"Right this way, Dr. Piccolo." A nurse beckoned, "Your new patient should be eating right now. Are you sure you want to meet her already?"

The tall, broad man with cropped green hair nodded stiffly, "I just want to see her right now. I'll talk to her later."

The nurse shrugged, "Okay, then. You should meet up with her previous doctor first though. Dr. Briefs should be delighted to meet you."

Piccolo nodded. He had heard of the infamous Dr. Briefs, apparently she was fantastic with her patients but they always seemed to be passed on to someone else, probably because her bosses weren't very fond of her and didn't want to giver her the chance to really show off her skill. The only one that had ever stayed with her for more than a few years is a very dangerous murder called Vegeta. Apparently every other doctor besides Briefs was terrified of him and wouldn't take him.

The nurse lead Piccolo into a large room, the smell of food was heavy on his nose.

"There she is. Right next to those big guys, Goku and Vegeta."

"Goku?" Piccolo gasped in surprise.

The nurse nodded, "Yep. He's a sweety, total opposite of Vegeta there. I don't understand why those two hang out with him. He's has a horrible temper."

Piccolo frowned, "And what about Nira?"

"Nira? She doesn't talk much to people she's not comfortable with but she gets quite animated when she's around Goku, Dr. Briefs and Goku's doctor, Dr. Rival. (Dr. Rival = Krillin) She gets along well with Vegeta, or at least, better than most of the other patients and doctors."

Piccolo looked in the direction the nurse was pointing and found the trio sitting together, eating. The short man with spiky black hair was glaring their way. He looked vicious but Piccolo wasn't about to be intimidated. He must be Vegeta.

The other man, whom he immediately recognized as Goku, looked over his shoulder at him as well, his stare was more curious than the short one's but he could see the hidden threat in them. He looked very much like his son, whom Piccolo had taught martial arts to earn money while he was in college. And finally, the girl turned her head to stare at him as well. Her black hair blocked most of her face.

Piccolo narrowed his eyes before turning around and walking away, "Okay, where's Dr. Brief's office?"

DBZ

"WHAT?!" Bulma shrieked at the nurse, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN NIRA IS GOING TO BE SEEING ANOTHER DOCTOR?! SHE'S DOING JUST FINE UNDER MY CARE! SHE'S GETTING BETTER! YOU CAN'T JUST TAKE THAT AWAY FROM HER!"

"D – Dr. Briefs, I'm really sorry but its not my decision!" The nurse tried to explain, nervously, "If you have a complaint go to the boss, but you should really meet Dr. Piccolo first. He's a great Doctor and I bet Nira will do fine under his care."

Bulma fumed, "Fine. I'll see this quack doctor but I think for a second he isn't going to be good for her I'm filing a complaint!"

Piccolo's lips tightened at being called a quack but he kept his mouth shut. It wouldn't do any good to piss off this woman any more than she already was.

The nurse opened the door and there was a curt, "Come in." and the nurse sprinted away, leaving the door open. Piccolo sighed inwardly before stepping into Dr. Briefs office.

Bulma was sitting behind her desk. Her elbows propped on her desk and her chin propped on her interlaced fingers. She looked menacing, even more frightening than Vegeta from earlier.

Piccolo noticed the lack of seats, other than a couch off to the side, and decided that standing is just fine by him.

"So," Bulma growled, "Your Dr. Piccolo, right?"

"That's me." Piccolo confirmed. His patience was being tested here and he just had to keep his cool. He wasn't going to let this Dr. Brief's wear him thin.

Bulma crossed her legs and fixed the green haired man with a heavy stare. "What makes you think you're qualified to take my patient?"

"Get your facts straight, I was assigned to her. As for my qualification I have a PHD and majored in psychology and minored in sociology. I've been in this line of business for five years."

Bulma narrowed her eyes, "You're pretty old to have finished college only five years ago."

"I didn't go to college until four years after graduating high school." Piccolo explained. God, how he hated having to say things that should already be obvious. It reminded him of co – teaching a martial arts class for four year olds.

Bulma nodded, "Well, as much as I loath to admit it, it seems that you're more than qualified for my patient." She sighed. "I'll fill you in all the details and what kind of treatments she's been going through." She pulled out a file from her desk drawer and put it on her desk, "This is her file. I assume you've already been told why she's here?"

Piccolo nodded, "Anti – social behavior, obsessive compulsive disorder, anxiety, and an unhealthy obsession with revenge for her brother's death which make's her a danger to the public." He listed everything he saw on her file.

"Yeah, but that's not the end of it." Bulma pushed her bangs back, "She watched her brothers die, she heard her mother and father get killed in the next room and then killed a man with her bare hands when she was just five." She said. Her heart ached just remembering the girls voice when she had told her of those events.

"Its hard for her to trust people. It took her weeks to really open up to me and the only other people she's bonded with is Vegeta, Goku, and Goku's doctor, Krillin." She looked up at Piccolo, "I think she's scared of getting close to people, Dr. Piccolo. I'm not sure how she'll react to you. And don't even think I'm going to stop talking to her." She added fiercely,

"I really care for that girl, just as much as my other patients. I hope you won't even think about restricting my access to her. She needs someone to talk to and so far it's been mainly me."

"What about Goku and the others?" Piccolo pointed out, "Aren't they friends?"

Bulma rolled her eyes, "Those two aren't good at handling really personal issues. And Krillin has his hands full most of the time. I'm the first she goes to if she wants to talk."

Piccolo nodded, "Understandable."

Bulma continued, "Nira's a nice girl when you get to know her better. She may not look like it, but she likes hugs and other friendly physical interactions. She just isn't used to it, she's been an orphan for most of her life after all." The blue haired woman ended solemnly.

"Look. Dr. Piccolo. I've been getting to know Nira for two years and she's progressing at a slow but steady pace. I'm afraid that a new doctor will cause her to retreat back in her shell. You need to approach her in a kind but firm way. And, well, no disrespect intended," she smirked, "but you have a scary face."

Piccolo's frown deepened.

"Here." Bulma said, handing over Nira's file. "Make sure you study that. I'll let Nira know whats going." Bulma suddenly sounded very exhausted.

"I'll show myself out." Piccolor said, heading towards the door. In his peripheral vision he saw Bulma putting her head in her hands.