Wishes from the Heart – Chapter 21

Goku and Vegeta studied the figure lying on the floor. The body was a crumpled mess, the arms bruised and bleeding. The person's face was obscured by a pile of hair, it's black mass fanned out over one arm. The outfit on the figure was ripped and shredded in various places. They could see blood seeping from underneath the body. The person seemed to be barely breathing, their chest not showing any movement. A tail lay limp behind the body, the tip resting on one ankle.

That was the most surprising of all.

"Another saiyan." Vegeta said softly, his gaze never leaving the furry appendage that lay unmoving. He noticed Goku hesitate for a moment, before quietly walking over to the still body. He bent down, and Vegeta knew the instant he recognized the person.

His power spiked phenomenally.

Vegeta crossed his arms, studying the two people in front of him. "Who is it Kakkarot?"

Goku ignored him.

He bent down, gently lifting the person in his arms. The long mane of hair cascaded over one arm, the tail hanging down over the other. Vegeta watched as Goku paused, seeming to study the persons' face. He felt the warrior's power spike even higher.

"Who is it?" Vegeta asked again. Goku was still for a moment, then he turned.

Vegeta's face went white. Trista lay unmoving, not uttering a sound, even when Goku pulled her closer to his chest. He saw pure rage settle on the saiyan's face.

"Kakkarot," Vegeta said softly. Goku finally looked up at him. They studied each other for a moment, before Vegeta slowly nodded.

The saiyan prince watched as Kakkarot flew away, the woman laying securely in his arms. He figured the man wanted some time with her, since he didn't use instant transmission. There wasn't much they could do for her anyway. Vegeta waited until they disappeared, before slowly turning around and powering up.

"Time to take out the trash," he muttered softly.

Goku landed outside the compound, staring down at Trista's unmoving figure. He could tell she had broken ribs, the tell-tale sign of bruises and blood along her sides was evident of that. A dark purple bruise had already formed along her jawbone. Cuts and gashes, along with discolored spots, dotted her face and body. He closed his eyes for a moment. If only we had gotten there sooner. Goku listened to her shallow breathing, her chest barely rising, her eyes never opening. He swallowed, suddenly scared to death. What if she doesn't make it! He instantly transmitted inside Bulma's lab. He heard a clank behind him. Goku turned around, watching as Bulma's face turned white.

"Oh my God!" she whispered.

Goku swallowed down a sob. "Help her," he said, his voice breaking on the last word. She nodded, never taking her eyes off of Trista's still figure. Bulma quickly cleaned off the table, gesturing for him to lay her on it. He gently lowered her to the surface, swiping away strands of hair from her face. Bulma watched him lovingly touch the woman's face. She felt tears rise in the back of her throat. Oh God, Goku! I hope we can save her.

"Goku," she said softly. She waited for him to finally look up at her.

"We need to get to work, quickly," she whispered, meeting his gaze. She winced at the anguish swirling in his eyes.

He nodded, stepping back, situating himself not too far from the woman, watching the other doctor's like a hawk as they filed in.

Bulma walked up to him hours later, finding him sitting on the steps outside her lab. She had noticed him leave earlier, and she figured he wanted privacy to grieve. She studied his tortured face, laying a hand on top of his in silence.

"We've done all we could Goku," she explained softly. "Now it's just a waiting game."

He barely nodded, his gaze riveted in front of him, a deep furrow between his eyes. "Do you think she'll make it," he asked after a few minutes.

A hand came up to cover her mouth as she bit back a sob, a single tear fell from the corner of her eye.

"It doesn't look good, Goku," she admitted softly.

She saw her friend tense, his muscle's twitching from almost unbearable rage.

"It's my fault," he admitted, his voice low.

"Goku," Bulma protested.

"If I had gotten there sooner, if I had been able to detect her energy, recognize it, I could have gotten there in time to protect her."

Bulma closed her eyes at the sound of his harsh words.

"Goku," she said softly, "listen to me." Bulma tugged gently on his shirt sleeve when he didn't immediately turn. She waited for him to meet her gaze. "It's no ones fault. If you want to blame someone, blame the people who did this to her."

Goku suddenly stood. "I got to go," he stated, not looking back at her sitting on the steps.

"Goku! Where-"

"I can't watch her die!" His voice was harsh. She saw his shoulder's shake.

"I can't..."

He didn't finish, just blasted off, away from her and the woman laying in her lab, hanging on for dear life.

Vegeta found her still sitting there, on the steps where Goku had left her hours earlier. She had her head in her hands, softly crying. His eyes widened.

"Is she...?" he asked softly.

Bulma shook her head, finally looking up at him for a moment before she spoke.

"Not yet."

Vegeta frowned. "So, it's just a waiting game then." He watched Bulma slowly nod, looking away from him.

"Where's Kakkarot? In there with her?"

He jerked in surprise when she shook her head.

"Gone," she whispered, watching Trista's sister hurry towards her.

Breanna walked across the yard, her eyes never leaving Bulma.

"Can I go in and see my sister now!?" she asked desperately.

Bulma didn't look at her. After a moment's hesitation, she nodded. Breanna brushed past her, not giving Vegeta a glance, and quickly slammed the door behind her.

"Tell me the truth."

He watched Bulma close her eyes for a moment, before opening them and settling her blue gaze on him.

"She's going to die."