Hello all,
I know, I know it's been...I don't even want to know how long it's been since I updated. If it's any comfort, it's been longer on another story. ::looks hopeful:: Wes sorry. ::Looks sorry::
Disclaimer: Please, I wish.
Btw: if there's any really weird formating ( for " for example) ignore it. I took this out of WordPerfect and put it in Microsoft Word and it did something weird. Just so you know.
Everything was cold and dark. All I felt was pain; more pain than I had ever felt before. I am dead,' I thought, or very nearly there.' Death was a lot more painful than I had ever imagined. I felt tears start to fall down my eyes then something touch my leg and the pain flared. I sat up screaming.
"Well at least we know her voice is back," I heard after a second.
"You need to lay down dear," another voice said as a hand pushed me back. As I lay down I felt soft pillows surrounding me.
"Where am I?" I asked, still not opening my eyes.
"Why don't you open your eyes and see?" I heard a loud bang at that moment that sounded suspiciously like someone being hit with a frying pan.
"Krillin!"
"What?"
"How dare you!"
"What?"
"You know what!"
"Bulma? Krillin? Why won't my eyes open?" I interrupted.
"Now look what you did Krillin." Bulma's voice softened. "Honey, your eyes are open."
"What? But it's still dark."
"I know dear. Apparently some chemicals from that place where you were ended up in your eyes and, well, um..."
"I'm blind," I finished for her.
"Yeah."
"How long?" She didn't answer. "Bulma how long?" I asked with some panic.
AI don't know honey... maybe forever."
I was stunned. Forever. But I couldn't be blind forever. Forever was a long time to not see green or flowers or movies or smiles or the sunset or...I stopped thinking as a sob escaped my lips. Bulma pulled me into her arms.
"It'll be okay, honey. I know it's hard, but you adjust well. Besides, you can hear so much better when you're blind."
I snapped. "Have you ever been blind?" I demanded but didn't give her nearly enough time to respond. "No. You've had the pleasure of sight your entire life. I've been tortured, depressed, threatened, and now, blind and if it weren't for Roberts here, I would be dead right now."
There was a moment of silence where I guessed that Bulma was collecting her thoughts but then I heard, "Roberts who?" from Krillin.
"Roberts," I responded as if it were dead obvious. "The man that was found with me."
"Umm...there is no Roberts, or any other man, here. Besides me," he added as an after-thought.
"What...but he was right next to me."
AI didn't find you, so I don't know who or what was next to you."
"But...but he saved my life, more than once." Silence. "I'm going to find him." I started to stand up.
"Oh no you're not," Krillin said as he tried to hold me down.
"Oh yes I am."
"No, Joy, you're not."
"Try and stop me."
"Look Joy, you're blind, have no clue where you were and weak. Do you honestly think it would be wise to leave right now?"
I sat back, defeated. "But, he can't die. I owe him my life."
"Then some of us guys will go."
"Excuse me? Without me. I think not."
"Joy, need I restate my earlier point?"
Then some of you people can come WITH me."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
"Both of you SHUT UP!" I looked in Bulma's direction. "Joy, you are not going. Krillin, go get the others now so she can't go." Bulma was pissed.
"But Bulma, we need..."
"NOW!" Bulma yelled cutting him off.
"Yes ma'am."
They were back, I could feel them...one, two, three, four...four...oh come on, that's how many left, whereas the fifth one? I quickly got up with the intent of running to them and demanding where the fifth ki was, however, a hand quickly pushed me back onto the bed.
"Oh no you don't. You're too weak. They'll come to talk to you in a minute."
"But Bulma, I can stand."
"That's not good enough, you are staying."
I sighed and lay back down. After a few hours - although everyone claims it was a few minutes - the search team came in to report. Gohan started.
"Umm, Joy."
"Were is he?"
"Umm... well, there wasn't anyone. There wasn't even a sign of someone. Are you sure that you didn't just imagine him in your distress."
"And how would I have escaped? How would I still be alive? Who held Jolon still while I blew his brains out?"
"Well, maybe you did more than you realize."
"Bad answer and you know it."
"Look , I don't know. All I know I that there was no one there."
"Well, look again."
"Joy, it would be pointless."
"No it wouldn't!"
"Yes it would. We searched for hours and there was nothing. He wasn't there. Maybe he escaped to go looking for you or for help. Either way, he's not there's nothing we can do about it."
I glared in his general direction for a minute before turning my back on him, lying down and crossing my arms. He sighed behind me and the four of them left.
I heard a sheepish knock at my door and looked up. "Hey," came the regretful voice of Gohan from the door.
"What?" I snapped.
AI just wanted to say I'm sorry. You've been through a hard time and I shouldn't have snapped at you."
I was silent for a second. "You know what I hate?" His silence told me no. "When people apologize when it's not their fault. I snapped first and I had no excuse. I'm sorry."
"I'm sorrier."
"Well I'm sorriest," I said and stuck my tongue out. He laughed and came over to me and gave me a bone-crushing hug. I enjoyed the hug for a minute before I informed him that breathing is a necessary part of living. He quickly pulled away and we were silent for a moment.
"So, how are you?" he asked.
I gave him as much of a fake smile I could manage. "Fine," I lied.
"Freaked-out, Insecure, Neurotic, and Emotional?" (A/N: courtesy of The Italian Job...see it!) he asked. I gave a small laugh.
"Basically."
"How are you really?"
"Well, I was kidnapped, almost killed, tortured for who knows how long, finally rescued but my original rescuer wasn't and, on top of all of that, Trunks is dead!" I felt tears threatening.
"What?!"
"What what?"
"What do you mean Trunks is dead, he's..." he broke off and was silent for a few seconds.
"He's what?" I asked barely able to hope that I was wrong.
"Never mind," Gohan mumbled with confusion in his voice. "I'll be right back." And he left.
"What?" I was thoroughly confused.
Please review and tell me what you think, I'm a little unsure about this one. Also, if you have any questions please ask. I intend to answer all questions in the following chapters and I want to make sure I get them all. That's all.
God bless
dopey