Dreams reflect the deepest, darkest, wishes of the dreamer.

:-:-:-:

I understand that you have a grudge against me, Bradius, because I've defeated you, but that's no reason not to help me against Candre!

Oh, very well. I'll fight against her alone. All alone, with no one to help me…!

:-:-:-:

"89 doesn't appear to be worse for the wear after last night."

"No, he doesn't. But he shouldn't be acting like he normally does after a half-day of medicine."

"Yes, the medicine usually affects him up to a day."

(Pause)

"Do you think he's faking it?"

"If he is, he's doing it really well."

"Should we give him an Academy Award for his acting?"

"If and when he appears to be lucid enough to get him out of here, then yeah."

"All right, Head Doctor. I'll put in an order for one."

:-:-:-:

They're gone, finally. Now I can drop this. I'll have to be careful, though. I must look like I've accomplished something by the time they come back.

I had one of those dreams again last night. I told you I don't like the dreams I have after taking the medication….

But this one was the strangest dream I'd had yet. Usually in my dreams I have Videl and/or Pan screaming at me for causing their deaths. This time, I merely watched a vivid movie of their deaths…

And it was not what I had imagined it to be.

Could it be… that I really did not cause their deaths? But… that can't be right. I've blamed myself for so long….

Not blamed. Blame. I still think that I drove them to their deaths. But a small, growing, part of me says otherwise….

Why did she have to complicate my life? Why did that doctor have to start all of this? It was so simple before….

And yet something inside me says that life is supposed to be complicated. Without complication, I wouldn't be what I am now…. Without complication, nothing would get done.

I shake my head. It's pounding now from all the thoughts that are racketing around my mind. I think I'll ask the doctor later for some aspirin. As long as she gives it to me before I have a mind blank again, she won't have any trouble with that medication.

They're coming back now, so I have to take up the act again….

:-:-:-:

"He's still at it."

"Not really… Okay, so he is. He wouldn't do that if he didn't have a mind blank."

"That is unique, isn't it? But it still hasn't been a day…"

"He's glaring at the door now. He still wants out."

"Glaring? I call that a calculating look."

"Yeah? Are we seeing the same thing?"

"I know what I'm seeing, and that is not a glare."

"Hmpf. You would think that being Head Doctor would give me some authority around here, but apparently not. What is this world coming to?"

"You don't act like a Head Doctor, Head Doctor."

"Oh, I don't, do I? Well, how's this? GET TO WORK!"

"That'll do it."

"I thought so. In you go."

"Thank you."

"No problem."

:-:-:-:

Ah, the doctor's here. Just in time.

"Hello, Gohan…?"

"Hello, Doctor. Tell me, do you have any aspirin? My head's pounding."

"You were faking it."

"Faking what? Doctor, the aspirin please?"

"Ah, of course. Just let me put these things down…"

…She's getting the aspirin. She's actually getting the aspirin. I don't know why this surprises me, but it does. I glance toward the small window in the door (in Candre) and glimpse a face with wide eyes in it. It hurriedly ducks out of sight, but I know that Head Doctor Yukizara is still behind the door (Candre), listening.

"Here you are."

I turn back to the doctor, whom is holding out two little red-capped capsules for me. I study them carefully, but take them nonetheless.

"Would you like some water to go with that?"

"No, thank you."

I down the aspirin without water. As I expected, it tastes a little bit like it's got an sedative in it. This is what I wanted, partly, for it will keep the mind blanks away a bit longer. And if the mind blanks aren't there to trip me up, I can ask the doctor more than a few questions, and evade questions directed at me.

"Thank you, Doctor."

"You're welcome, 89."

"You may call me Gohan, if you wish. Just not –san."

"Ah… thank you."

"Now, Doctor, why do you feel so committed to help me? Why does the Head Doctor standing outside of the door believe in me so much?"

(Pause)

"Take your time in answering, Doctor. We have all the time in the world."

:-:-:-:

A/n: Eek, a calm and in charge Gohan. That's gotta be upsetting. LOL. Sheesh, even I'm creeped out by it. I have a lot more fun writing Gohan on the defensive…. Oh, well. There are going to be some that say Gohan's finally standing up for himself, which is true. Very true.

(Shudders)

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