Fallen – Chapter 11

The next day Bulma ate a reasonable breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Her color seemed better. If she kept this up she would indeed gain weight. Penny came and bathed Trunks and put him too bed. Once Bulma was showered and in bed Penny took her leave for the night. Vegeta sat up a while reading. He got up to fetch himself a snack and out of habit pulsed his ki to check the whereabouts of the compound. He was amused to find Bulma's ki slightly elevated, indicating she was still awake in her room. He walked in to find her blues eyes looking at him. He sat on the edge of the bed as her eyes followed him. "You should be resting, Onna" he said with a smirk. "Shall I turn the television on for you?" he questioned as he reached for the remote and turned on the T.V. As expected no answer came in words but her eyes remained wide open, staring at him. "No?" He turned the offensive box off. He left and returned with his book, turned on a lamp, and pulled a chair close to the bed. "You always did stay up too late" he playfully chided. He sat down and began to read aloud. The book was in native tongue, but he doubted it mattered what he said, as long as he was talking. A short while later Trunks crawled in the bed with his mother and fifteen minutes after that both were sound asleep. Vegeta carefully returned Trunks to his own bed and made his way back to the sofa.

And so a new routine was formed. Vegeta was able to train longer periods as Bulma required a little less care since she began eating regular food again. Her weight was returning to normal. One afternoon a couple of days later Trunks was running around giggling as Vegeta came in for lunch. Penny was fixing some plates at the table. Everything seemed normal. Penny left to take her lunch break, leaving the three alone once again. Vegeta went to the refridgerator to get a bottle of water and watched Trunks as he would run, stop, giggle and keep running. "What are you doing, boy!" Trunks stopped only a moment to glance at his father before he giggled and ran again, "Playing with mama!" he announced. Vegeta paled visibly as if he had seen a ghost.

His heart sank into his feet as he walked up to the child and knelt down, "Mama can't play with you right now" he started to explain but Trunks pulled away. "Yes she can!" stomping his foot for emphasis before returning his gaze at his mother, "she plays with her eyes!" Vegeta looked up and "Oh Kami" he sputtered as he fell onto his rear. Bulma's eyes were indeed following Trunks around the room. She was watching him. Trunks ran over to him, his chest heaving with the effort of running, "See Papa, I told you!" Vegeta shook his head and stood, "I stand corrected" he finally said with a smile. "Come, it is time to eat" Vegeta called from the table motioning Trunks to sit down. He fetched Bulma and the three sat at the table. Trunks couldn't sit still. He swayed side to side in his chair as he watched his mother's eyes follow him.

Vegeta had been lenient on the child and had not made him sit properly at the table. He reserved that for when he was with his grandparents, he hadn't seen any reason for it at this table. However tonight it posed a problem as Bulma would watch him and not eat. "Trunks! Enough! Eat your lunch!" Vegeta barked at him with frustration. Bulma was finally improving and he would not have it spoiled. He grabbed Bulma's chin lightly and turned her to face him, "You too."

Several days passed and Bulma seemed to "watch" the two men in her life. Her color and weight back to where they belonged. Still she made no attempts to feed herself. Her eyes, ever watchful, remained without expression. Not since that night several weeks ago had she even made a noise. Vegeta tried to remain hopeful. She was making improvements and was quite the lifeless doll she had been when she awoke from her coma.

The neurologist made follow-up visits and new EEGs were done. He said that Bulma had made no improvements. That her eyes may eventually follow everyone in the room and even turn her head in the direction of noise and movement, but these were merely reflexes the doctor would state. On his last visit he ensured Dr. Briefs that Bulma remained in a persistent vegetative state and would likely remain so. There were some treatments that could be tried. One could cause seizure and possible brain damage. The other was electro-shock therapy directly to her prefrontal cortex. Vegeta had thrown him out of the apartment at that part.

Six months had passed since the initial accident now. Bunny and Dr. Briefs had remained hopeful and visited often. Bunny made sure Bulma's hair stayed neat and cut. The beautician was well paid and all employees that worked for the Briefs signed a no disclosure agreement. Trunks' second birthday was coming and chattered turned to preparations and who to invite. The child spent hours "talking" to his mother and playing with her. Vegeta had in turn began to slip into depression. He talked little with his son and even less to her parents. He began to even withdraw from Bulma.

One evening after supper Trunks insisted on kissing his mother good night. As Penny lead the child away from his mother Vegeta heard him say, "Okay Mommy, I will." Vegeta snapped. It was time the child understood that she's not really there. Imaginary friends, even his own mother as one, was not healthy. He walked up to his son and knelt down. Penny stepped back. "You need to stop talking to your mother like this" he began. Trunks eyes flew open wide, "Why Father?" the child asked. Vegeta closed his eyes and tried to think of a tactful way to tell the child without hurting him. "It's not healthy" he began but Trunks interrupted him, "Why, you talk to mommy?" Okay the child had a valid point. "Yes, I do. But I do not pretend that she answers me. Do you see the difference?" Trunk began to get upset, "But she does!" Vegeta was at a loss for what to say. Finally he decided the truth was best. "I talk to your mother because it makes me feel better. She does not hear us. She can't." Trunks looked at his mother and began to cry, "But she does, in here" Trunks pointed to his head. "Trunks, no. . ." Trunks stomped his foot, "She does! She does! You just don't listen." Trunks ran to his room. Penny followed after him. Vegeta stood and paced the room. He couldn't handle this. Penny came out to get a glass of water and saw Vegeta's pacing. Before returning to Trunks she told Vegeta "Why don't you go out for a while. I got this." Without a second thought he took her up on the offer.

Vegeta flew for an hour before stopping. "Is the child going insane? Did he really think he heard his mother in his mind?" Vegeta pondered this for a while. Somewhere in the recesses of his mind a thought stirred. A story his mother would tell about a man and a woman who were so close they could share thoughts and even feelings. VEGETA! That voiced echoed in his mind. He thought he heard her the day on the accident call out to him, but he thought he imagined it. Now he was not so certain. Sometimes he could feel her stronger emotions. His pulse quickened and he headed back home.

When he arrived he was calm and determined. He landed on the balcony and strode into the main living area. "Go" he ordered Penny from the apartment. She shot him a dirty look before she saw the look in his eyes. She turned and left. First he checked on Trunks. He was asleep in his bed. He checked the doors and windows one last time before returning to his room. Bulma lay in the bed, motionless, save her eyes that met his the moment he entered the room. He sat next to her and took her hands. He looked into her eyes and they still seemed darker than they used to be. They had lost their spark. He closed his eyes, "Can you hear me, woman?" he whispered. Vegeta sat and listened. All he heard was her heart beat. He waited patiently and still nothing. "If you can talk to the child, why not talk to me? I don't know if we have this bond my mother would prattle on about. I don't know how it works. Is it telekinetic? I just don't know." Vegeta stood and began pacing. "Goku once willed his ki into. . . maybe. . . ." he debated with himself. He returned to her side and took both of her hands once more. He flared his ki and did his best to will it into her.

At first he felt nothing. Then there was a faint glimmer of life. It felt like the breeze brushing past his arm hair. He pushed further and felt as if he were in the warm sun. His pulse raised and he pushed further and hit a wall. In his mind he saw a smooth wall of white glass. He ran his hand over the glass and it radiated warmth. He felt the urge to break it. He flared his ki and the glass cracked. He went to push further and was jolted awake by Penny's hand on his shoulder, "Mr. Vegeta! Are you alright?" He stood and turned to face her. How dare she interrupt me! I was making progress! His eyes flared in anger. It was about that time that Vegeta realized the sun was in the sky. Moments ago it had barely been 1:30. He shook his head in confusion. "I tried to wake you but I couldn't" she stammered as he backed off. "I will go get your breakfast."

Vegeta calmed himself and went straight to the GR. He avoided Trunks, he couldn't deal with that now. He returned to feed Bulma as scheduled but said nothing. After supper Trunks approached his father. "You'll see. You just have to listen" Trunks said with a tired little voice. Vegeta looked at him with renewed hope. Bulma looked tired today and didn't eat as well as she usually did. He felt drained as well. He would not reattempt messing with the bond again tonight. He pat the boy on the head and sent him to bed. After Penny left for the night he checked the doors and windows, all secure. He checked on Bulma, her eyes were closed. She was asleep. He grabbed his pillow and blanket and headed to the sofa.

He lay for a while before sleep claimed him. He was in an empty field with fresh fallen snow looking for something. No it was someone. Bulma! He yelled. I'm here! Come find me. Her voice beckoned. Vegeta began running and running. Where are you? I can't find you! He stopped running. He was panic stricken. Just open your eyes, her voice called to him. Everything started getting dark until there was nothing. Then a set of bright blue eyes appeared before him.

He woke with a startle and looked around the room. He jumped again when he realized that on first glance he missed the shape standing in front of him. At first he thought it was a ghost but as his eyes focused they saw bright blue eyes in front of him. Staring down on him. "For Kami's sake Woman! You scared me half to death!" he sat up and looked at her. Her face was neutral, lacking of any expression. "What are you doing out here? When did you?" He stood and placed his hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes. He waited for some inclination that somebody was home. Nothing. Her arms were like ice. "Let's get you back to bed" he said as he led her back to her bed.

He tucked her in and returned to the sofa. Bulma getting up and wandering through the apartment at night was going to pose new problems. He smiled to himself. This meant that she had to be improving. He would love to see the neurologists' reaction to this. He lay back down and closed his eyes. Moments later the hair on the back of his neck stood on end. He opened his eyes. "Kuso! Bulma!" Vegeta jumped to see Bulma staring down at him once more. Her head tilted to the side and her brow furrowed in confusion as if to contemplate his reaction. He sat up slowly, "Bulma?"

She did not move but continued to look at him curiously. He stood and cautiously approached her. She turned and walked towards the kitchenette looking at everything. Vegeta followed her like a mother guarding her child's first steps. He watched her as she went to the table and looked at it as if she had never seen one before. Her step wavered and she was about to lose her balance but Vegeta was there and kept her from falling. "I think you have pushed yourself enough for tonight. Let me take you back to your bed." Bulma followed him.

Vegeta wondered what this new development meant. She was actually up and walking around and seeing things. He once again tucked her in. "Good night Bulma" Vegeta said as he turned out the light. When he went to turn and leave he felt a light weight reach his hand. He looked down to see Bulma had taken his hand. He froze. He did not know what to do. So he waited as she continued to look at him, confused. He sat on the edge of the bed. Her hand left his and went to his face and she caressed it. He closed his eyes. He had waited over six months to feel her touch. "I know you are confused right now, but it will become clearer. I will guide you." A single tear escaped his eye and Bulma run her thumb over it. "Get some sleep, Onna. The morning brings a new sun." He sat a while until her eyes closed, sleep claimed her.

He returned to his position on the couch. He closed his eyes and tried to sleep. Unfortunately his mind stay active with thoughts of how much of his Bulma was still in there. Have I managed to reach her through this bond? He tried not to get his hopes too high. She had yet to speak. Could she speak? How is the boy going to handle her like this? His hair stood on end on his neck as he heard a faint padding across the carpet. He opened his eyes and was not surprised to find her standing before him again, staring. "You're not going to stay put if I don't stay in there with you, are you?" he asked. Her eyes seemed to plead with him. She is afraid he thought. "I give up. I will not deny you." He grabbed his pillow and blanket off the couch and she began to walk back to the bed. Their bed. "This is the last time I am going to do this tonight, Onna" he teased as he tucked her in the bed and climbed into his side.

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