Please don't hurt me. I know I should have updated a long time ago, but I have a very good reason! I'm on the school dance team and that takes up a lot of time! So please don't hurt me! Besides, then you wouldn't know the end of the story, now would you!

To reviewers: Thanks for all your reviews! I can't believe I got 57! Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Goku stood in disbelief. Gohan had finally ascended. But it was too late, wasn't it? Turning to Cell, Goku took a deep breath. 20 seconds. That's all they had. This was it. These were their last moments on Earth.

He had one plan. One idea. Instant Transmission. Teleporting Cell and himself away from the planet. Away from his friends and his family. His son. Goku narrowed his eyes as made his decision. And as Gohan walked forward.

His usually shining ebony eyes were cold turquoise. His ki fluctuated wildly around him, power radiating off of him with every step. All eyes were on him. From Goku's own bewildered eyes to Vegeta's questioning looks.

"Gohan? What are you doing?" Goku asked cautiously. Didn't Gohan know that one small touch could set Cell off? He wasn't seriously going to try and stop Cell, was he?

Gohan stopped about 5 feet away from Cell, locking his steely turquoise eyes into confused violet eyes. Forming a ki barrier around himself and then Cell. Both hybrid and android floated up into the dark cloudy sky.

"What do you think you're doing, you little brat!" Cell screamed, "This is Earth's end!" "You're half right. It is the end. It's yours," Gohan stated calmly; stone eyes reflecting his self-confidence.

Goku's eyes widened in shock; he really was going through with this! That was his job, right? It was his job to protect the planet and die for it, right? Gohan wasn't strong enough to withstand that blast, even with his power and shield, right? His breath and heart rate grew quicker as the seconds ticked by. "Gohan! Get out of there!" Goku bellowed.

High above the ground, Gohan could hear his dad and friends hollering at him. But he wasn't backing down. Not this time. Not anymore. He was tired of running. He was tired of watching his friends die. He was tired of being a coward. There was no more. It wasn't just Cell's end. It was the end of his cowardice.

5 seconds. That's all he had left. Almost time for him to find out whether or not he was strong enough to withstand Cell's blast. He was just about sure that he could survive the explosion, but he wasn't exactly positive.

5…4…3…2…Gohan crossed his arms over his face, preparing for the intense heat and energy. Cell let out a horrifying screech as his bloated body was shredded into millions of microscopic pieces.

Gohan cried out in pain as white-hot stings penetrated his skin. Blood splattered against his face, as his arms were ripped open viciously. Gohan tried to keep his arms up over his face, but he was fighting a losing battle.

A blinding flash of light covered the area, temporarily blocking out all sight. Cell's terrible screams died down as Gohan's pain-filled yells echoed throughout the rocky cliffs. Finally his defenses dropped, leaving him vulnerable.

Dreadful yelps of hurt forced their way out of Gohan's lips as his hurting body trembled and shook. The blast died down as Gohan fell out of the sky; rushing air stung Gohan's open wounds as he slowly plunged toward the ground, his gold hair fading back into it's natural raven color.

As he plummeted closer to Earth, blood rained down from his open wounds onto his friends and the ground. Goku propelled himself forward, catching his wounded son in his outstretched arms.

His arms were immediately wet and warm, sticky by his son's blood. Gohan lay as limp as a rag doll in Goku's arms, hair matted down and caked by blood. The once orange and blue gi was now in rags and stained a sickening muddy brown color.

"Gohan?" Goku gently shifted Gohan, moving him to a better position. As he stood there, he found himself surrounded by his friends, anxious to see if their young companion was all right.

Piccolo placed a green hand on Gohan's forehead, slowly transferring energy to his former student. Gohan let out a moan as he came back into the land of the living.

Bending down, Goku laid Gohan partially on the rocky surface, propping him up on his muscular arm, as his inky black eyes fluttered open, regaining their sparkle once more. As Gohan awoke out of his daze, pain sporadically filled his body, producing grimaces and winces.

Taking notice of this, Krillin pulled out a senzu bean, "Here Gohan. I usually have one with me." Goku took the bean from Krillin and handed it to his injured son.

Grabbing the bean with blood covered fingers; Gohan painstakingly chewed and swallowed the bean. Instantly his cuts were closed and his bruises disappeared. Goku helped him up slowly as his body was ridded of pain.

Goku's own raven eyes met his flesh and blood black eyes; immediately Goku wrapped his son in hug, Gohan returning it. A wave of relief washed over all of them. For Goku, it was relief for his son being safe.

For Gohan, it was staying alive. For Piccolo, he was relieved that he didn't have to cope with his best friend and pupil's death. For the others, all that mattered was that they all escaped alive and well.

After releasing his son, Goku firmly but gently told Gohan, "Don't you ever do that again. That's my job. Not yours." Piccolo snorted behind them as Gohan was about to respond. He never got the chance.

His senses snapped to attention before the others did. Leaping forward, Gohan shoved his father out of the way as an energy beam came spiraling toward him.

The beam grazed Gohan's right shoulder, leaving a painful and bloody, but not crippling, injury in its wake. "Gohan!" Goku scrambled toward his feet to tend to his only son, who was grasping his shoulder tightly, grimacing in pain.

Gohan's eyes locked onto a cloud of smoke just in front of them. Following his son's eyes, Goku turned to face the front as obnoxious laughter rang out through the stony terrain.

"Now who did I hit? Come on now, I know it hit someone." As the smoke and dust cleared, Cell's body came into view, his evil ki dancing wildly around him. Scanning the group, his violet eyes locked onto Gohan, who was glaring at him viciously. "Now this was a bonus!"

Cell laughed as he walked forward to the fatigued warriors. Goku pulled himself closer to Gohan as Piccolo stood next to Gohan, both unwilling to let Gohan come any closer to death. "Mighty protective, are we?" Gohan growled; he wasn't a baby. He didn't need them to protect him. Not anymore.

Pushing them away, Gohan rose to his feet, ki shoving them backwards as he burst into Super Saiyan 2. His cold eyes locked onto Cell's violet eyes, sending across a clear message. Gohan was the one coming out of this fight alive. Not Cell. Crouching down in the Kamehameha stance, ki gathered in Gohan's palms.

He wanted to end this quickly. As quickly as possible. He wanted Cell gone. Ignoring the aching pain in his bleeding shoulder, Gohan prepared his father's signature attack. Goku stood several feet behind him, silently urging his son on. 'Come on, Gohan. Then we can go home. Together.'

There! It's all done! I hope ya'll like it! I thinks it's okay! I hope… Enjoy!