Chapter IX

Goku ran in, half expecting to see his son in a trembling fever or something. So, he was almost relieved to see his son sitting up in bed, on his knees. Krillin was standing next to him, looking concerned, worried and not just a little upset. Goku had seen that look on him before. He saw it rarely but he did see it. Krillin got that way when the seriousness of a battle came into play.

"What's up, Krillin?"

"Gohan here has something he forgot to mention to you."

The boy shook his head "no, I don't…."

"Yes, you do unless you want me to tell him."

"Krillin-"

"Don't you give me that." He winced inwardly. "And don't try the look either; it's not workin' this time."

Goku scratched his head, baffled at Krillin's harsh tone. "Krillin, what's going on?"

Gohan lowered his head and Krillin just jerked his head towards the boy. Goku eyed his little boy and knelt to his level. "What is it, son?"

"You're gonna be mad, Daddy."

"Oh, am I?" Goku raised a brow, "Then you better tell me. I don't like being lied to, you know that."

"I didn't lie…exactly."

"Exactly?"

"Just didn't tell everything…"

"Gohan what do I call that?"

Gohan lowered his head "Lying by not telling."

"Do I like that any better?"

"No."

"That's right. Now, are you going to tell me or not, little man?"

"Am I in trouble?"

Goku winced; he hated that question. "I don't know yet. Depends on what it is." Honesty was always his best answer.

Gohan nodded and looked up at Krillin. Goku caught on and said gently "Krillin, can you give us a few minutes?"

"Sure Goku."

Goku waited until the door shut and then sat by his son on the bed and patted his lap "C'mere."

Gohan crawled over and sat, lying against his father's torso. Goku looked down at his son, stroking his hair back, "Now, you wanna tell me what this is about, little man?"

"Daddy, will you always love me?"

"Gohan, didn't we address this already?"

"You never really answered me though…I mean, I love the hugs and kisses and stuff but can…can you just tell me with words…make it nice and clear?"

"All right." Goku looked his son right in the face. "Son Gohan, I love you. You could do the most horrendous thing in the world, you could blow up the world and Daddy would still love you." He smiled gently "Although I'd be pretty disappointed and you can bet I'd be dishing out some sort of punishment. But, in answer, little man, there's nothing you can do that would make me stop loving you."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

Gohan looked down at his fingers, twittering them. "I…I'm ready to tell you where I went for those three days."

"You are, huh?"

He nodded "Yeah…"

"Great!" Goku grinned; he knew if he waited patiently enough that Gohan would tell him. "Let's hear it, little man. You've had me and everyone else in suspense, you know."

Gohan swallowed "Daddy, you're going to be either mad or scared."

"Oh? Why don't you just tell me then?"

Gohan took a deep breath, "I was worried about that heart virus again. I know you say not to worry but I can't help it. I love you Daddy."

"I know you do, little man…"

"I know but I really need you to understand that. Cause of what I did…"

Goku smiled at his son, gently, "Gohan, you're talking and talking but you're not saying anything. Just spit it out."

"Okay…Icouldn'tstandtheideathatyouweregonnadieofthatheartvirussoistruckadealwithGeroandtookitforyousonowthisfeverisreallytheheartvirustryingtotakeshapeinmybodysowebettertellBulmabutpleasedon'tbemadatmeDaddyididitcauseiloveyou." He spat out in one breath.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Goku smiled at his son, "Say that again, little man…slow and in clear Japanese."

Gohan swallowed and repeated slower: "I said…I was really afraid you were gonna die from the heart virus so…so…so I…"

"Gohan, it's okay. You can tell me. You tell me everything."

"But yer gonna be mad…really mad."

"Then, you better tell me."

"I…" Gohan lowered his voice substantially. "I stuck a deal and took the heart virus for you." He whispered.

"Say what? I didn't catch that little man."

"I…I said…I struck a deal with Gero….and took it for you. I took the virus for you. That's why I'm sick."

Silence followed.

Gohan finally dared to look up and see his father's face.

A pinched white face greeted him, eyes wide with a mess of different emotions. He couldn't tell but he could see fear, sadness and anger in his father's eyes and he also felt disappointment and concern in his ki. Goku kept quiet and that was never a good thing. Goku usually made a reaction right away unless he had to calm down first and that usually meant big trouble for him.

"Da..daddy?"

"Gohan….how many times have I told you that Daddy has a plan and to trust it?"

"I-"

"And how many times have you been told never to face any enemy without some kind of backup?"

"Well, lots of times-"

"And what have I told you about an enemy's intentions?"

"That they're not honorable-"

"Did you remember or follow any of these, young man?"

Gohan visibly winced. Young man? Oh, he was in deep trouble. Daddy never called him that. He'd called him that once, when he'd been playing with the blasts. Gohan's sharp mind began to see a pattern. He grasped hold of his backside and backed up. Goku stood, silent a moment. Tears were in his eyes. He hated doing this but this was the definition of dangerous! He had to make Gohan understand that…to make him understand that these battle rules were not negotiable.

"Gohan, can you walk?"

"…Sort of."

"How far?"

"A ways, I think."

"Then, get up and come with me."

Gohan stood, grasped hold of his father's elbow and paused a moment to gather his balance before following his father. As they walked, Gohan found his suspicions to be more and more correct. When he'd played with the blasts, Goku'd given him a single swat and then taken him to his grandfather's old hut to finish it. Goku had explained that as much as he hated doing that type of punishment, he wanted Gohan to know that he would never do it anywhere but there. He would never do it in his bedroom, outside, in front of others or anything like that. He said the point of the punishment was to drive home a point and make Gohan realize what he'd done wrong and why it was forbidden. It was a private matter between him and Goku. No one else needed to see or know about it.

Gohan froze in his steps when his father walked up to that old hut and backed up a little, holding his backside "No Daddy!"

"I'm afraid so, son."

"But you hurt!"

Goku turned around and his eyes were wet with tears. "Gohan, I hate doing this myself. You know how much it tears my heart to hear you cry?"

"Then don't do it!"

"I have to Gohan. I wouldn't be a good father if I didn't guide my boy down the right path, now would I?"

Gohan looked at his feet. "…no…"

"And you knew when you did that that I wouldn't approve of that, didn't you?"

"Yes…I did it cause I love you though."

"I know, I know." Goku's voice softened. "We'll talk about that in a minute." The Saiyan father sighed, "Gohan that was the most dangerous, reckless thing you could have done. Gero isn't trustworthy. You don't trust him with something like that. What if he'd given you a poison that would have killed you on the spot? Or knowing Gero, he could have used something he could track Gohan and it would lead him right to me and your mother. Did you think about that?"

"…No."

"We don't take risks like that Gohan. There's no way out if you get cornered. I always say to stay out of those situations, don't I?"

"Yes…"

"And did you?"

"No Daddy, I didn't."

"So, should Daddy just let you off scot free for not listening to battle instructions you've known since Piccolo started to train you?"

"No…"

"Do you see why Daddy has to do this, now?"

"Yes, I do…but…but…I did it to save you."

"I know Gohan. We'll talk about that when we go back in. Now come on." He opened the door and walked in. Gohan's legs felt like jelly. He knew his father wouldn't hurt him but he also knew the sting would be a ton worse than when Mother did it. Daddy had just used his hand last time and he had said afterwards that if he had to do that again, it'd be worse. He'd said he'd gone easy that time. Gohan winced, looked back at the house but walked in after his father.

The little hut didn't have much in it; Goku had small trunks in here that he said his grandfather had had. There were some old stools and chairs and a small mat and of course the little stand where Goku had kept the four star ball before he gave it to Gohan. Goku paused at one of the trunks, thinking. He squeezed his eyes tightly shut and tears edged around his eyes. That always made Gohan both nervous and relieved at the same time. That meant Daddy had to do something he didn't like but it was also an inner comfort that Daddy didn't like it and would only give him as much as he felt he had to.

"Gohan, take your slacks down."

He didn't see that coming! "Daddy? You didn't make me do that last time!"

Goku sighed but didn't turn around. "I know I didn't son. I was being easy last time. I wish I could be that easy this time but this is far more serious. Now, please listen to me. I'd hate to have to do that myself."

Gohan swallowed but shakily took his pajama bottoms down. Did Daddy mean his underwear too? He'd just said his slacks…

Goku opened the trunk and dug through the various items in it. There was a mix of things his grandfather had had. Quite a few were old martial arts weapons he'd trained him with but there were also some "corrective" instruments in here. Goku knew this called for higher than his hand but he couldn't bare the thought of using a paddle or anything like that on his son. He went for the lowest he could. Still, his eyes brimmed with tears at the thought.

"Gohan, come over here so we can get this over with."

Gohan stepped out of his slacks and walked over. He gulped, seeing the sanded and stripped switch in his father's hand. Goku sat that down and knelt to his son's level, looking him right in the eyes. "Gohan, you understand why I have to do this don't you?"

"Yes, Daddy. I did something reckless when I should have thought it through and done something smarter…"

"Not smarter, Gohan. Better thought out. I know you thought you were doing the best thing."

Gohan nodded, his head down. "But I could have done something safer or called for backup or something."

"That's right." Goku sighed and a few tears streamed down his cheeks, "Gohan, you know I do this because I love you, right?"

Gohan nodded, "I know Daddy."

"All right." Goku stood and gestured the boy over. His grandfather used something for him to lean over but Goku didn't wanna do that. He pulled the boy by the hand and laid him over one of his thighs. Gohan grasped hold of his father's pant leg. Goku gently wrapped his other arm around the boy's waist so that he didn't fall. Gohan, wanting more than anything to get this over with, curled his tail out of the way. Goku praised him for it.

"Good boy." Biting down the tears in his own eyes, Goku picked the switch off the ground, adjusted his grip on it so that the blows would only sting and not leave a mark and then gave his son four harsh swats. Originally, he was going to give him one for every year of his age, six, but because Gohan was being so cooperative, he knocked two off. But his heart broke at the boy's pain filled shouts.

"OW! Daddy! Daddy! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! STOP! STOP! PLEASE!"

Goku finished, set the switch back in the trunk, lifted the boy up and cradled him, stroking his backside, "Shh, shh, it's all over now."

Gohan buried his face into his father's chest, tears flowing down his cheeks and his tail unconsciously started to rub at his backside. Goku pushed the boy's tail away, pulled Gohan's underwear down so it bunched at his ankles and started to gently rub the boy's slightly pink backside, easing the sting out. Gohan's tail flexed a bit, taking this comfort in. Goku kept it up until the sting vanished completely. Gohan still sniffled a little but he didn't take his head off Goku's shoulder.

"I hated doing that, little man." Goku laid his head on Gohan's, letting his cheek rest on Gohan's forehead. "Daddy hates hearing his little man cry. It's all over now. Done and forgiven." Gohan nodded but just savored the sweet scent of his father. His heart was starting to throb again. He didn't want to mention that though. But while Goku may have been slow if not completely oblivious to some things, his son he was never out of touch with.

"You hurt, don't you, little man?"

He got a half nod in reply. Goku carried the boy outside and back in, just as he was, lying him down on his belly. Gohan sniffled and Goku started to rub and pat his back, to calm him down. He sat by the boy's side and spoke gently, "Little man, I'm flattered."

"Flattered?"

"Your loyalty…" Goku smiled at his little boy, looking so small and weak in those sheets. "Gohan, not many people would do what you did. I'm happy you love Daddy so much…although I wish you'd found another way to help." He immediately reached out and stroked the boy's bangs backward "But we already addressed that. You just rest, little man. Daddy's going to call Bulma."

"Don't tell Mother…"

Goku winced; he was going to have to. Still, he supposed he could tell her only snips and bits of the actual truth although he usually hated to leave stuff out because he thought that was just as bad as lying. He hated lying. He looked down at Gohan, ready to tell him those thoughts but then froze. His eyes softened as he looked at those pain filled feverish eyes blinking at him with remnants of tears flooding the pupils.

"I won't tell her kiddo."

OOO

"This is bad."

Goku did not like hearing that from Bulma. Usually that female genius had an answer for everything. Hearing the words, "bad" from her was never a good thing but when it concerned the test results she'd just conducted on his only child, it made him even more nervous. He knew the heart virus was serious but Bulma had just done a comparison of the present cure she had and Gohan's blood.

"It won't work."

"What?"

"It won't. It's designed for an adult's physiology. Your son's physiology is different because he's a child. The cure we have is useless."

"No! I'm not going to let my Gohan die!"

"Goku! Calm down! And lower your voice. Do you really want your kid to wake up and hear you panicking?"

"Right…" he forced himself to take a few breaths and glanced into his son's open bedroom door. The boy stirred in his sleep but didn't wake up. He let out a sigh of relief and turned back to Bulma who already seemed to be conjuring up some kind of idea. That was Bulma for you though. Always thinking and never about to let something like this stop her.

"Well, it's a long shot but I can try and make a cure. Cures usually take years to make though. But…I can try." She looked at Goku. "For the meantime, there is one thing I can try for him." She handed Goku some bottles of dark blue liquid. "Those are every type of virus fighter we have. They won't cure his heart but…I think they might buy us some time."

Goku's eyes lit up with a spark of hope. Bulma winced. She would hate to let him down now but inwardly, she knew that if Gohan died because she couldn't find a cure in time, it would kill her heart. Goku's distress would only aid to her own. She just prayed that she would be able to create such a miracle. They'd been granted miracles before. Perhaps they would be given yet another.

"Goku, I-"

She blinked, realizing the Saiyan had already gone into where his son slept. She followed but kept her distance by staying at the door. Goku didn't say anything but gently slipped his arms underneath his son's neck and legs and hoisted him up, as if he were a baby again. Cradling him close to his chest, he looked down at the boy's face, eyes closed in sleep.

Bulma eyed the boy too. He was always a cutie but seeing him asleep was something entirely different. His eyelashes were a dark coal color and he almost looked like a girl with such long lashes. They were the first thing she always noticed about him when he slept. He always looked so innocent then. Although, that was a trait both father and son shared.

Gohan waking up and grabbing his chest for about three minutes brought her back to the present situation. Luckily, this was not the heart virus hitting mfull force. It only lasted a few minutes before it faded and Goku eased him son back to sleep. Goku gave the boy one of the virus vials, to hopefully slow the spread of the virus down but he didn't lay the boy down. Bulma hoped those fighters at least bought them a week, if not longer. As much time as they could buy them, she hoped they did. Bulma stood and her eyes narrowed. Pulling out her cellular phone, she dialed her father.

"Daddy, we need to clear the lab. We have a cure to find and only a few days in which to do it."

"Bulma, dear, you know as well as I do that cures take years, if not decades."

"Well, then. We're setting a speed record."

Goku overheard Bulma's conversation given his sharp Saiyan hearing and it gave him hope. He knew Bulma's determined voice and she had never sounded more determined than she had then. If anyone could find a cure in under a week, it would be Bulma. As far fetched as it was, he seriously believed Bulma had the brains and stubborn streak to do it. He hoped so. He wanted to-

"Daddy!"

Goku looked down and his son hissed through his teeth so Goku started to rub his fingers down the boy's chest, between his breasts. It was an old massage his grandfather would use if he had heartburn, or sometimes just a stressed muscle in his chest. It worked wonders here. Gohan calmed down, and half closed his eyes again. Goku cradled him closer and kept it up.

"Daddy…fix…"

Those words were so heart wrenching because they were so familiar.

Four Years Ago…

"ChiChi! Gohan, I've got the firewood outside!"

Goku closed the door behind him and kicked his boots off, knowing his wife would be all over him if he trailed mud into the house. Last thing he wanted was that! Especially with the great meal he could smell cooking in the kitchen. He couldn't tell what it was yet but given that they'd just had lunch, it was probably a long simmering meal which meant lots of juicy flavor! Yum!

"ChiChi? Gohan?"

A creak from the kitchen ,followed by a crash and ChiChi's screeching voice of "GOHAN" made him smile. A black mop of a head stuck out from around the doorframe and his little two year old son toddled out, noodles and sauce, the remains of his lunch no doubt, smeared all in his hair, over his chest and leaving stains on his diaper. He had on no socks or shoes and apparently his shirt had gotten decorated during lunch hour because all Goku saw on the boy was a diaper that looked like it was getting pretty loose. The toddler caught sight of his father and he squealed, "DADA!"

Goku fell onto his knees and held his arms out, "Come to Daddy, little man!"

The toddler giggled and pushed off from the doorframe, toddling towards Goku on chubby and slightly uneasy legs. He threw his arms out but his left foot caught on one of the panels on the floor and he went sprawling onto his face about two feet from Goku. The warrior raced to his son as he burst into tears, wailing and holding his face. "WAAAAH!"

Goku scooped his son up, underneath the arms and tossed him up, catching him. "Oh, that had to hurt, little man." He drummed his fingers on the boy's sides which made a small smile break loose. The boy still had small rivers of tears running down his cheeks though. Goku smiled and lifted the boy over his head, "You got ouchies, little man?"

"Owies! Lots owies!"

Goku grinned at his child. "Where, little man? Daddy'll make it all better."

The toddler grasped his forehead and Goku planted a kiss there. Then, the boy touched his nose and Goku gave him a small peck. The boy brushed both his cheeks and Goku gave each a fat wet kiss. The toddler smiled and then said "Dada always fix!" Goku smiled and tickled under the boy's chin which made the little boy squeal in delight.

Present

The only sound in the room was Gohan's deep breathing.

"That's right, little man. "Dada" always fixes anything that's hurting you. I don't know how I'm gonna fix this one but Daddy's not going to let you die. I promise."

He lowered his head and planted a long, heartfelt kiss right over his son's heart, wishing more than anything that this time the age old trick of "kiss it and make it all better" was truly reality.