Chapter X:

Dark, so dark.

And cold…really cold. Gohan looked around, half expecting to see snowflakes decorating the landscape although it wasn't the right season for winter yet. And there was also the fact he was indoors yet at the moment that never occurred to him. It shouldn't have been this cold. But there was no snow, heck there wasn't even a wind. It was like the air itself carried a dark, indescribable ice aura. Gohan wrapped his arms around himself.

"Daddy?"

There was no answer which was odd because Goku was always right by his side when he was sick. Where was Daddy? Where was Mother? Where was anyone? Gohan looked around. He was still in his bedroom, despite how cold it was. It usually wasn't this cold. In fact, his room was usually pretty toasty. Mother kept the temperature up and Daddy always made sure he had enough blankets. In fact, he had about three on his bed right now.

Sitting up, the boy curled his tail around his legs and wrapped his blankets tightly around his form. No good. If anything, he felt colder. He could have really used some of Mother's hot tea right now. He wanted something to drink and he wanted his father. He felt even worse than when he'd gone to sleep. As immature as it sounded, he wanted cuddle time with Daddy. They did it every night before he went to sleep and Goku did it a lot when he was sick. He just wanted to curl up in his father's lap and be rocked. That always made him feel better.

"Daddy!"

No answer. Odd…maybe Daddy was outside. Gohan stood up…a really bad idea. Nausea and dizziness hit like a ton of bricks and not having nearly enough coordination at the moment to run into his bathroom, he fell onto his knees and threw up right on the floor. Most of the stuff wound up in his lap, all over his legs and a little on his tail. Great….now he felt awful and dirty. If he had just wanted Goku a little while ago, he needed him now.

"DADDY!"

No answer, absolutely none. He bit his lip and tried drawing on the link he knew he and his father had. He started seeking out his father's ki, as best he could, trying to locate where the Saiyan was. He found nothing. Maybe Daddy was keeping his ki repressed? Was he training? Why would Daddy be training? He was always near when he was sick. Why would he be outside?

Gathering his strength, he stood again, hoping his stomach would not send everything the opposite direction again. He had to walk slowly but it stayed down. Leaning against the wall for support, he slowly moved his way around the doorframe and peered down the hall. Dark as night, even though it was daylight outside. It was almost creepy. Like something out of a horror novel. ChiChi had included those in his reading until Goku found out. He had told her that he understood her desire to keep his reading varied but he had also pointed out that those books were giving him nightmares. ChiChi had agreed to that and had taken them out of his schedule, at least until he was older. Still, one thing he had learned from them was that a dark, empty and spooky hallway was always the hiding spots for beasts of some sort.

"Da…daddy?" he called. "Mother? Unca?" Gohan swallowed, nervous. Mother was always in the kitchen and she was nowhere to be found. Krillin had opted to stay for a few days and he was usually in the sitting room or outside. Daddy, well, he should have been by his bedside. Where was everybody? Why didn't they answer and why didn't he feel their ki?

Gohan felt an odd panic spread through his body. He broke into a run, despite how much pain it made him feel. He ached and felt worse but he refused to stop. "DADDY! MOTHER! KRILLIN! DADDY? MOTHER? UNCLE? ANYONE?" He tore through the living room, the sitting room, his father's mediation/exercise room, the kitchen and his mother's laundry room. There was nothing. Gohan tore into the bedrooms, first his uncle's guest room.

He screamed.

"UNCLE!"

Falling to his knees, Gohan tore to his fallen uncle's side. The human warrior lay in bed, looking as if he were sleeping if not for the blood pooled around him. Gohan yanked Krillin up, trying to see where the bleeding had originated. He found that source to be a gaping hole in the warrior's neck, right over the jugular. It looked like a lion had torn his neck open but there were no teeth marks and the windows and doors were shut and undisturbed.

Tears blurred the boy's vision and he blinked them away and tore out of the room, "MOTHER! DADDY!"

Gohan tore into his parents' bedroom and froze "NO! Daddy! Mother! Daddy! Daddy!"

Gohan ran over to the two fallen figures lying silently by the bed. He shook first his father then his mother before slowly turning them both over. ChiChi stared back at him with glazed, lifeless eyes. He couldn't see how she had met her end because there was no blood on her but her lips were blue. It must have been suffocation of some sort. He squeezed his eyes tightly shut and tears leaked out, "Mother…"

He rolled his father over onto his back and he nearly lost another meal right there. A gaping hole lingered in his father's chest, right over his heart. Blood gushed from it and the sternum was broken. Broken veins and arteries lingered like downed power lines on an abandoned highway. There was something very key missing, his father's heart. Some demon had ripped it out.

Gohan buried his face, whimpering, "Daddy…Daddy…I'm sorry, I failed you…failed you."

Cold spilled down his cheeks, his tears but before long he felt something warm brush his cheek and then over his mouth, face and neck. Trembling, he whispered, "Daddy…"

"Daddy's right here, little man."

What? Gohan blinked and mist covered his vision. The voices that he heard were slightly echoed. Swallowing, he whimpered, "Daddy?" A warm cloth rubbed over his face and arms. His vision slightly cleared and Goku's face became clear in his sight. Wha-what was going on? Looking about slightly, Gohan found himself stripped naked, being supported by his father's strong arms, lying in a metal tub. But he was still in his bedroom…

"Da…daddy?"

"Shh, you're okay, little man. We're almost done, kiddo. Shh."

"Da..daddy?"

Gohan groaned, half leaning. "Da..daddy? Wha-"

"You got sick, little man. Daddy's almost got you cleaned up."

"You're…you're ali-" Gohan paused, grabbing his mouth. He leaned over the side of the metal pot, trying to keep any food and water in his belly to stay there. He pleaded and pleaded silently with his belly to stop squirming like a dying fish. Yet, there was no keeping his body from fulfilling its reaction to what it determined as poison.

"Hang on, little man, it'll be over in a minute." Goku's eyes darted around for a trashcan and finding none within the immediate facility, he cupped his large hands under his son's mouth just as the inevitable happened. The foul chyme seeped over his fingers and down his wrists but Goku held firm, staying close and calm until his son's heaving stopped. Goku rose as Gohan gagged and washed his hands off in the adjourning room before he came back. Goku gently lifted his son up, into his arms, gently drawing him into his chest. Goku used his gi top to wipe off his son's face, before settling down, Gohan perched in his lap, "Oh, I'm sorry, baby." He gently stroked the boy's dark black hair, kissing his forehead, "My baby feels horrible, doesn't he?"

Gohan managed a shaky nod. Goku wrapped him in a warm towel, lifting him up. Gohan trembled, asking "Daddy, you're alive? And Krillin? Mother..?"

"They're okay, little man." He smiled down at his son, stroking his temples a little, wiping away sweat. "Sounds like you had a fever dream, tough guy."

"A fever dream?"

Goku nodded "Your fever's gone up a little bit" he pressed his wrist to Gohan's forehead. Shaking his head, he dug in the nearby drawer. "Can you open up for me, Gohan? Daddy wants to see how high your fever is."

Gohan opened his mouth half heartedly and Goku slid the thermometer under his tongue. The boy closed his eyes and Goku wet a cloth in the bedside bowl and started to wipe his son's face with it, clearing away the sweat before folding it in two and laying it across his brow. Gohan half opened his eyes and gave a grateful gaze which Goku returned with a gentle smile. The device under his tongue beeped after a moment and the boy opened his mouth. Goku didn't know how high was too high but he knew by the touch, Gohan was getting there. Luckily, his half Saiyan blood meant that his fever could get to about forty five before it was considered dangerous. The readout said forty three point seven. Higher than before, much higher!

"Alright, time for another doze, kiddo." Goku pulled one of Bulma's blue vials out of the side drawer and that emitted a "not that stuff" from his son followed by the boy burying his face into the pillow. Goku sighed and stroked the back of the boy's neck "I know it tastes horrible, Gohan but it'll help." Gohan shook his head and buried his face even deeper.

"Nu uh!"

"Gohan, c'mon. Don't be difficult."

"I don't want that stuff!"

"Gohan, c'mon open up."

"No!"

"Gohan, c'mon. It's just a tablespoon. Once you take that, Daddy's got an ice cream for you."

"No, Daddy, no!"

"Not even a sundae?"

Gohan peered out with one eye "Sundae? With cherries?"

"Sure."

"Honest?"

"'course kiddo. Tell you what…" he knelt to his son's level, "Put your arms around my neck, little man."

Gohan did so, and Goku drew him up into his arms. Gohan wrapped his legs around his father's waist as well as his tail. Lying his feverish head on his father's shoulder, Goku carried him down into the kitchen and set him on one of their stools. Gohan sat there, trying to stay as still as he could because it made him feel dizzy if he moved too much. In his logical part of mind, he supposed an ice cream right now was probably not the best thing but the kid part of his mind which rarely got let out in full was saying: no medicine without sugar to wash it down.

Goku turned around and sat a large ice cream sundae in front of his son, with mild toppings. He didn't want to upset the boy's stomach again although he knew secretly that Gohan wouldn't be able to eat much of it. Not with how his stomach had been lately. Still, he'd promised to offer it and so he did. He kept the toppings small and mild though, so they would go down better.

Filling a small tablespoon with the blue goo, he walked back to his son. "Okay, kiddo. Down the hatch and then you can have your sundae."

Gohan made a horrible face but he opened his mouth and took the medicine with a horrid gag. Goku smiled gently and pulled his son onto his lap before spooning him some of the ice cream. "You want this, little man or do I have to eat it?"

OOO

Bulma cursed and rubbed her forehead. This was giving her a headache. She felt like she'd been working forever but in actuality, it had only been a day or so. Still, she worked nonstop, despite her father's protests and her mother's insistence that she eat. She was obsessed with a project and she meant to see it through to the end. She had made some progress by identifying what components needed to be in an effective cure but the hard part was finding a way to do so without killing her nephew.

Oy! Her head ached. At any rate, if she was going to keep this up, she was going to need some fuel. Time for a coffee refill.

She saved her current computer page of data and walked down the halls, towards the large kitchen. She had a coffee maker in her lab but she needed some serious coffee that was offered in the kitchen. Something laden with sugar without a doubt. A large mug of it. Heck, she was tempted to just…aw, what the heck? She was gonna need it. She snagged the entire pot off the stove and walked back up to her lab with it, pushing against the walls as a sweat laden Vegeta walked in, headed for the kitchen and hopefully a shower at some point. He reeked. But it was miracle that he didn't knock everything in the hall down. Still, as she pressed against and moved away from the wall, there was a harsh shattering sound and she looked down to see the back frame of a broken picture. Swell…

Setting the pot down on a table, she cursed the Saiyan prince in many a colorful word as she scooped the broken frame up. She paused and stared. She had forgotten about this picture. She brushed aside shards of glass and stared at it, her eyes smiling and an unrepressed chuckle deep in her throat. "Oh, Gohan if you live to teenagerhood, this sucker has blackmail written all over it."

Indeed it did. Gohan had put on one of his black gis and was standing on his tiptoes, giving her a small peck to the cheek. She had on a solid white party dress herself with lace over her face. She remembered that day, clear as if it were yesterday. It had been her first chance to really play the role of "auntie." She hadn't always gotten the chance but since Gohan and she had gotten closer since the arrival of the Saiyans, he had pretty much become her nephew.

It had been a bittersweet reunion with Krillin. Gohan had grown very close with him and Bulma had thought the kid was going to strangle him if he hugged him any tighter. It had been so sweet though. Even though they had to wait longer to revive the others and even longer for Goku to come back, that day had been glorious. Bulma, always anxious for a reason to buy a new dress, had immediately said they should celebrate when they revived the last few. Everyone, even ChiChi, had agreed that a day of celebration, not work, was due for that, something that Gohan was extremely appreciative of. In fact, the day had been meant to be full of sentimental joy but it had turned out to be like that in more ways than one.

Oh, it had been a relief in a way. Bulma and Krillin had only really gotten to see Gohan as a warrior although Krillin said he'd slipped back into his child mentality a few times which was to be expected, given the fact that had he been in a regular school, he would only have been in kindergarten. However, because Bulma had merely been an observer to the battle with Freeza, Garlic Junior and the others, she only really saw Gohan in his warrior mode. She'd seen him as a child a little bit, in the few moments when she'd first met him. Aside from that few moments, it seemed like every time she saw him, he was studying. Seeing him be a child that day had been a wonderful thing.

Not to mention the fact that it was probably the cutest thing she had ever been a part of. She had learned a lot about how children grew from both school and as she had watched Goku and Krillin grow up. Still, that day had been full of surprises for her. She'd seen Krillin and Goku go through their various "odd" phases but nothing compared to this one!

A Little Less Than A Year Ago…

"Gohan, you're going to blow up if you keep going like that!"

The small boy gave Bulma gentle grin. "Nope, I won't."

She laughed "You eat like your father."

"Honest, Bulma?"

"Yep."

Gohan grinned and watched her the rest of the meal. He had only just met her within the past year and he was already fond of her. He wondered why Daddy hadn't introduced her and the others to him earlier. Especially her and Krillin. He'd gotten closest with them. He'd only known Krillin for a few months but when he'd gotten killed by Freeza, it had shattered him.

Speaking of which, the revived person in question had finished with his own meal and was standing with the others, talking and celebrating. He wished desperately that Daddy was here. Aside from Bulma and Krillin, he scarcely knew a lot of these people. Daddy would have broken the ice easily. Now, it seemed until Daddy came back, it would be up to him but he hadn't the nerve. Rather, he preferred to stick by Bulma. Yamcha was so lucky! Bulma was so pretty and nice! At least to him.

Gohan's little mind began to think, various ideas coming to his thought processes. Daddy and Mother really liked each other and Daddy always said that Mother was the prettiest woman in the world to him. But no one else but Daddy ever hugged or kissed Mother, not like Goku did. What did Mother and daddy have that kept that special? Gohan pondered this a moment, going over all the various possibilities.

Was it because Daddy was strong and people just didn't wanna make him mad? No…that couldn't be it. Even when Daddy got mad he wasn't the type to lash out or anything. That couldn't be the reason. Maybe because ChiChi was a princess? That didn't make sense either though because she pretty much gave up her throne to be Goku's wife, he supposed anyway. What was it…

Oh, of course! Daddy and Mother were married! Gohan mentally slapped his forehead. Duh! So, he guessed that meant that they were both off limits now. Cool! He considered a moment more and then walked over to Bulma and tugged on her dress skirt. She turned from her talk with Yamcha and knelt to his level. "Hey kiddo. What's up?"

"Bulma, question."

"Shoot, kiddo."

"Will you marry me?"

Bulma choked on her inhale and looked into the boy's bright eyes, looking at her ever so patiently, waiting for a reply. Had he been any older, she would have slapped his face for such a question but coming from a child his age, it was sickeningly cute. She gave Yamcha a small wink out of the corner of her eye and played along with the child's little crush.

"Well, I dunno Gohan. Usually, a boy will present his lady with a ring when asking that."

"I gotta have a ring?" That made sense, the boy realized almost as soon as he asked it. Mother always had on a ring.

"Yep."

"Kay, I'll be back."

He took off down the hall and outside, on the grounds around Capsule Corporation. Where was he going to get a ring? He didn't have any of his allowance left. He'd spent it on some of the foods and decorations for this celebration. He'd also used a little of it to buy Dende a gift. He was broke and Mother wasn't the type to give him an advance on his allowance. Daddy would have but Daddy wasn't here.

Gohan's face fell. It was beginning to look like he would have to just be grateful to have Bulma as a friend but then his eyes caught sight of the roses off to the side. Beside them were several other types of flowers. He ran over and plucked up some of the small bulbs and dandelions and plucked the flower tops off and pulled up their stems. Tying them together in a circle, he ran back inside with his prize.

"Bulma! Bulma! I got a ring! I got a ring, see? Now, will you marry me?"

"Ah, ah, ah. That's not how a gentleman proposes Gohan!"

Gohan huffed and his shoulders fell. "How do I do that, Bulma?"

Bulma smirked at her little friend, her little nephew. "A gentleman gets down on one knee when he presents his ring to his lady bride."

Gohan nodded and did it right there, offering her the flower ring. "Please, Bulma?"

"Please what? What is this ring for again?"

"Bulma, will you marry me?"

Bulma smirked and took the flower ring from her nephew, being careful not to crush it. Sliding it onto one of her fingers, she gave a delicate kiss to the boy's face, "Alright, squirt. I accept."

Present

Bulma sighed, putting the picture down. Her mother had gone picture crazy at their little pretend ceremony. She would have to give Goku and ChiChi the copies at some point. It had been a little hard when Gohan had figured out that it had been pretend and not real. Bulma had expected that though. A quick trip with Krillin to the ice cream parlor downtown had killed any hard feelings.

Bulma walked back into her lab and sat down in front of her computer again. Numbers breezed by her face and the scientist narrowed her eyes and focused intensely on them, more determined than ever to get that cure, and to get it soon. She grabbed a rubber band from her desk drawer and bund her blue tresses behind her neck, to keep them out of her eyes. Squeezing her fists into tight balls, she started typing furiously.

OOO

"Here, little buddy."

Gohan blinked and opened his eyes. "Oh, Krillin…"

"Yep, your mother and father are mixing up some herbal remedy for you.."

"Ugh…" Gohan pulled the covers over his head and Krillin chuckled.

"Not something you wanted to hear?"

"Those things work but they always either burn or taste horrible…or both."

Krillin smiled and shifted the boy's pillows so he could sit up. "Well, I'm sure your Daddy's trying to keep that to a minimum. Your mother fixed some rich soup for you and some bread."

"I'm not hungry, Krillin."

"I know you aren't but you need to try and eat so that your body can fight back with everything it's got. Then you can sleep again, okay?"

"Do I have to eat?"

"You need to try to, little buddy. If you can't, don't push yourself but at least try for me and your Daddy, okay?"

Gohan sighed but picked up the spoon and attempted to shovel some of the liquid into his mouth but he pushed it away with a "I can't, Krillin."

"Why don't you at least drink your juice, then?"

Gohan obliged to that and Krillin sat by his side and wiped his face with a wet cloth. Gohan downed the glass and managed to nimble half of the bread away, which Krillin praised him for and then laid down, comforted by Krillin's promise that his father would be back soon. Although the human warrior didn't have to, he found himself willingly staying by Gohan, sitting by his head and stroking his sweaty hair back.

Gohan was so much like his father that it was scary. Gohan's loyalty was easily his greatest attribute. He was truly a warrior, a pure hearted warrior, at heart. Krillin knew it by the joy that lit up in his eyes as he saved and spared innocents. Even if he didn't like the violence (and quite honestly, who did?) he loved the process, the sparring and the knowledge that he was saving lives.

Krillin found him incredible. He had seen far more than any six year old should see, far more than anyone of any age should ever see and yet he kept his childlike innocence, his youthful spunk. Even now, pretty much on his deathbed as far as they knew, he managed to smile in his sleep, to keep the façade of calmness about him, despite the need for his father.

He was far too young to have to deal with this. He should have been sparring and playing with his father, having fun. Yet here he was, lying in bed, a growing fever every minute. Already, the boy was approaching a danger zone for his temperature. Krillin wished there was more he could do than just be a deliverer and temporary comforter but he really couldn't think of much.

Well, there was one thing. "Oh, little buddy, wait."

"Huh?"

"I know you're tired but you need to run to the bathroom first."

"Aw…"

"Nope, go on. That way you don't have to get up to do it later."

Gohan sighed but he pushed the covers off, and slowly sat up. He had to pause, to make sure his sight wasn't going to be dizzy. Last thing he wanted was to throw up again. That was no fun. Pressing his fingers against the bridge of his nose a moment, he closed his eyes and slowly rose to his feet, his tail sticking straight out to give him balance. Had it not been such a serious indication of how ill the boy was, Krillin would have found it humorous.

"Here, little buddy." Krillin wrapped the boy's small arm around his neck, giving him a support to lean on. Gohan gave the human warrior a grateful look and pressed his small mass against him. Krillin was thankful the boy hadn't developed the size of muscles his father had yet. It made him easier to support and Krillin could still carry the boy if he had to. With the way he was stumbling, it was beginning to look like he would have to.

Still, he managed to get the boy into the bathroom. Having Goku for a father, Gohan had no shame in taking his slacks down in front of Krillin which was a good thing because Krillin had to stay there to help him stand. Less than a year ago, he would have thought it was pure hogwash that he'd be playing pampering uncle to a child and yet here he was. Amazing the trips life had taken him on in the past few months…

"-rillin?"

"Huh?" Krillin snapped out of his thoughts.

"I said I was done," Gohan said softly. He pulled his pajama bottoms up and lay against Krillin's side. Krillin gently helped him over to the sink and let the boy wash his hands before he slid one arm under his legs and one under his back and lifted him up into his arms. Gohan laid against his shoulder, closing his eyes and he grasped his heart for a moment, hissing but it quickly passed.

An odd sight that must have been! Krillin was only taller than Gohan by an inch or two. Yet, the body was disturbingly light. He felt like he'd lost a lot of weight. That fact didn't surprise him but it did worry him. Seeing Gohan without an appetite was almost as bad as seeing Goku without one. It just wasn't a normal occurrence. Plus, if this boy got any lighter, he was going to be a toothpick! He was already thin!

Krillin gently laid him down in bed and pulled the covers up to his chest. Gohan laid down on his side. Krillin stroked the boy's hair and sat by his side, being as comforting as he could be. It was hard because usually Gohan was only comforted by his father. Not surprising but because Gohan felt so bad, he seemed to be falling asleep under Krillin's touch for now.

He looked every bit a child now. After the battle against Vegeta and Nappa, it had taken a few instances for it to finally click with Krillin that Gohan was not JUST a child nor was he JUST a warrior…he was both. Sometimes he seemed solely warrior. Sometimes he seemed solely child as he looked now. Odd thing that he was now so used to seeing him that way.

Little Over A Year Ago

Planet Namek

"That was close, too close."

Gohan didn't reply to Krillin. He knew he'd screwed up. Dende was alive but they had barely escaped with their own lives. At least they got a little bit of a break, courtesy of Bulma's little hideaway. Gohan had been scared once the realization had hit. When he'd realized that Krillin and Dende might be killed because he didn't act more rationally, or at least didn't think through as much as he could have, he'd been full of both guilt and fear right down to his bones.

"I know Krillin, I-"

"Hush!"

Gohan looked up, tears in his eyes. Krillin was tense, thinking and Gohan saw that in his face. He fell silent again, his head down. Maybe it would be best if he just kept quiet. Still, he felt he had a right and a need to explain his actions. He knew Krillin wasn't happy and to be quite honest, his father probably would not have been either had he been there…

But right now, he wished Daddy was here! He didn't mind Krillin or Bulma's company but he needed Daddy's help right now and judging by the stress in Krillin's ki, it would not be the best time to ask him. But then…who was he supposed to ask? Bulma..? Maybe, after all, Daddy did say he'd known her since he was a little child. Maybe she would be able to help him.

"Oh, this weather is simply death to my complexion."

Uh…maybe not. She was certainly vain…nice, but vain. She wouldn't want anything to do with his current problem. Besides, she was heating up their meals. They had capsulized food but it still had to be warmed up and Bulma insisted on doing that herself. Dende was sitting in the main living space, by Krillin who was trying to comfort him a little bit.

Gohan slowly walked in and sat on the other side of Dende, offering him a smile himself. The little Namekian was nervous and confused but he seemed to feel safe which was a plus for Gohan. The alien child was obedient and polite and followed Bulma's call for their attendance as soon as Gohan could smell the warmed food. He grasped Krillin's sleeve as the human warrior walked after Dende.

"Krillin?"

This time, the human warrior's expression was much softer, much calmer. He gave Gohan a small shaky grin. "Yeah, little buddy?"

"Can I have help?"

"Help with what?"

HUH? Daddy never asked that! Wh..what was he supposed to say? "Just need help."

"Help with what?"

"Uh…"

"Are you two coming to eat or not?"

Krillin nodded towards Bulma and turned to Gohan, "Help with what, Gohan? I'm not a mind reader."

"I…just help…" Why didn't Krillin understand?

"Yer gonna hafta tell me more than that, kiddo. If you can phrase it so I can understand it, sure I'll help you…"

Present

Krillin shook his head. Now, he would have known in an instant what had been wrong with Gohan. Yet, then, he was so naïve when it came to children that he probably looked like a fool. Him and Bulma, both actually. Goku had come in at the right moment, as always and yet despite his appearance as a full bodied and abled warrior, ready for a good fight, in the few moments of peace they'd had before Captain Ginyu, he'd gone from warrior to father and back and in that small amount of time had promptly made Krillin feel like a moron.

Little Over A Year Ago

Planet Namek

"Daddy?"

Goku looked down at his little son, tugging on his gi pant leg. They only had a limited amount of time, who knew how little. Yet the Saiyan knelt to his son's level and spoke gently, "what's wrong, little man?"

"I need help, Daddy."

"You need hel- oh! Okay! That's no big deal, little man. Strip them off, okay?"

Krillin promptly stared, awestruck. Had Goku caught something he missed? Apparently, he'd missed a lot because Gohan stripped his slacks and under wear off right there and Goku started to stroke him down with a wet cloth. To Krillin's flabbergasted look, he replied, "He asked you that before, didn't he, Krillin?" The human warrior nodded.

"I didn't understand what he needed help with…"

"He says that if he had an accident." Goku smiled and pulled a small capsule out of his gi top, snapping it open in his hand.

Krillin blinked "You carry his clothes around with you?"

"A spare set, sure."

"You carry a spare set of his clothes in your gi?"

"Yep. He's just five, Krillin. He's gonna have accidents." Goku thumbed his son's nose and helped him pull up the spare pair of slacks, identical to his other gi pants. He'd seen his son's gi uniform and while they were in the hospital had asked Bulma's mother to make him at least one spare set, specifically for a case like this. He'd learned that with Gohan a while ago. He was getting better with the accidents but when he'd learned his son was going to Namek, he'd decided that he better bring along the set, just in case. Smart call on his part it turned out.

"Better, little man?"

Gohan nodded and now his young eyes turned back to warrior. His father's gaze shifted to mirror his own.

Present

Krillin smiled faintly. After that little incident, Krillin had taken Goku's advice to heart. He had a spare set of Gohan's clothes at his own place. The boy hadn't had to use them yet but they were there if he ever did. Amazing…one year, so many changes in his life. He'd matured a lot, as Goku had. As Gohan had. Yet at heart they were the same. The love, the friendship, the loyalty…

"AHHH! DADDY!"

Krillin jerked his attention to his nephew who was clasping his heart. Clasping hold of his hand, he said gently, "Hey, hey, it'll pass, kiddo…"

"No! This is different! Stronger…"

Oh no…Kami, no! Was it hitting full force, already? But that meant…no! That couldn't be it…Kami no!

"DADDY! I WANT MY DADDY! DADDY MAKE IT STOP!"

That's exactly what it was.

All Krillin could do was watch as his best friend and his wife ran into their only child's room only to be helpless to do anything but hear their son scream in agony.