Chapter 2: There's No Place Like Home

Gohan…Gohan…a voice called out to the injured warrior. "Dad," Gohan answered back in his sleep. Wake up son. People need you…

"Dad…DAD!" Gohan's eyes popped open as his body was completely covered in sweat. His blurry vision focused as he saw he was in a small room in a bed, with an IV needle in his arm feeding fluids to his veins. He sat up, wincing at the pain in his abdomen, remembering that's where 17 had cut him. Where am I, and how did I get here…? He thought to himself, growing increasingly nervous at his situation.

The door opened, and Gohan held his hand out preparing to fight with what little strength he had. Videl walked in with a tray, with medication, water, and some crackers a bit startled by the warriors threatening pose. "Woah, sorry I didn't know you were awake. Otherwise I would've knocked." She set the tray down on the table beside the bed. She checked his fluid levels making sure he had enough medicine going into his body.

"How are you feeling? You've been asleep for almost three days. The doctors were worried that you wouldn't pull through." Videl opened the windows to let some fresh air into the room. "You're pretty heavy, you know. Three people could barely get you in the building."

"Wh–Where am I?" Gohan asked, trying to remember how to have a proper conversation with a person. Since the start of the attacks, he's stayed relatively isolated from the rest of society. Choosing only to interact with the remaining family he has left.

"You're in the last standing clinic, in North city's underground. It's the last safe haven, at least thought we know of."

"And, the androids…"

"I don't know, maybe recharging at their base, waiting to terrorize another day. They were long gone by the time I found you. You must be pretty strong, I've never heard of anyone going up against the androids and surviving."

Gohan's eyes lowered recalling his last battle with the androids. They managed to get the best of him again even in his Super Saiyan form. "I don't know how strong I really am. I barely lasted 15 minutes with them. I'm nothing short of useless out there."

"No you helped save lives, and that's all we can really hope for right now." Videl tried to comfort the warrior by offering him the water bottle from the tray. "Here, you can't stay in bed sulking all day, you've got to get better." He took the bottle from her, drinking the entire thing within 4 gulps, still severely dehydrated from the fight. "Can you tell me your name?"

"It's Gohan."

"Gohan huh. Well my name's Videl. And thank you for saving me the other day. If you hadn't come I surely would've been a goner."

Gohan tried moving out of bed, but as soon as his feet touched the ground his body was greeted with a tremendous amount of pain. "Hey," Videl steadied Gohan's body and laid him back in bed. "You're still recovering."

"The sooner I can get up, the sooner I can get back to training for the androids."

"Training isn't going to do you any good, if you end up killing yourself in the process. I know you're ready to jump back out there, but you can't just go charging into battle when you're already injured. What good is that going to do everyone?"

As much as he didn't want to admit, Gohan knew Videl was right and more importantly she didn't seem like the type of person to leave someone alone.

"Get some more rest okay. I'll bring you some actual food."

Once Videl left the room, Gohan took a deep breath stabilizing his energy. He sat up slowly and stood up from the bed. Taking his time, he found his orange gi on the dresser across from him. He limped over to the gi and noticed it had been repaired, he could barely see where any of the rips were. Thankful for the kind gesture from the kind people here. His father didn't have very many material possessions besides his clothes. And since his passing, this was the only way Gohan could continue to feel connected to him. The gi made Gohan feel strong and proud and without it, facing the androids would've been impossible.

Videl knocked on the door three times, waiting for an invitation. "Come in," Gohan answered, trying to hide the pain in his voice. Gohan, still shirtless, faced the bed as he tightened the fastens around his pants. Videl took a good look at the scars on his exposed back. Some were light, but many were deep wounds, healed over but still looked painful. "Sorry, I-I brought some food for you."

Gohan finished putting on his shirt, and sat on the bed as Videl pushed the mobile table towards him with his tray. The spread was small—a bowl of rice, a cup of soup, grilled fish and a little bit of fruit. Gohan ate carefully trying to savour every bite, thankful that he was able to eat another meal again.

"Are you out here by yourself?" Videl asked, trying to figure out a bit more about this unknown Gohan. For someone surviving the apocalypse he's still pretty strong. His body, obviously well-toned, while most people out here would be losing muscle mass. Not to mention that he was able to fly, and shoot beams out of his body just like the androids. He certainly isn't an ordinary person.

Gohan shook his head no, "I mostly stay alone. But from time to time I check on my mom and grandpa. Make sure they're doing okay and they have everything they need."

"Where do they live? Close by?"

"No, out in Mt. Paozu."

"No way, that's like 5 hours away even from Seridian city. Even once a week, driving for 5 hours is pretty excessive. Even for someone like you."

Gohan chuckled at the thought of driving anywhere,"I don't drive. I fly."

"Even in a hover car that's still 3 hours minimum though…"

"No, not in a car," Gohan laughed at her retort. "I fly on my own. I actually don't know how to drive or fly a car."

Videl stared at Gohan as if he grew a second head, "That doesn't make any sense. Normal people can't fly."

Technically I'm not a normal person…Gohan thought to himself before following up with Videl's inquisition. "Well I can do a lot of things that a normal person can't do." Gohan's expression became serious, "There was a whole group of us that had similar abilities. But they all fell one by one to the androids… I need to get home and check on my mom. Thanks for your hospitality but I can't continue to stay here." Gohan winced again in pain as he walked towards the door. Videl walked over to help stabilize him against the adjoining wall. She tried to usher Gohan back to the bed but his 200 pound body wasn't going to budge.

"Super human or not you're in no condition to be driving a car or flying through the air on your own. Let me at least take you home.

…

After a little bit of protest, Gohan settled on being driven back home to . He insisted they take a road car to avoid as much detection from the androids as possible. If they are attacked, he can give Videl a much better chance at getting away on foot rather than having to save her from falling out the sky. "Why were you out in Seridiean City?" Gohan asked, trying to fill the awkward silence in the car.

"I'm part of the rescue task force. Trained in emergency medicine and hand to hand combat. It's not much but I want to do as much as I can to get as many survivors to safety as possible. Normally we go out after android attacks to recently hit cities trying to find anybody who needs our help."

"Are you normally by yourself? I don't think you should be out there alone. Especially as a woman. It's not just the androids, there's some pretty nasty people out there as well."

Videl smiled at the concern in his voice, "I'm not usually alone. We keep in contact with a series of handheld radios but there isn't always a guarantee that someone else will be coming with you. Nowadays I'm lucky to see even one other rescue ranger when I'm out. We all knew the risks when we joined the force. You put your life on the line to save people and you might run into the androids or someone else out there. Hell sometimes, people just get caught in falling buildings or end up starving because they didn't have enough gas to get back. But still–"

"You keep going…"

"Exactly. Of course I'm scared, but I don't know. I don't think I can live with myself knowing I just stood by watching everyone die. We have no idea how to stop these androids and by the look of things they're going to find all of us eventually. It's just a matter of when."

Gohan was silent for a moment trying to find the right words before speaking, "I know how you feel… not being able to just stand by and watch. Before today, I was terrified to face the androids. I watched my family and friends die fighting those things and I think I'm the only one left who even has a chance at winning."

"Hold on, that was your first time going up against the androids?"

"Yeah, I never faced them alone before. But watching Seridian City go up in flames like that and seeing them choking you. I knew I had to do something."

The car was silent for a few moments longer before Videl spoke up again, "Is that how your father died?"

Gohan was a little shocked at her question. He searched her expression trying to find out what answer she's searching for.

"Sorry you kept calling for your father while you were sleeping. I thought maybe that…"

Gohan chuckled at the thought of his father, "My father never fought the androids, he died from a heart attack actually." Gohan fell silent for a moment before continuing, "It's funny how life goes. My dad was considered one of the strongest fighters in the universe traversing through space to defend an alien race… who would've thought a virus would be the end of him. I bet he wouldn't even believe that if someone went back in time and told him."

"And your friends?"

"They all trained with my dad at one point in their lives, and bested him at times. But even they weren't a match for the androids. I'm the last capable fighter left."

Gohan pointed up at the dirt road turn off ahead, "Follow that path there for about 10 minutes and then we'll be there."

…

Videl parked the car out front, and went around the side to help Gohan out of the car. "Gohan, your back I was so worried about you. I thought you went off and got yourself killed." A woman in a yellow qi-pao came out running with a large bearded man following behind her. She gave Gohan a tight hug and the man came up behind her and gave a bear hug to both the woman and Gohan.

"It's good to see you both too. Mom, grandpa, this is Videl. She helped me after I fought the androids in Seridean."

"So you really did go and fight them? Let me take a look at you." Gohan's mother grabbed his face to observe any scraps and bruises on his body. "Please don't do that again sweetie, I don't think I'll be able to stand it if anything happens to you." Gohan's mother approached Videl and gave her a deep bow, "And thank you for taking care of my son. I know it wasn't easy."

"It's okay, no need for that Mrs. ah–"

"Please dear, call me Chichi."

"Ah well Chichi, I should be the one thanking your son, he saved me from the androids. If it wasn't for him I wouldn't be standing here right now."

"Gohan, is that you?" a voice called from inside the house.

"Who's that mom?"

A blue haired young boy appeared in the door. He doesn't appear to be any older than 12 years old. He flies out of the house and gives Gohan a hug. "You're back, I thought I was going to miss you before mom came."

"Hey Trunks, what are you doing here buddy?" Gohan hugs Trunks back, rubbing the top of his head.

"Mom said she needs to go excavate some materials deep in the mountain."

"She didn't want to leave him on his own while he was gone, so I offered to keep him for her," Chichi explained the situation to Gohan. "I figured you'd be happy to see him and spend some time together."

"Yeah, of course I'm always happy to see you Trunks." Gohan hugged Trunks back, letting the moment sink in that he was blessed to be surrounded by people who really care about him.

"Videl dear, you must be tired from driving my son all the way here. Won't you stay a while and rest, it's been a while since we've seen a new face around here." Chichi ushered Videl into their home, refusing to accept anything but a yes from her.

Videl was astonished by the dinner spread. It seemed like there was a little bit of everything on the table. "I hope you didn't prepare all this food for me, Chichi."

"Well what can I say, I over do myself sometimes. My late husband had such a big appetite, I can't help but over prepare. Aside from his good looks, it's one of the many things Gohan inherited from him." A huge grin came across Gohan's face, excited to have another one of his mother's home cooked meals. He immediately started digging in and eating a little bit of everything. Trunks excitedly followed Gohan's example.

Chichi handed a plate to Videl, encouraging her to eat until she's satiated. "Eat as much as you like Videl, our home is your home as well."

…

The sun was fully set and the gigantic moon was completely visible in the night sky. "It's getting late, I should head back home," Videl explained gathering her coat.

Chichi quickly jumped up and ran over to Videl to take her coat once again,"Oh but it's too dark outside sweetie. Why don't you stay the night? We have plenty of room."

As much as she appreciated the hospitality, Videl felt a little awkward staying the night out in a stranger's home, "I really don't want to impose anymore. You've already done so much for me and I'm sure everyone at camp is worried about me."

"Oh, I wouldn't be able to sleep a wink, knowing you're all alone out there at night. Isn't that right Gohan?" Chichi lightly elbowed Gohan in the side to remind him to show some hospitality.

"Ye-yeah, my mom is right. It's far too dangerous for you to be out this late. I'm sure everyone at camp would also want you to stay and wait till daytime."

Feeling defeated by the insistence of both Gohan and Chichi, she finally agreed to stay…but just for the night, "Oh-okay, just for today though."

"Great, Trunks and I can sleep in the living room and you can take the bed in my room."

Gohan showed Videl to his room and lightly started cleaning up to make the room a bit more comfortable. "Sorry for the mess in here. It's been a while since I've been here."

Videl walked over to Gohan's night stand and picked up a photo. Chichi and Gohan were in the photo smiling with a man in an orange gi. "Is this your dad?"

"Yeah, we took that picture when I was five I think."

"You look just like him."

"So I've been told." Gohan slightly smiled at the compliment from Videl. He took the picture from Videl and stared at it for a moment. His mom took down all of the family photos. Constantly looking at old memories became too painful for her, and she placed them in storage to help her move on. Gohan gently placed the photo in the drawer attempting to do the same.

"Rest well, Videl."