trunks groaned as he walked back to his desk that was buried under papers he needed to go over. He was interrupted by his secretary just as he started to get down to business.
"Mr. Briefs, there is a Goten and Parisu to see you."
"Please send them in. Thank you." Trunks got back up and shook Goten's hand and hugged Parisu when they walked into the room.
"Goten, Parisu how are you? Parisu it is great to see you doing better. You had us worried."
"Thank you Trunks. I'm doing better now."
"So what are you two here for. Please say that it is to save me from work."
"Nope, you're stuck here. But we do have good news." Goten said sitting down in a chair in front of Trunk's desk.
"Well I need some good news. Is it about Pan? Is she better? Did she ask to see me or about me? Can she go home? Does she want to talk to me?"
"Woah slow down Trunks. Um, Pan is doing better, she can go home in two weeks, and she says hi." Goten said as Parisu frowned at him. Trunks was to busy thinking about Pan to notice the frown or Goten and Parisu's conversation.
"Goten Son, you and I both know that Pan never sent a hello to Trunks. Why did you lie to him like that?"
"Because, look how happy it has made him. I couldn't crush his hope that Pan thinks about him and actually wants to talk to him."
"But she doesn't!"
"I know, but I'm hoping that she will change her mind by the time she leaves the hospital. And that she will at least talk to him." Trunks finally pulled himself out of his own little world and asked him them what they were whispering about.
"Oh nothing. We were just trying to figure out who gets to tell you the good news. And I won." Goten said nervously.
"Okay tell me."
"Well Parisu and I are getting married and I want you to be the best man. So what do you say?"
"Of course, I will!"
"That's great Trunks. It means a lot to me. After all you are my best friend. Well we need to go tell my Mom and Dad before they hear it from anyone else. Bye Trunks."
"Bye Goten, bye Parisu"
(The Next Day)
"Careful Gohan, she is still injured and she doesn't need to be bumped around." Videl yelled at her husband as he hit the side of Pan's wheelchair on the door frame of her apartment.(Pan is in a wheelchair because of the damage done to her feet)
"It's okay Momma. Daddy didn't mean to. Plus Dende is going to be here soon so my injuries won't be a problem much longer."
"Still, he should be more careful." Videl said as she put Pan's things down on a chair in the living room.
"Videl, I'm sorry. I promise I'll be more careful from now on. But like Pan said Dende should be here soon."
"Did I hear someone call my name?"
"Dende, it's good to see you again." Gohan said shaking the little green God's hand.
"You too Gohan. Now where is the patient?"
"Right here Dende."
"Hello Pan. How are you today?" Dende said walking over to the lively demi-saiyan.
"I'm good. How are you?"
"Fine thank you. Now this is going to tickle but in just a few minutes you will be back to your old self. Alright here we go." Dende said as he started to work his magic. After a few minutes Pan started to feel better and stronger. "I think that we are done. How do you feel?"
"I feel great!" Pan said as she jumped to her feet and lifted her shirt to look for her stab wound. Poking her stomach and feeling no pain, Pan moved to inspect her left arm. It was perfectly flawless looking. Pan wasn't vain but she was thrilled that she wouldn't have any scars left to remind her of the traumatic experience with Brolli.
"Pan be careful!" Videl yelled at her daughter as Pan began jumping around and stretching her muscles.
"Thank you Dende! I owe you so much. And Momma, I need to stretch and move. My muscles are sore from being still for so long."
"Well I need to get back to the lookout. You are welcome Pan. Come and see me some time." Dende said as he disappeared from Pan's apartment.
"Well I think this calls for a celebration. We can celebrate Goten and Parisu's engagement and your recovery all in one. I think that I will call Bulma and see if she knows of a place we can have it." Videl said as she went walking out of the room.
Gohan and Pan just stared at each other as they watched Videl leave. Pan shook her head but smiled as she listened to her mother talk to Bulma. Gohan walked over to his daughter and hugged her, telling her how grateful he was that she was alright and still with them. They sat down on the couch and waited for Videl to come back in to tell them what she and Bulma had worked out.
"Well, Bulma tried to get us to have it at Capsule Corps, but I told her that we didn't want to intrude on her. So after arguing with her for awhile I finally got her to give me a suggestion. She said that we should have it at Kirksey Towers. It is private and we could rent out the whole top room for our party. Gohan I need you to make reservations for two weeks from now. Plus I need you to call Goten and tell him that we are throwing him and Parisu a party."
"Isn't that a little quick for an engagement party?" Pan asked her mother.
"No, not really. It will mostly be just family and friends, so two weeks will be enough time if we get started today. Maybe we should leave now. You have a lot of work to do for this party, Gohan. Bye baby. I'll call you later to see how you are doing."
"Please save me, Monkey. Tell your Mom that you need my help. Anything, just save me for this." Gohan begged his daughter.
"Sorry, but the last thing I want is an angry Mom on my back. I love you though. Bye Daddy, have fun!"
"Thanks a lot Monkey."
(Two Weeks Later)
Everything had finally settled down for Pan. She was glad that when her family and friends quit coming by to visit her every few minutes. After everything that had occurred Pan quit her teaching job and she started working at one of her Grandpa Satan's dojos. She refused to teach a martial arts class so she became the manger.
Pan's whole attitude began to change after she was released from the hospital. She wasn't cold hearted, she just turned most of her emotions off. Her family and the few friends she let around her, noticed the change but they just assumed it was due to some lingering trauma. The only person she was ever truly herself with was Parisu.
Pan had unknowingly hurt Bra's feeling when she turned away form her and shut her out of her life. Pan didn't mean to it was just that Bra reminded Pan of Trunks, and Pan was tired of everyone hinting about Trunks being worried about her. To prove to herself and everyone else that she still didn't have feelings for Trunks, Pan began dating. Never just one guy, but as many as she could. She never made promise about second dates or further commitments.
It was the night of the celebration party and Pan was less than thrilled about going. She didn't really want spend time being reminded of what happened to her, but had to go for her mother and for Parisu. The party was set for 8:00 and Pan had told her parents that she would meet them there. She had decided to wear a black strapless dress that went to her knees, and clung to her curves. She left her newly layered black hair down and straight. She fixed her make-up to look smoky and seductive. Her pouty lips were red and she wore a snowflake necklace around her neck. She choose her new black heels to wear and a red purse to add color to her look. By the time Pan had finished getting ready it was 7:15 and she had 45 minutes t get across town before her mother could have a fit about her being late.
When Pan arrived at Kirksey Towers she realized that she was the last person to arrive and her mother was less than thrilled with her. "Pan, I told you to be here by 7:30. Where have you been?" Videl asked after Pan had walked into the room.
"What, no hi Pan? You look beautiful Pan? How was work Pan? Just you're late, where have you been? Gee, Mom thanks." Pan said before she walked away to go hug her father.
"You look beautiful, Monkey." Gohan whispered to her.
"Thanks Daddy. Now if you will excuse me, I'm starving, so I'm going to grab a quick snack." Pan walked over to Goten and Parisu to talk as she drank some red wine and snacked on a crab cake.
"Oh Pan, you look gorgeous! Where did you get that dress? I love it." Parisu said.
"Thank you. You look great too! Um, I got it at Lerner. So how are you Uncle G.?"
"I'm good, and Parisu is right you look beautiful. Hey I love this song. Come on Gorgeous, lets dance." Goten said as he swept Parisu into his arms as the band played a waltz. Pan watched her Uncle waltz his defiances in expertise around the room. She was so caught up in watching them that she never noticed the person who had come to stand beside.
"Hello Pan."
Pan turned to find...
Oh look C-town Chica end yet another chapter in a cliffhanger. Well I hope everyone likes it. And look this is a really long chapter. That is to make up for taking so long to update.
Okay so I want everyone to go quickly to the bottom of the screen and click on that little button that says review! Please. Pretty Please, with sugar on top and a strawberry!