Chapter 34- Geta-sitting

"Hi Geta!" Goku said barging into Vegeta's room, still clad in his football kleets from the morning practice.

Vegeta's only response was to pull the covers over his head and roll over.

"So...?" Goku asked walking up to the side of the bed. Still getting no response, he continued to pester him. "Geta...c'mon." He whined and slapped what he assumed to be Vegeta's shoulder.

This got a groan and a groggy "wha' time is it?"

"It's eleven." Goku answered offhandedly and, not acknowledging Vegeta's second groan, continued to question him. "So how'd it go?"

Vegeta was tired and didn't know what story Bulma was going with so he just growled and pulled the covers tighter. "Go 'way. 'm tryin to sleep."

"Oh. Come on Vegeta. If you just tell me I'll go away." Vegeta could hear Goku rummaging around the room.

"It was fine." Vegeta answered but didn't move from his position.

"A little more detail would be nice." Goku said grabbing the blankets and wrestling them off of his friend.

"Why are you so nosy?" Vegeta groaned and shielded his eyes from the midday sunlight that was streaming through his window Goku had undoubtedly just opened. "I told you it was fine so leave me be."

"Wow. You're cranky."

"I am not. Now get the hell out my room."

"Well technically this isn't yo..."

"Okay!" Vegeta yelled propping himself up. "I'm awake. Is that what you wanted?"

"No." Goku said, taking in Vegeta's appearance. "I wanted you to tell me what happened last night. But judging by the way you look, I would say it didn't go well. What the heck happened to you."

"We went to the peak." Both boys turned to see Bulma standing in the doorway. "He...uh...went out in the rain to...pick me a flower." She explained walking toward them.

"And I didn't feel like showering or changing when we got back." Vegeta said.

"Oh." Goku said, not for one second questioning the story. "So you guys went to the peak, eh?"

"Yeah. What of it?" Vegeta asked.

Goku just smiled. "Oh. Nothing. I was just wondering why you two would go there."

Vegeta was about to retort, but Bulma cut him off. "Well you see. Last night, we went to a movie, and when we were riding in the car, Vegeta asked me to be his girlfriend, and then we went to the peak to celebrate."

Goku's smile broadened. "That's great!" He exclaimed scooping them both into a bear hug. "But I gotta go and shower. I'm meeting ChiChi and we're going eat or something. Hey would you two like to come? I'm sure ChiChi would love to hear your news."

"Sure!" Bulma answered over Vegeta's snort. "Where?"

"It's a little cafe on Main street. I've never been there, and I don't know what it's called either."

"I know the one you're talking about. It's ChiChi's favorite." Bulma said. "We'll meet you there in about an hour."

"Okay. See you then." He said leaving and closing the door to give the new 'couple' some privacy.

Both teenagers listened to the sound of Goku's footsteps in silence.

When she was sure he was gone, Bulma turned to Vegeta, the fake smile melting from her face and being replaced by a scowl. "Vegeta! We have to make this believable. You don't have to talk to me when we're alone, but when there are people around, act like you're my boyfriend! Otherwise, it won't work and all that last night will be for nothing."

"Nothing happened last night anyway." Vegeta said not even looking at her.

Bulma sighed and glanced at her watch. "Look just take a shower and get dressed. We can talk later."

"I don't want to ta..."

"JUST DO IT!" Bulma yelled and stormed out of the room.

Vegeta sat silently for a few minutes, wondering what he'd gotten himself into and wishing that the week would fly by and just end. Then, with a groan, he got off the bed and did as he was told.

"ChiChi! What is all this? I can't read it!" Goku screeched looking at the menu.

"It's in French, Goku! I thought you took French."

Goku just shrugged.

"Well this. Une glace. That's ice-cream. Le cafe is coffee. Le The' is tea..."

"Do they have any real food?" Vegeta grumbled as he slid into his seat.

"Hi guys!" Goku greeted.

"They have sandwiches and soup, and I would have gotten to that if you had let me." ChiChi scolded.

"You didn't order yet did you, ChiChi?" Bulma asked sitting down also.

"No we just got here a few minutes ago and decided we'd wait for you." ChiChi said. "Oh and I called Juu and Krillin. They should be here in a bit."

"What's this?" Goku asked pointing and trying to sound it out. "Gaetoo dee chocolate? Chocolate!"

"It's chocolate cake." Everyone answered at once.

"Have you been here before?" ChiChi, forgetting that she had fussed at him a minute before, tried to strike up a conversation with Vegeta.

"No." He answered grumpily, and didn't bother to elaborate.

"Oh." ChiChi said and then noticed Krillin and Juuachi coming in. "Good. We can order now."

"I want the cake." Goku said. "Do they have soda?"

"No." Bulma answered. "Only coffee, tea, water, milk or chocolate milk, juice, or wine if you're old enough."

"Oh I want chocolate milk then."

"I think I'll get a cherry pie." Krillin said looking at the menu.

"Ooh! Me too!" Goku said.

"So do you want pie or cake?" ChiChi asked.

"Both."

ChiChi gave him a skeptical look, but Goku just smiled at her. "Okay. Fine, but don't make a mess." She said and waved the waiter over.

After everyone had eaten, they talked a bit and then left the cafe.

"Goku did you get a uniform yet?" ChiChi asked.

Goku gasped. "No! I completely forgot. I was supposed to do that this week!"

"Well guys." ChiChi turned to the other two couples. "We've got to go get Goku's uniform. Anyone care to come."

"I have to go anyway." Krillin said. "Mine were tailored."

"What about you two?" ChiChi turned to Bulma and Vegeta.

Bulma was about to say they'd go too, but Vegeta cut her off.He was getting aterribleheadache and was really tired. "We'll pass." He grabbed her arm and dragging her down the street.

"Bye guys!" Goku called after them.

"Maybe hooking them up wasn't a good idea." ChiChi said as she watched Bulma decapsulating her car while fuming at Vegeta. "They don't seem very...um...compatible."

"Nonsense." Goku said watching the two car doors slam and the car speed off. "I think they get along fine."

Bulma walked into the kitchen with Vegeta trudging behind her. Bulma had given Vegeta an earful on the ride back to Capsule Corp. for embarrassing her in front of her friends, all of which Vegeta ignored.

Mrs. Briefs turned away from what ever she was stirring as they came in.

"Why hi dears. I'm baking some cookies. They'll be done in about twenty minutes."

"Okay mom." Bulma said. Neither were intent on stopping to chat.

"Oh wait." Mrs. Briefs called causing both of them of them to stop and turn to her. "Vegeta you look pale. Are you feeling alright? Where did you two go last night?" She skittered over to feel his forehead.

"We went to a movie mom." Bulma told her. It wasn't technically a lie.

"Oh you have a fever. Well come on then, up to bed. I'll get the thermometer. Bulma are you feeling well?"

"I'm fine mum." Bulma said leaving.

"Come on dear." Mrs. Briefs said as she steered him out of the kitchen. Mrs. Briefs chattered away about times that Bulma had been sick as a child until they got to his bedroom. "Now you just get into your pajamas and I'll be right up with the thermometer and some chicken soup."

Mrs. Briefs skittered out of the room and came back not ten minutes later with what she had promised. "You just stay in bed tonight." She said as she waited for his temperature to come up. "Bulma will take care of you."

"Now your father and I are going to a banquet tonight. We'll probably be home late. I need you to stay here and look after Vegeta okay."

"But mom! It's Saturday!"

"Were you planning to go somewhere?"

"Well no. But..."

"Well just stay here and keep each other company. If you would like, I could get the Chess set out of the closet."

"Sure. You do that." Bulma sighed as her mother walked out.

She fell back onto her bed and turned her TV on just as the phone rang. She put the TV on mute and answered the phone.

"Hey Bulma." ChiChi said. "Patty Slate is throwing a party tonight, why don't you and Vegeta come with us?"

"I can't." Bulma ground out.

"Why not?"

"Because Vegeta is sick and my mom's making me stay home with him."

"Oh. The poor thing. He did look kind of pale today at the cafe. He didn't talk much either." She stated. "Oh well. You two can spend some time alone though."

"Yeah. That's true." Bulma said, trying to sound as though she liked the idea.

"Well anyways. I gotta get ready. Talk to you later. Okay."

"Bye Bulma said and hung up."

Bulma turned the volume back on on the TV, crossed her legs, and pouted.

"Bulma dear." Mrs. Briefs, wearing a long silk dress, said as she entered Bulma's room three hours later. "Here is the chess board. Take care of Vegeta. Remember that he has to drink plenty of liquids. I just checked him. He has a temperature over 102 degrees, so make sure that he stays in bed. Keep him company and take his temperature often. Give him two of these pills in about an hour, and then again four hours later if he still feels sick." She handed her a bottle. "I gave him two about three hours ago. It helps to keep his temperature from rising. I have to go now. Take care sweetie." Mrs Briefs said as she kissed Bulma on the cheek. She reminded her of the list of emergency numbers, told her where snacks would be, and then left.

Bulma looked at the bottle of pills that her mother had given her and threw it across the room. She sat fuming on her bed for a good five minutes before she decided to go and yell at Vegeta.

She found him right where she had expected to: in his bed watching TV. She crossed her arms and stood in the doorway glaring at him.

Vegeta knew she was there, but didn't acknowledge her until the commercials. "Hello." He said choosing to ignore her mood. "Why are you in my room?"

"First of all! This is my house and I can be where I want! And second! I cannot go out tonight because you are "sick" and my mom is making me take care of you."

"But you're my girlfriend." Vegeta said sarcastically. "That's what you're supposed to do."

"I am not your girlfriend, and I am not supposed to do anything! They have a party tonight, and I am stuck here with you."

"Look!" Vegeta said getting off the bed and striding over to her until their noses were touching. "First of all!" He began in a mocking tone. "I went to that stupid cafe this morning with you, so don't act like you're the only person who does things that they don't want. Second! I'M NOT KEEPING YOU HERE!" With that, he strode back to his bed and continued to watch TV.

Bulma, not even a second later, stomped over, snatched the remote and turned the TV off. "Now look here! I am going to that party! And if you dare tell my mother, you will be sorry."

Vegeta just looked at her, grabbed the remote back and turned the TV back on.

"I take it that you don't care then." She said as she headed toward the door. "Goodnight." With that she slammed the door and walked toward her room to get ready.

Vegeta glared at the door for a while before he got up to turn the light off. He didn't know why, but it bothered him that she didn't want to stay with him. He'd never tell her that though, or anyone else for that matter. Trying to convince himself that he didn't care what she did, he forced himself to stare at the TV.

Bulma looked at herself in the mirror. She had to say that she looked great. She turned around for good measure, and then checked the clock. It was already eight. With one last glance and not a second thought, she grabbed her purse and ran out the door.
Vegeta listened to Bulma's door slam and the sound of her footsteps as they faded down the hallway. He had hoped that she would change her mind and stay with him, but he soon realized that she wouldn't.

Usually when he was sick, which wasn't often, Chuckie would stay with him and take care of him. There was no way that Chuckie could come now, though--it being Saturday night and all. Even if she could find the time, the only way that she could get in the building would be for him to go downstairs and deactivate the alarm system to let her in. He'd learned that that was a pretty long walk, though, and he didn't really feel like making it now.

With a tired sigh that ended in a shiver, Vegeta got under his covers and continued to watch TV.

Bulma was almost to the party and was thinking of a way to explain why she wasn't home with Vegeta. So far, she couldn't think of anything. There didn't seem to be any logical reason that a girl would leave her sick boyfriend alone at home to go to a party. She decided to take another turn around the block so that she could think of an excuse.

Why did he have to go and get sick? Why did he have to be all stubborn and get out of the car when it was cold and raining?

"Get out."

"Huh?"

"Get out of my car!"

Bulma grimaced as she remembered what she had said. She had told him to get out of the car, but she hadn't meant it. Had she? Either way, there was nothing she could do about it now. She wasn't responsible for his welfare, and he had been a jerk. He probably wasn't all that sick anyway.

"...He has a temperature over 102 degrees..."

She was feeling guiltier by the second. Even though he was mean and arrogant and a complete jerk, she had been just the same.

"Oh. The poor thing. He did look kind of pale today at the cafe. He didn't talk much either." She stated. "Oh well. You two can spend some time alone though."

Even for the sake of their deal, all her logic was telling her to go back home. She wouldn't look like a very good girlfriend if she showed up at the party no matter what excuse she gave..

"...Take care of Vegeta..."

And then her parents. If they found out that she'd left "the patient" alone, they'd be so disappointed.

"...Give him two of these pills in about an hour..."

Bulma's car screeched to a halt. She'd totally forgotten about the medicine. Any want she had of going to the party flew out the window. With a sudden fear building in her gut, she sped off toward home.

What did the stuff do again? It couldn't have been that important.

"...It helps to keep his temperature from rising..."

That's semi-important, she admitted.

Vegeta had fallen asleep not long after Bulma had left. The TV was still playing some dark and scary horror movie, and the sounds helped to make Vegeta's dream more vivid.

"Vegeta, bring me my cigarettes." His father ordered from the living room.

Vegeta looked up from the picture he was drawing to see his mother get up from her chair and pull a pack of cigarettes out of the drawer.

"HURRY UP!"

Vegeta slid off of the chair and took the cigarettes from his mom. "Don't say anything." His mother whispered in warning. "He's in a bad mood."

Keeping his eyes low, he shuffled into the living room and up to his father's chair.

"What took you so long boy?" His father asked snatching the cigarettes.

Vegeta didn't think he had taken long, but he didn't say anything. He just bit his lip and kept staring at the floor.

"You don't want to answer me?" Vegeta felt his father grab his chin and pull his face up. "LOOK AT ME, BOY!"

"I didn't!" Vegeta said.

"What was that?"

"I didn't take long." He said a bit more quietly trying to back up. His father's grip on his face tightened.

"Thedrick. Why don't you let me handle him."

"Shut up woman. You won't do a damned thing. Go back in the kitchen where you belong. I'll teach this child how to talk to people."

Bulma burst through the door into Vegeta's room. The light was off and the TV was playing some kind of horror movie or so she gathered from all the screaming. Vegeta appeared to be asleep. He was lying curled up on his side facing away from her. Bulma sat on the bed and leaned over him. In the flashing light she could see that he was soaked in sweat and shivering. She looked around for the thermometer and found it on the bedside table. She flicked on the lamp and fiddled around with the thermometer trying to turn it on. Finally she figured it out.

"Vegeta." She whispered nudging his shoulder.

"Stop." He mumbled, but he didn't sound like he was talking to her.

"Vegeta." She repeated a little louder and nudging him harder.

He only whimpered and curled up tighter.

Bulma crawled around to the other side of the bed so that she could see his face. To her surprise, he was crying.

"Vegeta." She said again, this time in a gentle tone. "What's wrong." She brushed his sweaty hair off of his face. "Wake up."

He only continued to whimper and mumble things occasionally.

Bulma was getting more worried by the second. "Vegeta what's wrong. Are you hurting?" She pulled the blankets back, but didn't see any blood. She couldn't figure out what was wrong with him.

"Don't hurt her." Vegeta said, startling Bulma.

She looked down at him, but he was still asleep. "He's having a nightmare." She said to herself, relieved that he wasn't hurt, but worried that a dream was affecting him this much. Again, she tried to shake him and call his name, but he didn't respond. Getting desperate now, she pulled him into a sitting position, and hugged him to her. "It's okay." She whispered to him as she rocked him back and forth. "It's okay. I'm here." She almost smiled as she heard him stop whimpering. "It's alright." She repeated over and over while rubbing his back.

"Bulma?"

The whispered plea startled her for a second, but she quickly recovered and burst into tears. "I'm so sorry!" she wailed. "I shouldn't have left. I'm so sorry." She felt him tense and then move to hug her back. She could tell that he wasn't used to things like this, but she was grateful that he seemed to forgive her. "Here." She said after a while. She pulled back from him and motioned for him to put the thermometer in his mouth. She smiled reassuringly at his tear streaked and ashamed face. "Lie down. I'm going get your medicine. I'll be back in a second." She leapt off the bed and ran to her room.

She looked around her room for the small bottle that her mother had given her, but she didn't see it. She didn't remember where she had put it either. She looked on her bedside table and then under it, but it wasn't there. She surveyed the room, but still didn't see it. Her room was already a mess from her pre-party fashion show,but she set to work tearing it apart again.

"Where is it!" She almost screamed as she rummaged through her drawers and threw the pillows off her bed. She kicked aside a pile of clothes and sighed in relief when she heard the bottle hit the wall. She quickly scooped it up, read the label, and dashed back to Vegeta's room.

Vegeta shot a glance her way as she came in and then let his gaze rest back on his lap. He was sitting crosslegged with his back against the headboard. Bulma could tell that he was relieved that she came back, but was probably ashamed about earlier.

Bulma crawled onto the bed and took the thermometer out of his mouth. Her eyes widened as she read it: 103.4. "Here." She said shaking two pills out of the bottle and handing them to him. "Did mom leave you any water?"

He pointed to the bedside table on the other side of the bed without looking at her. "'s empty."

"Oh. Well. I'll go run down to the kitchen and get you some more." She said and dashed out of the room again.

She made it to the kitchen in record time and began rummaging around the drawers for a capsule mini-fridge. After what seemed like forever to her, she finally found one and popped it open. Going to the big fridge, she pulled it open and started shoving bottled water and juice into the mini-fridge. When she was satisfied that it was enough, she capsulated it again and ran back up to Vegeta's room.

She found him in the same position he had been in before. "Here." She panted after decapsulating the fridge and pulling a bottle of water out. He took the water from her without looking at her and swallowed the two pills. After Bulma was satisfied that he had taken his medicine, she collapsed dramatically across the foot of the bed gasping for air. "Wooh! That was a run!" She had hoped that the display would cheer him up a bit, but it didn't. He just continued to stare ashamedly into his lap. "So what are you watching?" She asked, but only received a shrug in response. After thinking a second, she crawled up next to him and started pulling off her shoes. "Aw c'mon. Cheer up. I'm missing a party to be here. The least you could do is talk to me."

He glanced over at her and then looked away. "Sorry." He mumbled almost too low to hear. The word sounded strange coming from him.

"For what?" She asked, having no clue what he was talking about. He was acting really weird.

"Making you miss your party...and getting your shirt wet."

Bulma looked down at her shirt to see that it was wet from his sweat and tears. "It's no problem." She said offhandedly. She stared at him for a while seeing that he was still shivering. "You okay?" She asked.

"'m fine." He mumbled.

"Okay." She said and snuggled into him. She knew that he wasn't fine, but she wouldn't tell him that. For the first time, she saw how lonely he was, how sad. Whatever his nightmare was about, it had obviously shaken him. She almost wished that he would snap at her for something like he usually did, but he just shrugged her off.

She idly wondered if he cried every night or if it was just the fever. She never would have pegged him as a happy person, but she wouldn't have guessed that he was traumatized. He needed someone, and she decided that she would be that person.

The two just sat there for a while. Bulma was looking at the TV but not really watching. She wanted to reassure him, without actually saying anything, that she didn't think any lesser of him because of a few tears. She didn't really know how to do that though, so she just snuggled up beside him and stayed quiet.

Vegeta saw what she was trying to do, but didn't know how to take it. He'd always prided himself on being tough, and here he was leaning on some weak girl for comfort. He liked it though, and he didn't know why. Despite his rough exterior, he did need a hand every once in a while. Now was one of those times, and although he wished that she hadn't seen him like he was, having her stay with him was kinda...nice.