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| While You Were Away Part III | ||||||||
| Several weeks had passed since they arrived on Vejita. The next day they would be leaving for earth. The children were outside playing with their grandfathers while Linhe and Bulma inspected the ship. �I�m going to hate to leave here. I�ve had such a wonderful time, and I know the children did too.� Bulma sighed. �I really like your father. If Vegeta would only give him the chance, I�m sure he would too.� �Ha, don�t hold your breath.� Linhe snorted. They were finished with the task and decided to relax the rest of the day enjoying their time left on Vejita. The king was playing a friendly game of dodge Ki-ball with the boys, Chi-Chi was engrossed in a serious conversation with Bardock, and Gohan busy reading love letters that Videl had written him for the trip was supposed to be watching the girls. All of a sudden Chi-Chi ran into the palace with tears streaming down her face and Bardock looking off in sadness. �I�ll go see what�s wrong with Chi-Chi, you go get the girls.� Linhe said with a sigh. Linhe left and disappeared into the palace to follow after Chi-Chi. Bulma went over to Gohan and gave him a gentle kick. He looked up at a frowning Bulma, and shielded his eyes from the sun. �Where are the girls Gohan?� Bulma said anxiously. �Well they are right...� He jumped up from the ground and started looking around frantically. The king up above stopped playing and looked down to see what was going on. Bardock coming back from a trance feeling his grandson�s Ki suddenly kick up; he walked over to see what the problem was. The king and the boys landed beside the now frantic Bulma. �What�s going on?� the king demanded. �Loverboy here was supposed to be watching the girls, and now they�re not here.� She said panicking. �They are just toddlers, how far can they have gotten?� Bardock said. �Alright everyone spread out and start searching. They have low Ki�s but none the less they have one.� Every one, including the boys all started calling out to the girls as they searched. <><><><><> Zelena and Bra had gotten quite a distance from the palace before they were noticed missing. To them they weren�t missing, they knew exactly where they were. Walking on holding hands they wandered around till they came to the woods. They saw a little creek bed and thought it would be fun to play in it. They toddled off towards the creek and stuck their feet in it. <><><><><> In the palace Linhe went to talk to Chi-Chi. �What�s wrong Chi-Chi-chan?� Linhe gently asked. She put her arm around her upset friend�s shoulders to provide comfort. �It�s silly actually. These past few weeks Bardock the boys and I have gotten so close.� She sniffed, and fresh tears spilled down her face. She wiped them away and tried to continue. �I mean since my father passed away several years ago, I missed having him and I guess I got attached to Bardock as the replacement father figure.� �Anyway, I asked him if he would come home with us. No...� She paused to draw in a deep breath, and she slowly let it out, �more like begged. I thought it would be nice, and that Goku would probably love to meet his father.� �And he said no.� Linhe finished for her friend. Chi-Chi nodded. �Oh Chi-Chi. He and the King promised to come and visit us someday. Right now they have to get Vejita squared away.� She whispered to her friend. She cocked her head and heard people calling out for the girls. �Something�s wrong Chi-Chi. It sounds like they are looking for the girls� Linhe flew out the window to see a huge search party in action. She saw Gohan, and noted to herself to take care of him later. Right now she had to find her little girl. <><><><><> �Fishies� cried Bra. She reached down to grab one, but doing so made her loose her balance and she fell in. Bra giggled in delight as she turned over, sat down, and started splashing her hands in the water. Zelena thought this was hilarious, and she too plopped down mocking her friend. Zelena looked up from the water, and saw a panther perched on the rocks a few feet away. �Kitty cat� she said pointing at it. The cat let out a throaty growl as the girl stood up and started towards it. Bra looking at what her friend had seen, wanted this cat in the worst way. She got up and ran towards the cat passing Zelena. The cat turned to leave but Bra grabbed it by its tail. The cat turned around let out a horrible hiss, and lunged at its captor. <><><><><> Vegeta looked down in horror. � Not my little girl� he said breathlessly. He screamed fiercely sending thunder rumbling through the heavens. He dropped down to his knees and started shaking with pure rage and pain. �DAMN YOU KAMIIIIIIIIIII!� He shouted in vain. <><><><><> A scream was heard all the way back to the palace, everyone bolted to where they heard the scream. King Vegeta was the first one on the scene and he saw the big black cat dart into the woods. Then he saw his granddaughter lying motionless on the ground and the claw marks that were pouring out blood. �Chiyo no� (Chiyo is the Namek guardian of their planet) he gasped and ran to her side. He heard Zelena bawling her eyes out a few feet away, took a quick look to make sure she wasn�t hurt too, and seeing that she was all right he returned his attention to the injured child. He gently picked her up as if she was breakable, and saw the rest of the gang landing in front of him. Bardock picked up the crying Zelena and calmed her down. Linhe flew over to check Bra�s vitals. �Father, follow me back to the ship. I have medical supplies on board.� She ordered. Bulma was the last to arrive, and saw her bloody child before the king had vanished with her. Trunks followed behind with a tear in his eye. Bulma spun around on her heels to face Gohan. Tears streaming down her face she started pounding on him, he just stood there not moving an inch. She suddenly felt sick to her stomach and the world started to fade out. Gohan caught her before she hit the ground; he picked her up and headed back to the palace to lay her down. Linhe feverously worked on Bra, monitoring her vitals, which were still going strong. �It looks like the cat got one nice hit in. However, it�s not too deep that it did any internal damage. She�s lost a lot of blood, but I don�t think she is desperate for a transfusion, but I am going to have to stitch this wound.� She sighed studying the wound that went from her neck down to her navel. She heard the king let out a breath that he had been holding since they reached the ship. �Thank Chiyo.� He said as he left the ship to go tell everyone else what is happening. He left Linhe to stitch up his granddaughter. Everyone gasped as they saw the king emerge with blood all over him. He looked down, and saw what was drawing their attention. He then saw Trunks doing his best to hold back the tears, and he knelt before his grandson taking him by the shoulders. �Your sister is going to be alright. It was just a scratch, and your Aunt is stitching her up as we speak.� And he hugged Trunks who latched on to him for all his worth. The King walked in to tell Bulma the good news, and saw her passed out on the couch. `Good I better change this shirt before she sees it and thinks the worst`. He quickly changed, and took Gohan�s place staying beside Bulma till she woke. Gohan left the palace with his head hung low. <><><><><> �Vegeta she�s alright. Just a scratch that needs stitches.� Raditz said quietly. Vegeta rocked back to sit on his feet and he looked down at Linhe fixing his little girl. He let out a breathy moan and stood up. Goku was wiping away a tear that had formed in the corner of his eye during all of the commotion. The three of them stood in silence and each one of them thanked Kami. <><><><><> After 20 minutes Linhe came out of the ship and she saw a very mournful Gohan. She walked up to him, put her hand on his shoulder and said �Gohan, will you go in and stay with her. I don�t want to move her. She is sedated so I know she will be out for awhile, but I want her immobile at least for a few hours, then we can bring her inside.� His eye�s widened and he started to refuse. �It�s alright Gohan. It was an accident. We know you would never do anything to hurt those girls. Don�t be afraid. I know you will be the best supervisor right now.� She patted his shoulder and pushed him off. She watched him disappear into the ship and Trunks went in behind him. She walked over to Bardock who was holding onto Zelena very protectively. �There�s mommies pretty little girl.� She cooed to her daughter. �You were a naughty little thing wandering off like that.� �Bra grabbed kitty and made it mad.� Zelena explained to her mother. Bardock laughed and handed her over to Linhe. They all went in to the palace to check on Bulma who started to stir. �Oh my, I had the worst nightmare� � She looked up and saw a group of people hovering around her. She jumped up off the couch with a terrified look in her face. �Where is she? Where is Bra?� She demanded. �She�s fine Bulma. She has stitches but she�s doing fine. You can see her; she�s out in the ship resting. I have her sedated so she can rest.� Linhe said. Before she could tell her that Gohan was with her, Bulma took off at a dead run. She saw her daughter sleeping peacefully, and at first it looked like she was sleeping eternally but she saw the rise and fall of the chest. She shivered at the previous thought. Bulma saw Gohan leaning over Bra on one side, and on the other side Trunks was tenderly rubbing his sisters forehead. They both looked up and saw Bulma. Gohan got up and started to leave knowing that Bulma probably does not want him anywhere near her daughter. Bulma didn�t say a word as he passed her. She wasn�t ready to forgive. She walked over to where Gohan was standing, and started to shake violently as tears poured out of her eyes. They were tears of happiness, but they were coming full force. Trunks, who had never seen his mother cry, was staring at her in disbelief. He walked around the table and put a strong hand on his mothers shoulder. Not speaking, he just wanted to comfort her. <><><><><> �Well guys it looks like we are going to stay an extra day or so. Bra needs to be 100% well before we put her through the travel.� Linhe said breaking the silence. �Yesssss!� Goten and the twins said simultaneously. Gohan quietly entered the palace and headed up to his quarters wanting to be alone. Chi-Chi saw her hurting son and went to go comfort him. Bardock grabbed her arm. �Please, let me talk to him,� he gently said. She nodded and stepped back hugging herself. Bardock entered Gohan�s room and saw his grandson lying face down on the bed. He went over and sat on the side. �Gohan?� He quietly called out. Gohan lifted his head and flopped it back down on the pillow looking up at his grandfather. �You made a mistake, yes. The important thing is, did you learn something from it?� �Yeah, I learned something alright. I learned that I am never going to watch another child again. This entire trip has been one disaster after another.� He said angrily. �First those boys were almost killed because I didn�t watch them closer, then we all know Bra was mauled because of my irresponsibility. Bulma�s never going to forgive me, not too mention Vegeta�s going to rip my heart out and stuff it only Kami knows where.� �You know Gohan, everyone is there own worst critic. The trick is to change those things that you don�t like about yourself, and that�s what makes someone better. It�s easy to feel sorry for yourself. EVERYONE knows that you have a heart of gold and you would not do a thing to hurt those children.� He saw that he was getting through to Gohan but he needed to reinforce his words. �Think about this� you know what tigresses Linhe and Bulma are when it comes to their children, right?� Gohan nodded in agreement. �Who do they run to every time they need someone to watch the girls? I�ve watched you with them, and you not only play with them you play with them protectively. It shows! Those boys, heh, they worship you. You show them wisdom and fun. For crying out loud those four boys are the most mischievous I have seen in a long time, and yet you�re able to control them all by yourself where it normally takes two people per boy.� Gohan thought about this and new what he was saying was true. Teetering on the edge of feeling better he remembered the look in Bulma�s eyes and it pushed him back to being angry with himself. �Yeah, but Bulma hates the very ground I walk on.� He sighed. �No son, disappointed yes. Hate, no. This was traumatic for her, give her time son and she will come to you.� He smiled at his grandson, patted him on the back, and then left the room. Gohan stayed to think about things. Several hours later Bra had been moved to her mother�s room, and she started to awaken. Bulma was there so Bra wouldn�t be frightened. �Hi mommy� Bra said sluggishly. The affects of the sedative were still present. She winced as she tried to sit up. Bulma gently pushed her back to the bed and started talking to her to calm her down. Trunks, the king, and Linhe came in to see how she was doing. They all gathered around the bed and smiled down at her. Linhe took the child�s vitals, satisfied she walked out to give them time alone. �Bulma, if she starts to feel any pain let me know immediately. I will need to give her pain medicine which in turn will make her groggy, but if she gets up set and starts thrashing around she could rip open the sutures.� She said before disappearing through the doorway. Bulma nodded in understanding, and turned her attention back to Bra. It was diner time and Gohan still had not come down. �He�s taking this pretty hard� Chi-Chi said with concern. �Perhaps I should go up and talk to him.� �No Chi-Chi, leave him be. I�ve said all there is to say, and now it�s up to him to forgive himself. He will come around.� Bardock said. <><><><><> �Father, could you stay with Bra. I think it�s time to talk to Gohan, now that I�m calm.� She smiled and saw the stunned look in eyes. Couldn�t figure out what she said to provoke that response. �Ah, sure Bulma. Of course.� He said coming out of his trance. I can�t believe she called me father, he thought to himself. A smile appeared on his face. <><><><><> She lightly knocked on the door and waited for a response. From the other side of the door she heard a barely audible voice telling her to come in. He had been staring out the window still lying on his stomach. He propped himself up on his elbows and turned to see the visitor. He quickly sat up, and was about to stand when Bulma came over and sat next to him, neither of them looking at each other. �I have a confession to make Gohan.� She said quietly. He waited for her to continue. �Once when Trunks was little, it was late and I was getting ready to go home for the evening. Anyway I had to get something to take home to work on, I got side tracked, and left.� He was shocked. He couldn�t believe she was telling him this. �Yep, I left my little baby boy in that office for about 30 minutes before I realized he was missing.� She laughed at her stupidity. �I know you�re feeling guilty as Hell, and I�m glad. I hope you remember this day for the rest of your life. That way, the next time I have you watch Bra you will be totally focused.� He finally looked at her and saw that she was smiling. �Now, Bra has been asking for her Gohan. So I suggest you scoot your butt in there and see what she wants.� She said standing up. �Um, Bulma?� He asked nervously. She turned around to face him. �Did Vegeta find out what you did?� She smiled understanding that his last obstacle was her mate. She felt pity for him. �Nope! But I�m quite certain he knows about it now.� She chuckled smiling up at the heavens. He followed her out the door towards the room where Bra was. Bulma and the king left the two, as Gohan started reading Bra a story. <><><><><> �ARGH!� Vegeta moaned, and he slapped his hand to his forehead. �You're damn right I now know about it woman, and YOU WILL hear about it too.� He said shouting down from the heavens. <><><><><> The couple of days turned into another week. Linhe wanted to make sure Bra was at her best for the long trip home. The day before they were to leave, Bulma gathered everyone together. �I almost forgot to do this.� She pulled out a Polaroid camera, and a 35mm. She set the Polaroid on a tripod and went back over to position everyone within the lenses view. King Vegeta (dressed in his proper royal uniform), holding Bra, was standing in the back with Linhe sandwiched in between him and Bardock (also dressed in his warrior uniform) who was holding Zelena, and Gohan stood beside him. The next row Bulma put Chi-Chi in front of Bardock and she left a spot next Chi-Chi for her to squeeze in before the camera could take pictures. The boys were going to be in the front. Goten was in front of his mother, and Bulma positioned her hands on Goten�s shoulders. Then she placed Trunks next to Goten, and the twins next to Trunks. �Alright guys, the camera is going to take a couple of pictures. Then when it�s done I want to take a few more with a different camera. So don�t you dare move, or change your expressions until I tell you it�s okay.� She ordered as she peered through the lens to make sure everyone was fitting properly. Satisfied, she set the number of pictures she wanted and then the timer. She ran over to her spot, smiled, and the camera started snapping pictures and spitting out the Polaroid�s onto the ground. Then she went back over and switched cameras. Trunks leaned over and whispered into Goten�s ear, then leaned the other way and whispered into Akira�s ear. Akira then repeated the secret to Toma. All four boys grinned viciously. Bulma positioned the camera and focused the camera on the group. She then set the amount of pictures to be taken and switched on the timer. On the last one all four boys stuck their tongues out in unison, unnoticed by anyone. �Okay everyone, that�s that. Your free to go.� At that the men ran upstairs to change out of their uniforms, and everyone else just goofed off for the remainder of the day. The Polaroid�s developed, and she handed three of them to Vegeta and Bardock so they each had one and a spare, just incase. No one saw Gohan take off towards the woods. He would not return till later in the night. That evening Chi-Chi had the four boys draw and color a picture for their grandfathers, and if they didn�t want to draw then they had the option of writing a letter. �But the penmanship must be perfect,� she warned. Akira, not having an ounce of artistry opted for the letter writing, and the other boys drew pictures. Linhe and Bulma made clay an impression of the girls hand and foot prints. Their point was to leave the grandfathers something special to go with the pictures. <><><><><> After dinner everyone sat around the fireplace chatting while the boys played quietly on the floor. The girls were propped in the grandfather�s laps, just loving the attention. They decided it was time to get some sleep for tomorrow was going to be a big day. Linhe stayed, for she wanted to spend her last night with her father talking well into the late hours of the morning like they used to. Bardock took Zelena upstairs, and rocked her to sleep like he used to do to Linhe. �Thank you daughter,� The king said quietly. She looked at him with her eyebrows raised. He didn�t care to elaborate, for he was still a Saiyan after all. She realized why he had said that and she nodded at him. �Alright, so I don�t wish the guys back until you reach earth. Right?� Changing the subject. �That ought to give me some breathing room before all the screaming starts.� She sighed. �I�m not so worried about Kakarrot and Raditz as I am about Vegeta. I just know he is going to wring my neck for this.� He smirked. �Just like Vegeta,� she thought. They chatted throughout the night, this time till the sun came up. She went upstairs to gather her things, and when she went in to the bedroom she saw Bardock lying on the bed asleep with Zelena sleeping in his arms. She quietly packed her bags and left the two to rest. He woke up sensing someone in the room, saw Linhe packing up her things, then looked at the sleeping child in his arms, smiled and kissed her on the top of the head before going back to sleep. |
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