AN: (brushing off sooty clothes from being flamed) Well, I guess I can't keep everyone happy. But, hey, I can try, can't I?

I'm two exams away from graduation! Whoo hoo!!!!!

Shout outs!

Lenora: I am utterly evil bitch author. I shouldn't have left you out, and I send yout issues…as an apology, I dedicate this chapter just to you to make up for my mistake with Goku's Priorities. Gomen!

Shi Rurouni: I forgive you…yeah, I kinda had writers block when I wrote that. Gomen. (Geez, I'm apologising for a lot today) anyway, I'm glad you forgive the shit writing enough to stay. Thanks!

Katchan: Anything to make you smile even more. Just don't drown in your juice, ne?

Ozuma's girl: Goku is a poo bum sometimes. But you gotta love him. Vegeta does…

General Tarquin: Welcome to the club, and I have to admit, beating Vegeta up is fun because he just looks so damn good covered in blood. Who's stupid idea is it anyway to put a mental home there anyway?

Gutterball: Hey, you're right! Most people side with the Geta! Um, I'm going to have to rewrite that mail…but I do have another author prezzie. I really love writing them. My email was full, but it's fixed now…I think…bastard thing. But I've got another email addy! ….doesn't it just sound like me? –Ta, Ice Queen, from the Cliffie Queen

May: My greatest apologies. Please bear in mind that I'm still a high school loser and I only have basic biology, which you'll see in the next chapter. But I hope you enjoyed the rest of the story, even if you didn't say so. But, maybe if you did, you would have said something. Oh, well…

Purple-Moonlight – Yes, I am so very mean…

Hikari Heijin: Welcome to the club, and any praise is welcome, newbie or not. And here's an update!

Clarobell: Thank you for always putting me back on top of the podium. If I can convert anyone, it means I'm doing something write/right (excuse the bad King-Kai like pun)

Midnight-flame-princess: Welcome back! I missed you, dude! And I'm honoured to be your favourite writer. Stick with me, ya hear!?

Review award for fifteen:

Apollo's will, you like to beat the crap out of vegeta, but a nice touch with the amnesia, didn't see it coming. reminded me of when i jumped out my window, (i broke my leg and arm) and i got on probation. i mean honestly, who the fuck puts a mental ward at the 3 floor above a city street. oh well, i wish you luck with this fic, and i hope you up date with in the week cause then i don't get the comp.
from my aslum,
Quinn

General Tarquin (I just thought this was such an original review…and it made me smile)

Chapter Sixteen: Piccolo's suggestion

"What?!"

"You heard me, Goku. The doctor said that Vegeta's possibly got amnesia, they picked it up in the CAT scans. Something to do with damage to the frontal lobe. It's not necessarily permanent though. There is a chance that his memory could be brought back, with the right trigger. Although, this wouldn't have happened in the first place, if you'd just thought before you spoke."

"Bulma, don't be like that."

I look over at Vegeta, and I wonder what he'll be like when he wakes up. I can't imagine Vegeta without his past. He wouldn't be the same. My heart constricts a little more. All those tubes. He looks so helpless. I can feel Piccolo and Bulma watching me, as I pull up a chair and sit next to Vegeta's bed. When he wakes up, he won't even remember me and we kissed not even twelve hours ago. He won't remember all we've been through, not the fights, not the smiles, nothing. He won't recall ever loving anyone, he won't even know what a Saiyan is.

It scares me.

The nurse came to shoo me away, and I moved, but very reluctantly. The visiting hours in ICU are very limited. When I went outside, Bulma was in conference with the doctors. They were speaking in hushed voices, but Piccolo and I heard them clearly enough.

"We had to put him into an induced coma. It allows the brain to regroup, in a way. Sort of like a time out," said a young doctor.

"How long will he be out?" asks Bulma.

An older doctor stroked his goatee, as he spoke. "We've decided that a week should be long enough. After that, he should be awake. But I expect he'll be on life support for another three weeks."

"And the amnesia?"

"That's a dicey situation there. There's a chance he could have it. The damage to the frontal lobe was severe, and that's where all higher thought processes take place, as well as memory storage. If it is gone, his memory can be brought back, but the problem is finding the right trigger. Usually, the most recent vivid memory is enough. All that needs to be done is to recreate that memory, as best as possible. Sometimes photos help too."

I stop listening, as I sit on one of those plastic chairs in the corridor. Piccolo sits next to me.

"Goku, I'm sorry. I know how much you cared about him."

"You make it sound like he's dead!" I snap, the pressure getting to me.

"He could have been, Goku! The doctors say that it's a damn miracle that he's alive."

"This is so hard, Piccolo! I know it's my fault that he's in there! The two of us built the most beautiful friendship, and when he wakes up, he won't even remember who I am, or who he is! And if that isn't enough, I've got you and Bulma sinking your claws into me!" I get up from my chair, and walk across to the other wall, to get away from Piccolo.

"Goku, just listen to me- "

I slam my fist against the wall, cracking the plaster.

"No, I won't! I was too much of a fucking coward to face my fears! I was afraid of loving him! I was scared! I don't know why! Maybe it was too much too soon, or maybe its because I keep letting people down, including him. But it always boils down to me worrying about the wrong things at the wrong time! Why should I care what others think? Vegeta might die, and its all my fault!!!" I yelled, but Piccolo stood up and held me by the shoulders, looking right into my eyes. I tried to squirm lose, but he held me in place.

"Listen to me, Goku. Yes, you might have upset Vegeta. I know this is hard for you to hear, but you provided the circumstances. But you are not the single cause of all his injuries. Vegeta is a hot head. He doesn't think when he gets angry, he just goes off on a rampage, and if he's lucky, he's still okay at the end of it. This time, he went too far. But, I know how you can make it okay."

I frowned up at Piccolo, and forced away the tears.

"How?"

"You can start gathering dragonballs, so that when he is almost healed, you can wish his body to be perfectly restored. Secondly, I have a pretty good idea as to how you can get his memory back. You have to kiss him. It's probably his most recent, vivid and powerful memory. If you can kick that into place, everything else should follow. What doesn't come back, the dragon should be able to find. Now, I suggest you go home and sleep. The hospital won't allow us in for the next week, because he's in an induced coma, and they see no point in him having visitors."

I nod, as I look up at Piccolo. He smiles, and puts a hand on my shoulder.

"You're not as bad a person as you think you are, Goku. Just get some rest."

I arrive home, and sit on our favourite couch. I look around the room, and realise how much of himself Vegeta has left behind in this house. There are photos of him all over the place. I pick up one from next to the couch on a small table. I snapped this one while he was cooking, his black apron on, spatula in his hand and a grin and a wink on his face as he lifted a pot lid. I trail my finger down the picture, a tear drop smashing on the glass. I hold the picture against my chest, and rock back and forth slowly, sobbing quietly.

"Geta, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry…" I chant over and over to myself, the image of the broken Vegeta in the hospital all too clear in my mind.

Photos have always been an important part of my life. Vegeta was, no, is so photogenic.

I can't help thinking of him as though he's dead. I mean, who is Vegeta without his past? Yes, his past was terrible, but it made him the person that I love. Few people can go through what he did and still be sane.

I don't care what Piccolo says. I'm going to go see him late at night, when no one is around. Its bad enough that I put him there, but to just leave him is wrong. I can't bear to be in this house if he isn't. To be surrounded by his pictures, his smell, his stuff…It hurts. If I could, I'd take all his injuries upon myself. But, I can't. I've been through so many battles, and I've never seen any one get hurt like him. It must have been so scary, tumbling in that car.

The rain hasn't stopped. It's like the skies are crying with me. I decide to dig out an old photo album, to pass time, until I'm sure that the hospital will be quiet. I can't believe how many photos we've taken over the last four and a half months. But I love taking photos, and Vegeta is a brilliant subject. At first, he refused to smile, so I would have to catch him off guard, or when he wasn't looking. There's a brilliant one of him lying on the lawn, my straw hat pulled down over his eyes, with him just in loose black shorts and legs crossed at the ankles. When he's being his relaxed natural self, I've managed to get the best photos. But, after a while, he warmed to the camera, and started pulling faces and grinning. I took one of him sleeping once, but he's never seen it. He's so cute when he sleeps! Kinda like a huge teddy bear, without the fur.

Gods, I miss him. Maybe looking at photos was a bad idea. All the memories taunt me now, a life that has been lost. I don't think he's going to be very pleased with me when he gets his memory back. He'll probably never want to talk to me again. But, if he loves me, then surely he'll be willing to listen to my side of the story. Even now, I'm not sure what made me back out. But he picked up on one thing. I'm a coward.

"ALL I EVER DID WAS LOVE YOU! ALL I EVER DID WAS TRY TO BE WHO YOU WANTED ME TO BE! AND THEN YOU HAVE THE FUCKING AUDACITY TO TURN AROUND AND WORRY MORE ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE WILL THINK! OR IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE, KAKAROT? ARE YOU JUST A FUCKING COWARD!? TOO FUCKING SCARED TO EVEN TRY!"

Once again, you're right, Geta. I am too scared to try. It was a stupid excuse, saying that I care what others think. It had occurred to me, and it was a concern, but it was a weak evasion. Even after you told me about Gohan, Goten, Trunks and Piccolo being in relationships already, I still kept making stupid excuses. I was afraid, Geta. I'm a coward. The intensity of your love seemed too much to deal with.

But I wasn't even going to take a chance. Too worried about myself. I never even thought for one second how it was going to affect you. I should have known that you would take it so badly. You take rejection very personally. If only I had just thought about it for six seconds, then I would have realised how wrong I was. When you stopped the kiss just for that single moment, for that briefest suspension of time, and I really looked at you, I knew. I knew how much you loved me. It was so obvious that you did.

This is the worst thing I've ever done in my life. I've never ever broken anybody's heart before. I've never pushed someone over the edge. If you never forgive me, Geta, it's the punishment I deserve. I'm no better than all the villains I've ever fought.

It's one thing hurting people to gain power, or wealth.

But it was my sin to hurt the one that loved me just because I was too damn selfish and cowardly.

In the end, that makes me no better than Frieza.