Fallen – Chapter 5
The world around Vegeta blurred and when it phased back in it took him a moment to clear the confusion from his eyes as a short green thing was running towards him. His grip on Bulma tightened slightly and reality checked in. She was cold and damp and her breaths were too far and in-between. He raised his ki protectively as he was rushed. "Vegeta! Calm down! It's only Dende!" Gohan pleaded as he realized Vegeta's confusion. Hearing the small child plead with him he looked again and saw he spoke the truth and the Protector of Earth stood there waiting to help him. He lowered his ki and Bulma to the ground. "Fix her!" he demanded of the Namekian youth. Dende didn't argue but raised his hands over Bulma's nearly lifeless form. Vegeta stayed crouched near her until he saw her take a breath and her color begin to return.
Feeling Bulma was in no immediate threat he stood and looked at Gohan. "I thought I instructed you to go to her father?" Gohan's eyes shifted down. "I tried, but Piccolo's ki signature is stronger and more familiar, and I . . . I. . ." Gohan's ki started rising with his emotions. He had done and seen more than any boy his age should have, couldn't Vegeta just be accepting of that? The tears threatened to spill from his eyes when he felt a heavy hand on his shoulder, "You would have made him proud today, you did good. I will not forget this debt," came the hushed words of the proud Saiyan. Gohan understood how hard those words were for Vegeta to speak and with his chest held high Gohan begin to walk away but was stopped by Vegeta. "She needs a Senzu bean. Check with Koren." Gohan nodded in agreement.
Vegeta looked around to see the rest of the Z gang had begun to wander forward, presumably to question him. He let out a growl of a warning; he was not in the mood for this. Hearing this Gohan flew to Yamcha, said a few words, and flew off. Good, the brat took out the trash, Vegeta thought. He knew the others dare not be as brazen as he would. He probably saved the weakling's life and he didn't even know about it. Piccolo and Krillen went with Mr. Popo to get something to eat, leaving Vegeta alone with Dende. Feeling he could finally relax a bit he returned to check on Bulma.
Vegeta watched silently as Dende worked him magic on her. After thirty minutes he stopped, visibly worn from the expenditure of energy. "She's stable enough to move now. I need a few minutes to regain myself." Dende explained. Vegeta without instruction gently picked Bulma up and followed Dende to a private room and laid her down on the bed. She's still so cold thought Vegeta and he covered her with some blankets.
Gohan and Yamcha flew as fast as they could to Koren's Tower to see if there were any Senzu beans to be had. Neither spoke until about half way there. "What do you suppose happened?" Yamcha asked Gohan. "It's a big mess, that's all I know. I was training with Mr. Piccolo when I felt Vegeta's Ki spike and stay up for quite some time, so we decided to check on things." Dissatisfied with that explanation Yamcha asked no more questions. He was glad to be able to help Bulma and if getting a Senzu bean saved her life then maybe he wouldn't be dismissed by Bulma. He had stayed away when Vegeta had first returned but when Vegeta made it clear the only reason he was there was to keep him away from Trunks he had tried again to repair the relationship he had with Bulma. Vegeta had found a way to chase him off then and Bulma dismissed him in what he felt was false hope that Vegeta could ever love her. He had gone to help her when all the trouble started and was once again dismissed, not permitted to even search for her. When he went to check on her when they arrived at the tower he was dismissed again and by all things, a child. To say he was angry at the whole situation was an understatement. He was tired of being dismissed. He was sure he could be a better father and husband to Bulma than Vegeta was. Hell, Vegeta wasn't even a husband he was a . . . well he didn't know what he was to Bulma but he was sure he could be better at it.
Lost in his own thoughts he almost flew past the tower. When they finally landed they were met by Yariobe, "Koren has been waiting for you. What's going on? Did Vegeta kill someone?" Yariobe lead them to Koren while giving a quick explanation. Koren shook his head as he checked on the beans, "They will be a day or two more yet." Yamcha decided right then and there, should Bulma survive this then he was going to do what it takes to win her back starting with this. Gohan and Yamcha said in unison, "We'll wait!"
Twelve grueling hours later Vegeta had not left Bulma's side. Dende was in and out performing his healing hands when he could. Mr. Popo brought food for Vegeta, which he declined at one point stating "I will eat when she does, now GET OUT!" The only person he permitted in the room after that was the small Namekian child. At present he had been in there an hour when he announced, "That's all I can do for her." Vegeta who had been leaning on the wall looking out the window with his arms folded in front of him walked over and sat on the edge of the bed and stared at Bulma expectantly. When her eyes did not open he looked her over. Her visible wounds were healed. Her color had returned. He picked up her hand, her skin was still chilled and her life force was still low. Vegeta's eyebrows furrowed in confusion, He's lying! He's holding back! Vegeta's thoughts brought him to anger and beyond. He powered up without meaning to as he grabbed Dende by the collar of his robes. "You lie! She is not healed!" Vegeta spat at him, "You will heal her or I will bow you and this entire mud ball of an excuse of a planet you call home to the next dimension!" Piccolo burst into the room and powered up to meet Vegeta threat.
"Put him down!" Piccolo demanded. Vegeta dropped Dende who didn't seem bothered by Vegeta's empty threats and left the room. Vegeta rounded a punch at Piccolo, "You DARE presume to tell me what to do!?" Piccolo took Vegeta's blind and emotional rage to his advantage dodging his blows and leading him away from the private chambers, into the open.
Miles away Gohan felt the waves of ki from the lookout and so did Yamcha. "Now what?" asked Yamcha. "I don't know. I'll be right back." He replied. Without another word Gohan phased out of view and phased back in to a fight between Vegeta and Piccolo. Piccolo was barely able to dodge Vegeta's attacks and he wasn't even powered half way up, yet. Piccolo was careful not to talk, afraid he would only cause the Saiyan to become more agitated. Vegeta was yelling and presumably cursing in his native tongue. Vegeta's power levels were continuing to climb. Piccolo understood the need for him to blow off steam and release the turmoil of emotions that were building. Unfortunately years of therapy would not teach this man a healthy way to let it all out, so here we are. Gohan powered all the way up and positioned himself to block Vegeta and before he knew what happened Vegeta kicked a solid wall.
When the dust settled Vegeta blinked in the realization his foot was caught and Gohan had the upper hand. What the, when did the kid get here? Vegeta powered down and without skipping a beat asked "The beans?" and began walking back towards Bulma. Gohan followed suit and dropped his power level as well, "A day or two more." Krillen sensing the fight was over approached the others. Vegeta stiffened and returned to his vigil over Bulma. Gohan turned to his mentor, "What happened?" After catching his breath Piccolo replied "Dende did all he could and she is not awake. Vegeta thought perhaps Dende was holding out on him." Gohan was at a loss for what else to do so he returned to wait for the beans. Piccolo went off to clean up but did not venture far for fear Vegeta might be in need of some more therapy and wanted to be there in case he was needed.
Krillen understood Vegeta more than he would have like and felt for the man. Then it struck him. He had a brilliant idea and he decided to risk his life by entering the same room as Vegeta at this moment. He knocked once lightly on the door and when no answer came he slowly opened the door to find Vegeta sitting on the bed just looking at Bulma. This was the first time he had seen Bulma since this whole thing began, not counting when she first arrived on the lookout cradled protectively by Vegeta.
He was dumbstruck by how pale she looked and even though she was breathing he couldn't sense her ki at all. "Speak or leave little monk, I have no patience for gawkers." Krillen was still holding the door knob like an anchor from Vegeta's wrath. "These things take time" Krillen offered meekly, "we don't even know what's going on with her at this point." Vegeta remained motionless waiting for the former monk to finish what he came here to say. "Her father has the machines, he can. . ." Krillen didn't have a chance to finish his thought. Vegeta stood up abruptly. Of course! Why didn't I think of that before? Maybe he can do something the Namekian can't. Without another word Vegeta carefully lifted Bulma's sleeping form from the bed and carried her making his way from the lookout. Krillen followed at a respectful distance. He prayed to Kami he was right. Once they reached the outside Vegeta began to levitate off the ground when he turned to Krillen and said "Have them bring the beans to her home." And in a flash Vegeta was gone. Krillen hadn't failed to notice Vegeta said her home. This disturbed the monk. Did Vegeta not think of this as his home? Perhaps the stress of potentially losing someone so close was too much for him. He may have been a mass murder, responsible for countless genocide, but had he ever lost someone he care about? Krillen's mind was heavy with worries of what would happen if Bulma did not pull through all of this while made his way to Koren's Tower to tell his friends of the latest development.
The journey from the lookout to the Capsule Corporation Compound took longer than Vegeta ever remembered it being. He landed in the backyard, destroying several topiaries as he did. Dr. Briefs made his way from his private laboratory when he heard the crash. Vegeta stormed into the house and Dr. Brief's met him in the hall. Dr. Briefs was about to yell when he saw Vegeta's stoic face carrying his unconscious daughter. "Med Lab!" the doctor ordered and for once Vegeta didn't argue. Along the way he brought her father up to speed with everything he knew and had been done. When they entered the Med Lab several doctors, who had been on standby, came rushing in. Vegeta laid Bulma on the examination bed and stood frozen, waiting further orders. Dr. Briefs gingerly touched Vegeta's shoulder, "we need room to do our jobs" he said quietly. Vegeta knew where Bulma got her nerve from. He looked around and saw the doctors waiting to attend Bulma. Suddenly the room felt very small and he felt the overwhelming need to leave. As if he could read his mind her father walked to the door, "Maybe you should wait outside." Vegeta glanced around before snarling at the men and woman in the room, "She dies, you die!" No one questioned if he meant it or not.
Vegeta stood as still as a statue against the wall as he waited for some news from the doctors within. He heard the clink of metal here and there and some beeps but was otherwise in the dark as to what was going on. His mind was raging in itself. As long as he had orders to follow or a purpose he didn't have to think but now all he had to do was wait. And for two long hours he waited and waged war in his mind. Then the door to the Med Lab opened and a very tired Dr. Briefs appeared.
He gave Vegeta a faint smile, "She's going to pull through this. . ." his smiled faltered, "but I can't tell in what condition she will be when she comes to." Vegeta was once again seeing red and pushed himself from the wall. "What do you mean you don't know? She's going to be alright, she's not going to be alright. Make up your mind old man," Vegeta seethed. Dr. Briefs had reached his limit with him. He realized, even if Vegeta did not, that Vegeta was at his wits end for fear of Bulma's life. He knew he deeply cared for his daughter, but that's exactly the point. Vegeta failed to realize that while he was at the lookout watching over Bulma her Father was at home not knowing anything. Dr. Briefs lit a cigarette, his good nature spent, and inhaled deeply. Vegeta returned to his post on the wall as he awaits some explanation of what he meant.
After counting to ten Dr. Briefs began: "Her vital signs are within normal limits and she is breathing independently. Her echocardiogram is normal. X-Rays reveals some 32 break and or fractures in the early stages of healing, 3 of which were rather extensive and on her skull over the frontal lobe. Her brain waves are abnormal indicating a very deep sleep, but not quite coma. I do not know if the skull fractures over her left frontal lobe are affecting her brain patterns or because to the tissue swelling that is still present because of the crash. It will take time to sort this out. She has to heal. They have begun intravenous fluids, electrolytes, and antibiotics. She needs rest and so do you. You haven't slept in how long?"
Vegeta snorted, "I am a Saiyan warrior, and I can go several days before sleep affects me."
Dr. Briefs shrugged and put his cigarette out. "There is nothing more to do tonight. The doctors will be with her all night. You can go in if you want. I have to go explain all of this to Bunny. Perhaps you should check in on Trunks." The doctor turned and walked away.
Vegeta watched the doctor walk away. He couldn't deal with Trunks right now. Everything was overwhelming him. Before he realized it he found his hand on the door and he silently entered the room. The doctors in the room looked around nervously at each other. "Out!" he commanded. The doctors checked her vitals one last time and went into the adjoining room to monitor her from there. Vegeta pulled the chair up to the bed and sat. His mind reeled as he replayed the events of the last twenty-four hours in his mind. He picked up her limp hand and pushed his ki up her arm to her head. Nothing. He felt nothing. His heart sank. He listened instead to the even respirations from her frail form. Her pulse was strong. She was too strong for this.
Several hours later Dr. Briefs wandered his way back to the Med Lab to check on his only child. He didn't see Vegeta in the waiting room and assumed he was inside so he quietly opened the door. As he suspected he found Vegeta asleep in the chair next to the bed. He was still holding Bulma's hand.
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