I was away for a few days. I tried to post before I left but fanfiction wouldn't let me! TT Well, all better now!

Ok, yes, Trunks would be more like 38 in this story, I forgot how old he was at the end of DBZ ::sweatdrop:: But I don't feel like revising the first chapter just now, so....you do the additions! hehe...

In our mutual
Shame we idolize
To blind them from the truth
That finds a way from who we are

-Evanescence

"What?!" his lip trembled with approaching tears. "THAT COULD NEVER HAPPEN TO MY DAD!" he screamed, and water poured from his eyes. Beside him, Goten shed similar tears for his lost brother.

"Stop it, both of you!" Goku ordered sharply. Trunks bit his lip hard. It did not do much, the tears just would not stop, and he could not keep them from coming.

"Majin Buu is still out there and if you don't learn this technique Gohan and Vegeta's deaths will be for nothing! Do you want that?" Trunks found rock hard resolution in this and forced his tears to recede. Goten did the same. They were ready. They would avenge Vegeta and Gohan's deaths, even if it meant their own.

"Trunks! Trunks, please wake up! They've killed Goku, Vegeta's next; you have got to wake up!"

"Pan?" Trunks opened his eyes. He was chained to a wall. Pan kneeled beside him.

"Pan, what's going on? I was just at the hospital with my dad and—where are Vegeta and Goku?" He had no clue where he was, but it did not look good.

"Trunks, Goku's dead, Ch'rek killed him. He's just had one of his guards take Vegeta."

"What?" Fear bolted through Trunks. "NO!" His power rose and the chains peeled away from the wall. He rammed his body into the door. It did not budge. He slammed himself into it again and bombarded the door with various chi blasts. None of it made a difference.

"NO! NO! NO! YOU'RE NOT TAKING MY SON!" Trunks lost his power. His knees buckled beneath him and he collapsed on the ground.

"No..." he whispered weakly. Pan leaned on his shoulder. Trunks looked up and got a good look at her. There was dried blood on her lips and forehead. Whip marks ordained her back. She had been beaten.

"Pan, who did this to you?"

"Ch'rek did some, when they took Goku away, I tried to fight but I was easily defeated. And then..." She faltered.

"What happened?" Trunks asked.

"Parag." Pan said in a strangled whisper. She fell onto Trunks and began to sob and shake uncontrollably. "Oh Trunks, I wasn't unfaithful to you, I swear! I love you Trunks! I never wanted to even be in the same room as him! He--"

"He...he took you?" Trunks said numbly.

"More than once, much more. He said he'd spare Vegeta! I'm so sorry! I'm sorry for being so gullible! I only love you Trunks, I only want to be in your arms!" She gripped him tighter. "Please forgive me!" Trunks clutched her, holding her close to him.

"You did good Pan, I know. I love you. I know you love me. You have nothing to apologize for. Stop crying now." Her sobs faded to light tears.

"Trunks?"

"Yes Pan?"

"They're going to kill Vegeta." Trunks shook.
"I know." Tears slid silently down his face. "I know." Had he been unconscious during all of this, while his family was suffering? The chamber doors opened. A man in Saiyan uniform stood there. Pan stopped crying completely and reaffirmed her hold on Trunks.

"Pan." He said.

"Parag." Pan said in a small, frightened voice.

"Come with me." ordered Parag.

"N-no." Pan defied, moving back. Trunks moved back with her. This man generated a strong power.

"Come with me Pan, and I might spare that man there." Parag motioned at Trunks.

"Th-that's what you said about Vegeta."

"Come." Parag ordered again.

"No." Trunks spoke, "You can't have her, not anymore. I'm here to protect her now."

"Do you think that makes one bit of difference?" Parag smiled an awful smile.

"I promise to spare him." Parag held out a large hand.

"He's the son of the Prince, why would you spare him?" Pan asked.

"I'm sure something can be arranged."

"No, I'm awake and angry and you're not doing anything more to her, you bastard!" Trunks powered up and threw a punch hard at Parag. He caught it easily. Trunks bounded back.

"Gallic Gun!" The blast went off with a tremendous explosion. Parag erected a shield around himself and was unaffected.

"My turn." He grinned and Trunks was blown away with a hit to his abdomen. Trunks landed on the floor. He groaned and stumbled to get up but before he could Parag aimed a kick that landed in his back. Trunks rolled a few feet. Parag walked over and pressed a metal boot to the middle of Trunks's back and stepped down. Trunks resisted calling out in pain.

"Stop it! STOP IT YOU'RE HURTING HIM!" Pan screamed. Parag lifted his foot a little.

"I'll submit to anything you want, just stop it!" Parag released Trunks and turned to Pan.

"That's a good girl. I believe you know the way."

"You sick bastard." coughed Trunks. Parag punched his jaw.

"Shut up. You are not in any position to be making rude remarks." Pan ran to Trunks's side.

"Pan." Parag warned.

"You don't have to do anything for me." Trunks said weakly.

"If it will keep you alive, I'll do anything." Pan gripped his hand.

"Woman." said Parag impatiently.

"Just rest." Pan said softly. She kissed Trunks gently.

"Now, woman." Parag pulled her up by her hair. "I believe those lips are mine." Parag drew her into an intense kiss and proceeded to walk her out of the chamber.

"I love you Trunks, only you, no matter what!" For minutes after Trunks struggled to move, even keep consciousness but in the end he fainted listening to Pan's horrified cries.

Trunks sat up in a cold sweat. He was still in the hospital waiting room. Vegeta Jr. was sleeping peacefully next to him; his father was asleep in a chair with Goku Jr. still snoring lightly in his lap. Had what he had just seen been a dream? No way, what had just happened was too real to be a dream. It was-it was...What was it? Trunks answered the question himself. It was the future. That is what his mind told him. The future murderer of his sons was coming. And what Pan would go through just for him...Trunks closed his eyes. It was unspeakable for him. What were his options? To train non-stop until Ch'rek came? To wait for death? Or, well, what Ch'rek was after was him. He could leave...keep them safe. It would just be for a little while, until he could defeat Ch'rek and return home. But if they knew the reason he was leaving they'd insist on going with him. He could not have that. So how could he leave? He did not want to cause them pain; that was the last thing he wanted. Was there any way at all he could make them...glad of his departure? Trunks looked over at Goku sleeping in Vegeta's lap. Then he understood. He understood his father.

Alrighty now. I'll try to post the next chapter a little sooner. And, for any Trekkies here, I'll be posting a Janeway/Chakotay story as soon as I finish this one. It makes me SO MAD that they never get together! ::stabs Paramount writers:: Of course, you may not know what the heck I'm talking about, and in that case, good day to you! ((::sigh:: Why can't I find any friends who like Star Trek AND anime? I have to force all my anime friends to watch Star Trek...))

The lyrics for this chapter are a little bit weird, maybe hard to make a connection, but if you read later chapters and then come back to this one, it makes more sense. A little foreshadowing maybe...?