A/N: Please note that the following is purely fictional, any similarity to any living person or event is coincidental.

Please note that while this fic has the primary characteristics of certain medical conditions. They are over exaggerated for story purposes and should not be used as a reference for a direct insight or explanation.

Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Ball nor do I generate any profit from this. This is for entertainment only.

Son Goten and Vegeta

"You mean it? My Goten can come home?!" Chichi could not contain her excitement, finally after so many years.

"Yokata" Gohan smiled at her. "Then he's all better?"

"Yes. However, please understand that he is still under observation and there will be follow up consultations"

"I understand doctor… is there anything we should know? About my son, is there some specific way we should care for him?" she asked.

"Yes. There is the subject of medication. I will prescribe him a month's worth of Zyprexa and Abilify, please see to it that he takes it daily every night as it can dull his senses for hours. There is also another opinion known as a Depot Injection. It is the same, only given via injection and it can be done monthly. You may speak with my assistant if you're interested in this option" he paused slightly, giving mother and son the time to absorb the information.

"On that same note, Goten does space out at times, but there's no need to be concerned. He might also be a little slow to react and may not comprehend situations or questions or speech as quickly. My advice is to give him time, exercise patience and not get agitated as that can trigger the same in him. If you need further instructions, do not hesitate to call our hotline"

"Doctor… I've been meaning to ask… I understand that 'Trunks' is another personality my son created but… how? I mean what triggered that and would 'he' or someone else like that appear again?"

"Usually split personalities are created as a means of escape, Mrs Son. When reality becomes too much to bear, the mind finds another way to cope. The brain is a very powerful and most mysterious organ, but my guess is the young boy found his fantasy world easier to live in than the real one. Pardon my intrusion, but as I recall the young boy had lost his father, and had very few friends? Perhaps these factors served as triggers. Goten might have created 'Trunks' to escape his loneliness" Frieza explained.

"… It's true. After Goku died… Goten had never met his father… I'm always busy at work…" Chichi sighed.

"And I'm always busy at school…" Gohan felt just as bad.

"I should have been more vigilant… I saw the warnings… all the red flags… yet I shook them off as nothing more than a child's growing phase until he actually hurt someone.." she recalled the incident years back when Goten had gotten into a fight with 4 bullies. Not that they didn't deserve a good whack for picking on someone, in this case someone much smaller than them; but still, to be beaten to the point where hospitalisation was necessary… aka beaten to a bloody pulp.

"Had I done something sooner…"

"It's hard to recognise the symptoms, Mrs Son, and even harder to accept if it's a family member, but you did the right thing. Without treatment it could have been a lot worse, take comfort that your son is well enough to return home and recover. Now I'm sure you are eager to take him home? Please ensure that he takes his medication and call if you need additional help" Freiza closed Goten's patient files. "My assistant will escort you to the front desk, you'll need to fill out the discharge forms before you take him home"

"Thank you doctor… thank you" Chichi bowed, thanking him.

"Ah… Doctor Freiza, if I may, could I take a few more moments of your time? I'd like to ask about a few things?" Gohan's question surprised Chichi.

"Certainly" Freiza nodded, he could spare the time.

"I'll bring Goten home first" Chichi couldn't wait to get out of this place, eager to bring her youngest son home. They had a lot of catching up to do.

"? Are you sure, kasan? I won't take long" Gohan turned back to his mother.

"You go on. I'm sure Goten couldn't wait to get home" Chichi reassured Gohan. "We'll see you back home"

"Ok kasan… drive safely" Gohan wasn't too keen on the idea, but he had questions to ask… it shouldn't take too long.

…

"Welcome home, Goten" gently, she brought Goten into their house; showing him the place, it hasn't changed much; then they reached his room. "We left it as it is… and your onichan bought you some new clothes, why don't you take a shower before lunch?"

Goten nodded, smiling once at her. "Thanks kasan…"

"I'll call when it's ready" She smiled back as she prepared a bath for Goten; happy to have her son home again.

Goten sighed as he relaxed in the tub, boy that felt good…

"Hn. Don't even think about letting your guard down, boy"

"I got us out…"

"Don't get too cocky, brat. You only got out because of their incompetence, this freedom's only temporary"

"What do you mean?" Goten sat up. "We got out, didn't we?"

"Goten? Were you talking to me?" Chichi knocked on the bathroom door, startling Goten quickly into silence.

"I asked what's for lunch, kasan" he lied; a task he almost perfected, an art of deception he learned during his stay in the institution.

"It's your favourite. I've placed a change of clothes for you, come out when you're done"

"Ok. Thanks kasan" he held his breath, releasing it after he heard his mother leave the room; he exit after, changing into the clothes she left for him.

"Phew… I think we're fine"

"And for how long. In case you have forgotten she was the one who had you placed in that hellhole, brat. It's only a matter of time before you're discovered; all it takes is for you to screw up once and you'll be thrown back to the wolves. This time, you'll stay for good"

Goten's heart rate accelerated. They would take him back… he would have to stay in that forsaken place… all his life?

"What should I do…"

"Stupid brat. Do you need me to spell out the answer for you?! Take a proper look around"

Goten did exactly that. He looked around his room before entering the living room, seeing nothing that seem to suggest a way out until his eyes locked onto a sewing kit that was filled with his mother's sewing equipment.

Instantly, his eyes caught sight of his mother's fabric scissors, Goten reached out with his right hand. He brought it out, watching with intense curiosity, the rays from the sun further emphasizing its beauty, giving it a brilliant shine; a beauty as cold and deadly as its blade.

"No…" Goten shook his head, putting the scissors down. "I can't do it… don't ask me to do it"

"Ch! Useless brat"

Goten's left hand snatched up the scissors, grasping it tight.

"Lunch's ready!" Chichi called from the kitchen. "I don't think your brother's going to be home in time, so go ahead and eat first ok?"

Silently, Goten entered the kitchen; coming to a stop behind Chichi who was busy setting the table.

…

"Paranoid Schizophrenic & Dissociative Identity Disorder?" Gohan could not contain his surprise. "I thought Goten had that Multiple Personality thing only?"

"That was our assumption as well, in all fairness that bit is accurate. You've seen the footage, Son. That personality seemed to have a life of his own, but he's contained and unlikely to resurface, but like I said, I cannot make promises. I can guarantee however, there would not be any further personalities"

"DID or Dissociative Identity Disorder are often experienced during the early to the mid days of childhood. It's believed that such personalities are created due to children's' imaginations and as such they may use that as a means to cope. If another personality doesn't show then, it will not show after childhood" he answered before Gohan could ask the question.

"I see…" Gohan took a moment to digest the information as he looked through the drawings and a notebook with Goten and 'Trunks' handwriting. Two different identities inside one body, two different handwritings, two different personalities; Gohan had admit it was bizarre, even with the evidence in front of him, it was still difficult to comprehend.

"So there was only one extra personality? Just 'Trunks'? Goten mentioned that 'Trunks' had a father" Gohan had to clarify.

"Ah yes. We are aware of that. We have attempted to make contact with this 'father' but after many attempts, all of which resulted in a lack of response, we concluded this 'father' was no more than a symptom brought on by Goten's Schizophrenia, likely a voice"

"Doctor, what is Schizophrenia?" Gohan could not wrap his head around the medical terms.

"That one is different, though it's very easy to get the two confused; that one isn't a split personality disorder. It's a condition that usually involves hearing voices, experiencing hallucinations or delusions. It really varies, but what your brother has Paranoia Schizophrenia, this condition causes anxiety and fear and is likely to have him believe that anyone could be out to hurt him. He hasn't shown any further signs to be of real concern at this moment however, but I would ask you to monitor him for the slightest change, to call the moment you feel something is off and to be sure he takes his medication and not skip one dose"

"Noted, doctor. Thank you so much. About that Depot Injection, I think I would like to opt my brother for that"

"Very well. I will inform my assistant to-" Freiza stopped mid-sentence as his usual two assistants rushed into his office.

"Doctor! He has not been taking his medication!" one of them shouted out of the blue.

"Calm yourself. Who hasn't been taking medication" Freiza demanded, his annoyance at the rude interruption stalled at the moment.

"Goten. We found these tablets inside the mattress… he must have hidden them… these are at least two and a half months' worth of medication" his assistant dropped the bomb on him, having discovered the tablets as they fell out, while he in the midst of changing the bed linen.

"2 months?!" Freiza exclaimed in shock, how could he have not shown any side effects if he had not taken his medication for such a long period. This wasn't good… something was horribly wrong!

"Doctor?!" Gohan's face voiced his concerns, the question obvious.

"It's not good! If he has gone on without medication for that long, he could be unpredictable!" Freiza told the truth plainly, having witnessed as well as been on the receiving end of Goten's violent outburst many times before.

"Kasan!" Gohan suddenly remembered. His mother brought Goten home first. "My god! I have to get home!"

Freiza got up immediately, snatching his coat as he did. "We'll take my car! You two call the police! Tell them to meet us at the Son's home address!"

…

It was a mad rush to get there in time.

Gohan fidgeted in the passenger seat, looking over as if hoping he could see his house further ahead. "Turn this corner! It's a shortcut!"

Freiza turned the steering wheel, making a sharp turn around the corner.

"LOOK OUT!" Gohan shouted just as the vehicle turned. The last thing he saw was the shocked face of his brother just before the car swirled to the side. Everything else happened so fast that he couldn't tell what happened… there was pain… his head… and body hurt. He forced his head up, and found himself staring at some concrete wall…

"Doctor…" He turned slightly to his right… the doctor wasn't moving… then he saw a single figure running towards them… his vision barely able to focus as he took in a blurred image of his little brother before darkness claimed him.

Gohan found himself staring at a celling some time later. He tried to turn but he couldn't, his body in too much pain, he did however, managed to move his eyes.

"You're awake… thank goodness" a nurse approached his bed. "You're in a hospital… you were involved in a car crash, you've been unconscious for 2 days now"

"Crash…?" Gohan asked softly. "Where's… doctor Freiza… kasan… and Goten?"

"Try not to move too much. You need your rest… There are 2 officers here to speak with you… I tried to tell them you needed your rest, but…"

"Ok… I'm fine…" he reassured her and she nodded before turning to the two officers.

"The patient needs his rest, don't take too long" having said her piece, she left.

"Gohan…"

"Yamcha-san…" Gohan acknowledged the officer. "What happened… Where's… kasan… and Goten… the doctor…"

"Please leave us" Yamcha turned to his partner, who kindly left them alone. "I really don't know how to tell you this, Gohan…"

"Kasan… she's… ok… isn't she?" Gohan pushed for the answer.

"Gohan…"

"Please… tell me" he begged.

"She's dead, Gohan… and the doctor died in the car crash. Goten's missing" Yamcha shook his head. "I'm sorry…"

"He killed… kasan?" Gohan could not stop the tears from flowing even after Yamcha helped wipe them off.

"Stabbed her in the back with a scissors. The forensics and blood spots specialist said… he likely used his left hand" Yamcha looked away as he explained; this was the 2nd time he had to break such news to Gohan, the first being the death of his father, who was also his partner and friend. Still, he thought it would be better if a family friend broke the news to him.

"… not Goten…"

"What?" Yamcha looked back.

"Goten… is right-… handed" Gohan explained.

"We have his fingerprints, Gohan It was Goten… Our guys are currently searching for him… focus on recovering first… Bulma will be here soon… I'll contact if I have any news, ok?"

"It's not… Goten…" Gohan repeated, more to himself than anyone else. "It was Trunks' father…." His tears fell once again.

…

Elsewhere…

"I'm sorry… but I couldn't let my brother die…" he apologised as Vegeta chided him once again for his being too 'soft' but he would not apologise for stopping to call an ambulance for his brother.

"Get going before the cops catch up. Fuck knows how much time we have"

Goten nodded and he boarded the first bus that came along, it was an express bus; to where, he wasn't certain.

Do you even know where you're going?"

"No" Goten shook his head as he moved towards the back of the bus, taking the back seat. "Anywhere's fine… so long as you're with me…"

"Stupid brat. Just shut up and rest, you're taking the next shift"

Goten fell asleep easily; his body tired after a whole day of travel. He wasn't sure where or how far they could go before the law finally catch up with them and while he hadn't agreed with his best friend's father's way of handling things… with his mother for one. He could find no reason to hate him for it either.

At least the pain was familiar… the pain of loss…

End ~