I this one took a little long but I'm trying to add as much filler as I see necessary. I'm hoping to get chapter four out before Christmas. And please, please, please review! No flames but constructive criticism welcomed.

Blueflower2: Thank you so much for the review and I hope this chapter is to your liking I've exciting to write out my very first (hopefully not last) TruTen fic.

Mjmusiclover: Thank very much for another review that made me smile and thank you very much for following this little fic.

Revised 01-03-12

Dig Deeper

Goten's POV

In the past few months since the incident between Trunks and I, things have changed. Not for the better but not for the worst either. Just simple change and yet it went beyond that.

There was tension between us. It was unseen to the naked eye but we both knew it was there and furthermore, we ignored it. And after every night of bar hopping or drunken video game marathons, it would happen again. He would sneak a quick kiss from me when I least expected it. But what surprised me the most was not the innocent, 'accidental' kisses; it was the fact that I never stopped it from happening.

In the night he would lose his care and push himself onto me but come the morning and it was the same conversation all over again.

"Hey, about last night…"

"Yea, that was weird…"

And now, to top it all off, I was beginning to question myself. A few times I had caught myself purposely getting Trunks a little more than buzzed just to get that little kiss. I had never before in my entire life ever thought about another man in the same way I think about women. But then again… I didn't think of Trunks like that either.

It wasn't the fact that he was easy on the eyes (I think I'm secure with myself enough to admit that), but it was how he made me feel. It was the little things I had never noticed until now. Like how he made me dinner when I came home from work, he liked to talk about everything going on in my life, and always tried to make me feel better on my bad days. He was everything Paris wasn't and up until now I had never noticed. But why wasn't I looking at trunks as another guy? Was I seriously obtaining feelings for another guy? … Or Trunks?

But was he thinking about me the way I was thinking about him?

I shove my face into the palms of my hands in frustration. As of now I'm sitting at the nurse's station trying to fill out a patients release forms. I've been sitting here for a good twenty minutes but I'm more than occupied with the rampaging thoughts in my head. I had been so out of focus for months now. But I've somehow managed to keep my work first and foremost. But today was a bad day from the very beginning. Today was the one year anniversary of my father's leave. I have a lot of pent up aggression towards that subject. I guess everybody thought I was ok with it…

I see a new folder dropped onto the counter in front of me. Nurse Roberts looked at me from the other side, "You got a new patient; requested you personally."

I pick up the folder, "I already have too many as it is now. Who could want to see-," I open it up and read the name.

"Paris?"

"Mmhmm. She's downstairs in room 301. She ain't looking too good."

I feel a little panic and stood. I bend down to finish my last piece of paper work for my end of the signatures and hand the release form off to Nurse Roberts. "Can you take care of this for me?"

She snatches it from me then mumbles something about not being a secretary. I hustle to the downstairs standard check rooms. I would've noticed something wrong with my girlfriend but I hadn't seen her in ten days. Yes, I count exactly how many days it's been. Over the past six months or so I had been seeing less and less of her but then again I had been with Trunks even more. I guess my mind's eye saw this as 'balance'. Or was that my subconscious?

I knock on the door of 301 and open it. There she is sitting on the bed in a hospital gown. The nurses must have taking care of her beforehand. I look her over and know something must be terribly wrong. It was around four o'clock in the afternoon and she should have been with one of her friends shopping or whatever… I wasn't really listening to what she said for I lacked interest but I knew she wouldn't fake being sick just to see me when she could be out with her friends.

"Hey," I greet.

Her big brown eyes look up to me and she smiles, "Hey."

I walk closer and she takes my hand pulling me closer. She kisses me softly but only for a moment. She says, "I missed you."

I smile, "I missed you too. No what's going on?"

"Well a couple weeks ago I wasn't feeling very well and got over the counter medicines but they didn't help and it's not getting any better."

"Well, what are your symptoms?"

The fingers twined with mine fiddle about as I gaze into her the big doe eyes I fell for in the beginning. Her tone is low, "Flu-like symptoms, fever, sore throat, but now I'm not so sure it's just the flu."

"O wow, a flu wouldn't last nearly this long. You should have told me sooner."

She looks down and swings her feet lightly, "I didn't want to worry you."

I go on to ask her to give me detailed symptoms. I can tell she doesn't want to say the word diarrhea or admit she's been vomiting but these are the things I need to know if I'm going to properly diagnose this.

I let go of her hand to put her folder down and I decide our best course of action is to do a blood test. A regular virus like the common cold or flu doesn't seem to fit the profile of this mystery. I know she gets nervous around needles so I warn her to look away. I strap up her left arm to awaken her veins and give her a little red rubber ball to squeeze. I see the veins pop and dip the needle in. I take what I need and pull it out. "All done," I tell her and undo to tie on her arm.

I mark the vile, "I'm going to run this down to the lab. It should only take a couple of hours and when I get the results back we'll know what it is and get you fixed up."

She climbs off the bed and hugs me around the waist, "Thank you Goten, I love you."

I kiss the top of her head, "I love you too, now sit back and get some rest. I'll be back in a little bit."

Trunks POV

The little mechanical device in my hand becomes less and less interesting. As much as I hate to admit it I've been slacking off at work big time and I have no one to blame but myself. Little things like this piece of machine in my hands would have my full undivided attention but I only had one person on my mind as I sit here alone in my office.

Goten.

What was I honestly doing to myself? To Goten?

Why do I do the things I do?

I just can't help myself. We would get trashed together and I would end up looking and staring at him all night. And just when I thought he wasn't with it anymore my drunken self would peck him. It like I was doing it for the first time every time. And even when I tried to stop myself because I know it's wrong, my drunken self finds the excuse 'I did it because I was drunk' more appealing then takes control. Its' like that excuse… that lie… was my get-out-of-jail card with an endless limit.

I groan rethinking every single time it's happened. And in my eyes it's happened far too many times. At times when I find myself looking Goten over I would force myself away; I've even had to leave the room to try and get him off my mind.

But like I said before I've always had a fascination with him. He was always by my side. We did absolutely everything together as children and even managed to stay close through highschool and college. It's not often you find someone like Goten to be attached to your hip. But different feelings started to surface the second we moved in together. We were closer than ever but I didn't mind. I secretly watched him from afar and even closer at the same time.

Then I made the fatal mistake of letting Drunk Trunks hold the reins.

And even after everything I can admit, I still tell myself I'm not like that. I'm just not. Goten is my best friend and that's it. And yet another part of me subconsciously does nothing but look out for him and take care of him even when he's more than capable of caring for himself. A part of wants him by my side at times because I'm only really happy when he's with me. And that big part of me would die if I were to ever lose him. The thought of us growing older, getting married to our own respective wives, having children… we will probably drift apart and just the thought kills me.

There's a knock on my door and the knob turns. I already know it's my mother; she's the only one of the entire building to intrude into my office. I look up and watch her move toward me.

"What's wrong?" She asks sitting on my desk coffee in hand.

Now, my mother is of finer class and wouldn't ever understand all of the thoughts running through my head. She would be ashamed of me if I were to confess what I was questioning my relationship with Goten and confess to all of the things I've been doing with him. And this is my mother I'm speaking of; I couldn't even imagine my father's reaction. But on the other hand, she was a genius and knew how to fix everything. She is my Mom after all and I had always gone to her for advice my whole life. She's helped me through thick and thin and held my hand when I needed it most. So maybe… just maybe she can still help me with this.

"Well," I started, "I'm trying to get this thing to control the navigation system but every time it links up to the satellite it seems to have a mind of its own and starts making decisions for itself."

She's picks it out of my hand and turns it over examining it. I can tell she thoroughly confused that one of our prototypes are malfunctioning. She turns it over once more, "Well try and boot it without the link up and see what it does."

It tells itself it's not gay.

She places it down and sips her coffee, "Then try it again with the link up."

Then it starts molesting its best friend.

"That sounds good. I'll try that," I say smiling.

But apparently my smiles are not enough, "Are you sure everything is ok? Having girl troubles?"

Of course you would talk about that… "No, Mom, I'm fine; just frustrated is all."

She stands up, "Well ok, but if you need anything at all, you know you can talk to me." I watch her leave.

I know she's an amazing mother but I also know her place in society… and mine. But maybe her idea of experimentation may work. Maybe I could control myself. I knew Goten was going to be working late tonight, he always does when he's depressed and I know exactly what today is without him even mentioning it. I decide to go out with a few friends and get a little 'comfortable' then test my self-control.

Saying it is most certainly easier than doing it.

Goten's POV

"Ok, I'll be back later to check on you Ms. Morley," I say to the ageing woman within the room. Unfortunately she was one of our terminal patients; cancer. We've tried all of the treatments but it keeps returning so now our job is to make her as comfortable as possible while she awaits her last stand. This would not be her last visit here today though; she still had some fight in her. It's a shame; she's such a nice older woman.

But I had made sure she was taken care of for now and headed back down to room 301. Paris' blood tests should be in by now. I had a very ominous feeling boiling over inside. Whatever she was infected with was serious. I knew right away it wasn't the flu and I'm afraid it's a sickness that may demand more prominent treatment. But what scares me the most is what if its fatal? Paris and I may have not been getting along lately but I still care deeply for her and can't imagine her getting sick and possibly dying. And as her doctor and boyfriend, I vow to do everything in my power to help her see this through.

I knock on the door and walk in. She's laying down looking up at me. I return her smile and pick up the folder feeling very anxious. I can tell she's scared and I know I can't let her know that I am too.

But I find my courage and open it up to read the final results… and my face drops. This was most certainly not what I was expecting. My heart is racing and I know my face expression isn't helping comfort her. Blood rushes to my flushed cheeks as I think of all of our memories together. All of the things we've seen, the places we've been, and where we were going next. I think of all the times she told me she loved me and all of the times we had sex… were all lies.

She sits up and asks, "What is it?"

I close the folder slowly trying to think of my next words carefully as to not explode with anger at my job. The last thing I need to do is break up with my girlfriend after getting fired from my job. So I ask with only a hint of anger, "Who have you been sleeping with?"

"Wh- what?"

"It's HIV Paris. You cheated on me. There's no denying it!"

She looks down as if in shame, "Goten… I'm so sorry…" I think back to only hours ago when I was staring into her eyes thinking of how beautiful she is and how lucky I was to have a woman like her in my life. Now I just feel like yelling and throwing a tantrum. I wanted her out of my sight and to never see her again. I wanted to cry, I was so pissed off.

I ignore her apology and move to the counter. I know I can't do any of those things so I decide to take action and get her out of sight as soon as possible. But first things first; I roll up my sleeve and tie the rubber band about my arm.

"What are you doing?"

I ignore her again grabbing a sterile syringe. I take my own blood and undo the tie. I finish labeling the vile then grab a blank prescription pad.

"Goten?"

"I have to test myself to make sure you didn't give it me," I say in low husky voice as I scribble on the paper. Slut.

"But this was only recently; there's no way you could have it!"

I tare the piece off the pad and toss at to her, "Who knows if your lying to me right now. I obviously don't trust you anymore." I turn to leave but she calls me once again.

"Goten, please… I'm so, so sorry. I never meant to hurt you. Please can we work this out? Maybe we can fix our problems… then maybe I wouldn't-"

"Shut up! Are you serious right now? So you wouldn't what? Try and find someone else? The problem is obviously me so let me make this easy for you. We're done and I don't ever wanna' hear from you again!"

"But Goten…I promise it'll never happen again. I love you…" she crying. She never did like it when I shouted; as rare as it was. But I can't let her weasel her way back in. I will not be taken for a fool.

I pause trying to decide if I should respond. I do, "That's not good enough." I leave shutting the door behind me. I'll send in an intern later to release her. Today has just gone from bad to worse.

The late evening found me on my balcony at home. I'm usually a very happy person and always in a good mood, even on my off days. But today was just too much for me. Not only has my father been gone for a year but I also find that my girlfriend has cheated on me. I was done with the both of them. Both had betrayed me and I just couldn't understand why I wasn't worth anything to either of them. They both reeled me in, chewed me up, and spit me out. They both tampered with my emotions with caring what happened to me when they were done torturing me. Now I'm stuck wallowing in sorrow in the aftermath of it all.

I hear the front door open and close followed by clumsy footsteps. I knew Trunks had gone out for the evening; he'd called me earlier but I declined wanting to work overtime. He probably already knew that but called anyway to be polite. Sometimes it scares me how well he knows me.

He finally makes it to the glass door sliding it open after bumping into it. The last time he attempted to get outside and the door was slid shut, he broke right through it. Good thing he had money to replace it.

"Hey, what's up?" he asks closing the door behind him.

I still stare out into the skyline, "Nothing."

He stands right next to me looking me up and down, "What's wrong?"

I know he knows what today is and he still tries to coax me into talking about it. I just never felt the need to talk about him; not when he left the first time, the second time, and not now.

So I offer, "I found out today Paris cheated on me. She came in sick and turns out it was HIV."

Even through his drunken haze he becomes frantic, "What a bitch! She didn't give it to you did she?"

"No, my tests came back negative."

We're silent for only seconds. I feel his hand on my shoulder, "I'm really sorry. But I did tell you she was no good."

"Maybe I should have taken your advice after all."

He steps closer to me, "You sure that's all that's bothering you?"

I don't respond.

"You'll feel better if you talk about it."

He's never pressed this issue before. I feel slightly tense with his hand still on my shoulder, "Please talk to me Goten. Tell me everything."

I look down at my hands and finally release that little demon that's been plaguing me for the past year, and maybe even longer. "Why did he have to leave, Trunks? Why did he leave me the all of those times... and why now?"

He moves ever so close to me and shifts his hand to my opposite shoulder draping his arm across. "Was I not good enough to keep training?"

"You know that's not true."

"Why did he love Gohan so much and not me?"

"I'm sure he loved you in his own way. And I'm not defending him; he's still wrong."

I hang my head trying to hide the tears welling up in my eyes that I refused to let loose. "I just don't understand why I wasn't a good enough reason to stay."

He moves behind me and I feel his hands reach under my hoodie and begin kneading the taught muscle of my back. He stays close to my lower back and I am instantly tense at the foreign touch of his fingers, "Trunks…"

"Keep talking; let it all out."

After a second of adjustment, his hands suddenly feel like they belong where they are. I don't want to stop him. Whether it was because of how good it felt, or because I was in dire need of attention I need him right next me, anyway he offered himself to me. I mentally override the massage as he begs me to continue, to let it all out. "First he leaves me then Paris cheats on me. Why didn't they love me? Why am I so hard to love?"

His thumbs dig into the back of my hips and I feel chills run up and down my spine. The muscles twitches and I grip the cement wall I lean on. His fingers play on and once again I find myself not bothering to stop him. What picked at me most was that he knew this was one of my 'turn-on' spots he found out about during a drunken conversation once. And not even now did it fail. I was practically paralyzed as he pushed and dug. I feel myself shiver with each stroke and as I become more and more aroused I still can't stop it.

What is he trying to do to me exactly?

I feel him turn me around to face him. His large hands cup my face and he says, "You're just too easy to love," then presses his lips onto mine.

At first I push against him to move myself away but he holds on. The feel of his lips on mine felt like nothing I've experienced before. All of those innocent pecks from before paled in comparison. It wasn't the lustful immature kisses Paris would tease me with but passionate and careful. It made me want and I gave in. I pull him to me and return the passion even if it is for just this moment. I feel like I'm in a dream or maybe I'm suspended in time.

Why is this happening?

His tongue glides on my lower lip as I grant him access. I can feel him explore and I just keep encouraging him to do so. My heartbeat is erratic as the most wonderful sensation I have ever felt from this kind of contact completely envelopes me, swallowing me whole; maybe even eating me alive. His hands hold me tight and trace my spine up and down. All I can do is comb me fingers through the lilac threads atop his head. I can feel his hot breath and I know this is wrong… but maybe being wrong is right. I had never felt so much emotion in such a simple physical action. I never knew a thing like a kiss could actually hold meaning like it did in this moment right now.

Stop this!

I did no such thing.

Just as I was giving my all into this moment he pulled away looking at me stunned. He takes a step back, eyes wide like a dear in headlights.

"I- I'm sorry. I tried not too… I didn't mean too…" he quickly turned to leave and grabbed him by the sleeve of his jacket.

"Wait," he turns his head to focus on me, "Trunks… do you love me?"

There's a long moment of silence as if he must think about it. His lips press into a thin line, "I can't love you Goten."

I let go as he walks inside and straight to his room.

You can't love me? What did that even mean?

I am truly stunned. Flabbergasted even… I just experienced the most romantic, intimate kiss of my entire life with my male best friend. And now I stand out here alone… wondering. Even though that moment has passed… I find myself still stuck within it. I bring my fingertips to my lips and still feel the slight buzz of his presence, as if he had left his mark on me.

I decide standing outside all night won't do me any good. I open the door after making sure he was nowhere to be seen and slowly make my way to my own room to be alone with my thoughts. I think I just bit off more than I can chew.

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