Note: I do not own DBZ nor any of the characters, they belong to Akira Toriyama. I just made up the story.

Chapter 2: Flames Rising

Vegeta groaned as he pushed himself up again. "…seventy-five…" he gasped, then collapsed on the gravity room's cold floor, sweat running down his face. He gritted his teeth as he thought of the week before, and how Bulma had yelled at him for training too hard. He forced himself up again, and continued with his push-ups. The light on the gravity machine glowed red, showing 100G. Then the gravity cut out. Vegeta forced himself to his feet, turning stiffly to see who it was, slightly annoyed at the interruption to his training.

Goku strode into the gravity room, looking for Vegeta. He ran forward, eager to see Vegeta again after so long apart.

Vegeta tensed up as he saw Kakarotto running towards him. He leapt up, landing on Kakarotto's right side and swinging his right foot out to catch Kakarotto in the stomach.

Goku staggered back, winded, and then had to immediately duck a punch from Vegeta. "Vegeta, STOP!" Goku yelled, going Super Saiya-jin and trying to avoid all of Vegeta's attacks.

Vegeta dodged and weaved skilfully, always on the offensive and seeking a way past Kakarotto's defences. Finally, his left foot hit Kakarotto squarely on the jaw.

Goku was flung to the floor, returning to normal as he sat there, stunned. He looked up slowly as Vegeta strode arrogantly over to him.

The GR door burst open and Bulma raced in. Vegeta looked up sharply and his eyes narrowed. Bulma stared at the scene for a few moments, and then ran to Kakarotto, helping him up. Then she turned to Vegeta.

"Why did you do that! He came in to see you and, from the look of this, you weren't sparring. And don't tell me that you were, because you weren't. Apologise right this instant!" Vegeta turned his head away. "APOLOGISE!"

"…sorry, Kakarotto." 'I hope you understand how much it cost me to say that to you.' Vegeta thought silently. 'Appreciate it.'

"That's okay, Vegeta." Goku said, a stupid grin plastered over his face.

Vegeta's clenched fists tightened.

As soon as the door had shut behind Bulma, Goku asked "Vegeta, you wanna spar?"

Vegeta rushed towards him, his punch narrowly missing Kakarotto's face as Kakarotto dodged to the left, grabbing Vegeta's arm as he did so.

"Vegeta, why're you so violent?" Goku called.

Vegeta's answer was a punch with his right arm, which Kakarotto blocked. Caught up in the battle, Vegeta kicked out with his right leg, hitting Kakarotto in the stomach and forcing him to let go. Vegeta drew back a little, then sent a ki blast arching towards Kakarotto.

Goku dodged to the side, out of the way of Vegeta's ki blast, and, turning Super Saiya-jin 2, waited there, wondering why Vegeta was acting this way. Then, he noticed several more ki blasts shooting towards him, and only just dodged in time. Vegeta raced towards Goku, kicking and punching in a blur of movement, But Goku reacted even faster, blocking as fast as he could and only just managing to stay out of the way of Vegeta's attacks.

Vegeta pulled back, panting for breath, and shot another ki blast at Kakarotto, feeling the reduction of ki as he put the last of his strength into one final blast. Then Kakarotto leapt up into the air. Vegeta didn't have the strength to control the ki blast. He didn't have the strength to move. He could only watch, helpless as Kakarotto shot towards him and slammed him into the hard floor. The last thing Vegeta remembered was that the gravity was still set to 100G, and would squash him flat.

Goku hovered, returning to normal and gazing down at the crater he had made, with Vegeta lying, motionless, at the bottom. 'Vegeta! Why didn't you dodge that attack, and why aren't you up again already? You were instantly up after an attack that powerful before!' Goku thought, annoyed. Then he remembered. 'Oh no! Vegeta wasn't fully recovered, was he?' He shot down and landed next to Vegeta, who's breathing was light, almost stopped. Then Goku remembered the gravity machine. He ran to it, and turned it off.

Then the door burst open, and Bulma ran in, having heard the noise. She took in everything in an instant, and then raced to Vegeta's side, kneeling down and feeling at his neck for a pulse. Feeling a faint flicker, she turned to Goku. "Goku, help me get him into the medical room, right now!"

Goku raced over, and lifted Vegeta gently in his arms, trying to find the position least painful for him, and then followed Bulma as she ran through the corridors to the medical room, where he laid Vegeta down carefully on the table that Bulma had indicated. He stood watching as Bulma pulled a machine over, activated it and then hurried around gathering various things as a computer printed out an x-ray. Bulma grabbed it and held it up to the light, quickly assessing the situation. Goku watched as Bulma pushed two hypodermic syringes into Vegeta's arm, then another into his leg. Bulma turned to him with a kind smile on her face. "You might want to leave now, Goku. I'll call you if I need help." Goku, obviously agreeing, left quickly.

Bulma turned back to the table, her smile turned to a frown of concentration as she picked up an operating tool to remove the splinter of Vegeta's rib that was cutting into his lung.

Goku waited outside until Bulma called him back in. He had wanted to stay near Vegeta, but had known that Bulma would probably be operating, and he simply couldn't watch. So he compromised by waiting outside. Finally, Bulma called and he rushed in. He saw that, thankfully, Bulma had finished and was now clearing up. Goku saw the corner of a sheet red with blood, and averted his eyes hastily.

Bulma turned to him. "I'm finished, Goku; now I need you to take him into the room that he was in before, you remember that one?"

Goku nodded and, picking Vegeta up again, carried him gently into the other room. Then he turned to Bulma, who was behind him. "What now?"

"Now, we wait for him to wake up, hopefully." Bulma said grimly. "I've done all I can: it's up to him to get himself through this."

Vegeta woke up, stiff and sore, in a dark room. Pushing aside his body's weakness, he sat up quickly, thinking he was still in the battle. Then he was pushed down again, slowly and gently. "Bulma…" he moaned, but a slim finger was pressed to his lips.

"Lie still now. There will be time for words later." Bulma said softly, and held a mug of warm soup to Vegeta's lips. She watched sadly as he gulped the soup, then hesitantly picked up a tray and placed the mug on it.

"Wait…don't…leave…" Vegeta gasped, and Bulma put the tray back on the table and sat down on the edge of the bed. He watched bemusedly as she burst into tears.

"I'm so sorry! I should never have let Goku in to see you!"

"He'd…have…come…anyway."

"Then I should've made sure he only stayed for one minute and been in there all the time, or, or, something!" She covered her face with her hands, sobbing.

Vegeta reached out and gently laid one hand on her arm, forcing himself into a sitting position. "I'm…okay…"

"No you're not! You could've died, despite all I did. All I could do was watch and hope that you didn't-" The breath caught in her throat, and she choked back a sob.

"I…wouldn't…have…"

"But you might! If I had been five minutes later-"

"But…you…weren't…"

Bulma shook her head. "I might have been if I hadn't noticed the ki blasts and gone over there to yell at you!" She noticed Vegeta's arm sliding down onto the bed sheet. "Rest now." She stood, picking up the tray again, and walked out of the room, shutting the door behind her.

Vegeta's head slammed back onto the pillow, and he fell asleep.

Bulma shut the door behind her softly, and turned to Goku, who was hovering outside. "He's sleeping now. Proper sleep this time."

"Is he okay?"

"He says he is, but I don't think so. He was having trouble breathing and got tired a lot quicker than he normally does. Less than five minutes!"

"How long-"

"More than a month. How long for-"

"About six."

Bulma groaned. "Did you ask anyway?"

"Yes."

"And can Trunks stay with you and Chi-chi?"

"Yes. Why?"

"Good. With the amount of trouble Vegeta's got into recently, it's probably a good idea. I've got a feeling that the trouble's just begun."

"Why?" Goku asked, curious.

"I don't know! But I don't think that we're going to have a peaceful year."

Goku nodded.

Four days passed uneventfully, and Bulma began to think that she might be wrong about trouble coming. On the morning of the fourth day, Vegeta woke up to find Bulma asleep in the chair by his bed. Quietly, he got up and walked out the door, leaning slightly on the wall. Unconsciously, he took the familiar path to the gravity room. On the way, he stumbled and fell, crashing into the floor, and mentally yelled for Kakarotto. 'Kakarotto, I need you, NOW!'

'Comin', Vegeta!' Goku called back, translocating to Vegeta's side and grabbing his arm to pull him up. "Whatcha doin' outta bed, Vegeta?"

"Going…to…train."

"You can't train if you fall over on the way. I'll take you back to bed."

"NO!"

"Yes. If you can't stand, how can you train?"

Vegeta pulled away from Kakarotto and tried to push his way forward, but tripped.

Goku ran forwards and caught Vegeta before he hit the floor, easily carrying him back to the room he had just left.

Just then, the door opened and Bulma strode out, looking for Vegeta, having woken up. When she spotted Goku carrying Vegeta, she raced over, glaring at Vegeta. "Goku, would you please take him back inside?" she snapped, and Goku hurried to do as she asked.

Vegeta was furious with Kakarotto, and mentally yelled all the swear words he knew, in all languages.

Goku didn't have to look in Vegeta's head to find the translations to the ones that he didn't know. His face turned red as he put Vegeta down roughly on the bed.

Vegeta winced as he was slammed down, but kept up his stream of insults at Kakarotto.

Bulma strode in and yelled at Goku. "Don't be so rough! He still has broken ribs, you know!"

Goku turned redder and translocated back home.

Bulma turned to Vegeta. "And you!"

Vegeta, however, was already asleep.

Bulma sighed, and left the room quietly, shutting the door behind her.

The next day, Kakarotto still hadn't come back. Vegeta decided to try to go and train again. This time, he knew that Kakarotto wouldn't stop him. He set out in the morning, and started struggling down the hall.

Just then, someone appeared and elbowed Vegeta in the stomach.

Vegeta doubled over in pain, clutching his stomach. 'Kakarotto!'

'No, Vegeta. You're mean.'

The figure started choking Vegeta from behind, squeezing slowly.

Vegeta could feel the person's arm strangling him. 'KAKAROTTO!'

'No.'

The person got bored of that, and instead pulled out a box of matches, setting Vegeta on fire, then vanished as he raced off.

'KAKAROTTO, THIS IS AN EMERGENCY!'

''Kay then.' Goku said, translocating right next to Vegeta. As soon as he saw Vegeta on fire, he panicked. "Oh Vegeta, what should I do?"

'CALL FOR BULMA, BAKA!' Vegeta mentally yelled at Kakarotto, screaming as flames burnt his back.

"BULMA!" Goku yelled finally.

Bulma strode calmly into the corridor. "Yes, what is-" She spotted Vegeta, and ran forward. "Goku, get some water!" she ordered, and Goku ran off to find some.

When Goku got back, he handed the bucket to Bulma, who poured it over Vegeta's back, dousing the flames. Then, Goku picked Vegeta up and carried him quickly into the medical room, where he laid him down on the table, then at Bulma's bidding, in one of the huge baths, on his stomach.

Bulma ran in behind Goku, and turned the tap on, splashing icy water over Vegeta's back. She carefully soaked the charred remains of his top off. "Goku, get him onto the table now." She commanded, hurrying to get the things she needed from the cupboards.

Vegeta winced as he was lifted up, then set down again on the table. He looked up as a cup of cold water was shoved into his hand.

"Take small sips frequently." Bulma ordered, then lightly placed a sterile wound dressing on his back.

Vegeta clenched his teeth and took a quick sip of water, feeling the prick in his arm as antitoxins were injected into his bloodstream, then another in the other arm, a painkiller. He smiled slightly as he heard Kakarotto's sharp gasp, and footsteps leaving for the lounge. Some things never changed.

Bulma bit her lip, sitting down. "I don't know what to DOOOO!" she wailed, bursting into tears. Then Vegeta started to say something, and she strained to hear.

Vegeta smirked slightly. "Bakana…onna…just…leave…I'll…be… alright…"

Bulma looked at him disbelievingly. "Are you sure?"

"Of…course…"

Just then, the fire alarm went off.

"You…go…I'll…be…fine…"

"I'll get Goku to come back for you!" Bulma yelled as she dashed off to find him.

"No…I'll…be…fine…"Vegeta gasped after her, but she didn't hear him. He painfully rolled off the bed, crashing to the floor. Levering himself up, he pulled himself forward, moving his arms out to their full extent, then pulling his body up to them. When he finally got out of the door, the hallway was a mass of flames. A burning beam from the ceiling fell right in front of him, throwing up a sheet of sparks. Another fell behind him, landing on his leg. He choked back a scream of pain, knowing that it would only use up the little oxygen he had left faster.

Bulma, meanwhile, had been searching for Goku. Finally finding him outside, where it had started to rain, she ran up to him. "Goku, you've got to go and get Vegeta!"

Goku nodded, immediately finding Vegeta's power level and translocating to him. Seeing Vegeta on the ground, he threw off the roof beam, then picked him up gently.

Vegeta winced in pain as he was lifted, then feebly opened his eyes. "Ka…ka…"

"It's okay, Vegeta. I'll get you outside." Goku said, translocating out.

Bulma had been waiting outside worriedly for about 5 seconds when Goku appeared with the limp form of Vegeta in his arms. "Vegeta!"

Vegeta's breath was heavy; it was an effort to breathe. He was unable to stifle a gasp of pain as Kakarotto shifted position, and the pain along his side flared up again.

Bulma stared as the burns covering all the visible area of Vegeta's skin. His trousers from the knees upwards, gloves and boots were still pretty much intact. The same couldn't be said for Vegeta. "Where was he, in a furnace or something?" she asked Goku furiously.

Goku backed away. "No, in the hall."

Bulma laid her hand on Goku's arm as she heard Vegeta's sharp intake of breath. "Stay still. Every time you move, you jolt him."

Vegeta smiled faintly. Finally, someone had thought of it. Then, his smile disappeared as pain wracked his body.

Bulma glared at Kakarotto. "Just what're you DOING! Trying to kill him!"

Goku froze. "No. But isn't the floor more still?"

Bulma sighed. "Yes, I suppose…BUT BE GENTLE!" She glared at Goku as he set Vegeta down, then strode off to see what she could find to salvage amongst the ruins; the fire had gone out in the rain.

Goku followed her.

Vegeta lay on the ground, breathing heavily. He tried to sit up, winced as the concrete rubbed across his burnt back, then pushed himself to his feet, swaying, and took one step forwards. And collapsed. Levering himself up on his elbows, he rested momentarily, gasping for breath. Then forced himself to his feet again, and staggered, step by weary step, into the ruins of Capsule Corps. after Bulma and Kakarotto.

Bulma strode uncertainly through the ruins. Most of it was burned to the ground, but the gravity room was untouched by the flames. She frowned, biting her lip as she thought. This fire hadn't been random enough. Only a few walls were left standing, blackened by ashes. By the hospital room where Vegeta had been, two roof-beams had fallen. She kicked one, and it collapsed into a pile of ash and glowing embers.

Goku wandered through the remains, absent-mindedly wondering what Chi-chi would be making for dinner. He noticed Bulma standing a short way off, and hurried to catch up with her.

They were both so absorbed in their own thoughts, they didn't notice Vegeta until he collapsed on the ground a few meters behind them.

Vegeta's blurred eyes noticed the forms of Bulma and Kakarotto in front of him. He staggered forward a few steps, then his legs collapsed beneath him and he fell to the ground.

Bulma turned quickly to see Vegeta lying in what had once been the hallway, and ran over. Goku turned to see where she was going, then raced to Vegeta's side and helped Bulma to pick him up.

Vegeta swatted at Kakarotto and Bulma's hands, annoyed at himself for falling. They carefully helped him to his feet, and he swayed slightly, putting one hand out against the remains of a wall for support.

Goku took one step back, looking concernedly at Vegeta. "You should've stayed where you were!"

"No." Goku turned to look at Bulma questioningly. "This fire wasn't an accident. Someone was trying to kill us." She looked directly into Vegeta's eyes and he looked back into hers. "And you know who."

"Yes."

"Are you going to tell me?"

"No."

"Why?"

Vegeta shook his head, swaying back and forth, his strength spent.

Bulma caught Vegeta gently as he fell forward. She turned her head to look helplessly at Goku, who shrugged, then stepped forward to help. Bulma sighed as Goku lifted Vegeta, and then abruptly went over to do an analysis. Once she had finished, she shook her head, upset. "Third-degree burns, and scratches and bumps all over. Can't you ever stay out of trouble?"

Vegeta smiled slightly, then went limp.

Bulma reached towards Vegeta's neck and felt for a pulse. Finding one, she turned her head to look directly at Goku. She didn't need to say anything: they both thought the same thing at the same moment. Dende. It was Vegeta's only hope for survival.

Wordlessly, Goku checked his grip on Vegeta, took Bulma's hand, then focused, transporting himself, Bulma and Vegeta directly to the Lookout.

Dende turned to greet them, Mr. Popo standing next to him. "Hi, Goku…and Vegeta…Bulma, what happened?"

Bulma shook her head amazedly. "You didn't notice?"

Dende frowned. "Not as such. What happened?"

"Capsule Corps. was set on fire."

"WHAT! Then why's Vegeta burnt? He could easily outrun-"

"He was already hurt." Goku cut in.

"Hadn't he recovered from the unpleasantness with-"

"Mostly, but he got hurt again. Will you heal him?" Bulma pleaded

"Sensu beans-"

"Not ready for months. Please hurry!"

"Okay." Dende knelt. "Lay him down." He carefully examined Vegeta, turning him over for inspection. "Mr. Popo, get me a jug of water." He turned to Bulma. "I haven't healed someone for years, and if I try to heal Vegeta now, the burns might go septic. Also, I might not be able to heal him fully: as I said, I'm out of practice. I'm going to try to clean them as much as possible first. What do you think?"

Bulma nodded firmly. "At least try."

Dende turned to take the jug of water from Mr. Popo. "Thanks." He poured the cool water over the red burns on Vegeta's back, trying to wash the dirt off as gently as he could.

Vegeta had actually been conscious for a while. Unable to open his eyes, he couldn't see, and was only able to hear the others' voices as a faint murmur. Water poured slowly down his back, and someone started rubbing. His teeth clenched against the urge to cry out. Then something stabbed down into his back, and he screamed in pain. The thing in his back wiggled around, then wrenched itself out. Vegeta collapsed to the ground, exhausted.

Bulma glared at Dende as he threw away the bloody, jagged rock that he'd just pulled from Vegeta's back. "You could have been more gentle!"

Dende looked at Bulma with sorrowful eyes. "I wish I could have. I'll try healing him now." He extended his hands over Vegeta, and shut his eyes.

Bulma watched anxiously as pulses of light came from Dende's hands and into Vegeta. She saw the burns close up, healing in a few seconds until only a red mark remained. Then, abruptly, the pulses stopped and Dende moved his hands away. "You healed him." she breathed.

"I did my best, but it'll take a while before he's up to full power again." Dende nodded sadly as Bulma gazed in disbelief at him. "I healed him as much as I could, but I didn't have enough strength to replace his. It'll be a while: maybe a week, maybe two, maybe a whole month. But he is healed. And he has as much strength as I could give him." Dende stood up, and bowed.

Goku lifted Vegeta gently onto his shoulder, held Bulma around the waist and, rising slowly, shot off back to Capsule Corps.

Once they landed in the ruins of Capsule Corps., Goku let go of Bulma's arm, and slowly started lowering Vegeta to the ground. Vegeta groaned weakly and tried to twist away, but Goku took a firmer grip on him so he didn't fall, and laid him down carefully.

Vegeta felt his back touch the floor, and slowly opened his eyes. Kakarotto was in front of him, wandering away, and Bulma…Where was Bulma? His eyes cast around for her, then he spotted her standing by the one remaining wall. Her eyes looked damp. Tears. She was crying. He rolled onto his stomach, then forced himself to his knees, trying to stand up. She was crying. He must stop her tears.

Goku looked up as Vegeta fell to the ground for the second time. He strode forward and gently pushed Vegeta down onto his back as he struggled to rise for the third time. "Lie still."

"No." Vegeta moaned, trying to push Kakarotto's hand away. "Bulma!"

Bulma heard, and looked up, rubbing her hand across her eyes to clear them. "Vegeta!" She ran to him, knelt and cradled Vegeta's head in her arms. "Vegeta, I'm here. Are you…okay?"

"Yes…" One of Vegeta's hands reached up to touch the side of her face. He gently wiped away the last of her tears, and then lowered his hand. "Don't…cry, Bulma…"

Bulma smiled faintly. "O…okay…Vegeta, I'm sorry! I shouldn't have let you get hurt!"

Vegeta sighed. "It's…not your…fault…don't…worry…about it." He pulled away, and forced himself to his feet, but almost fell. Instantly, he felt a hand under his arm, helping him up. Bulma! Grateful for the support, he stood, putting a hand out against the wall to help him balance.

Goku stood back, watching as Vegeta regained his balance.

Bulma pressed herself against Vegeta's chest, sobbing. "Vegeta, someone's trying to kill us! What shall we do!"

Vegeta stiffened, then awkwardly placed one arm around Bulma, then the other. "We'll…be fine, we'll…get through it…together." He rested his head gently on her shoulder, as the sun set behind them.