Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ And We Were Angels ❯ Failings of Man ( Chapter 3 )

And We Were Angels

By: AMCM74

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Chapter 3 - Failings of Man

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"Miss Briefs… I am Dr. Tsuda." The doctor opened the door and smiled tiredly. "How are you holding up?"

Bulma looked away from her father and wiped the tears from her eyes with both hands. "I am fine. What happened to my father?"

"May I talk to you outside Miss Briefs?" The man opened the door motioned Bulma to step into the hall. "Your father overdosed on some pain pills he had. I can't say for certain, but I think it was most likely an accident. There were plenty left in his bottle, when the maid found him on the floor. It's something we are going to have to discuss with him when he wakes up."

"I… don't understand." Bulma took a deep breath and tried to will some form of courage. The thought that her father would want to leave her was so foreign. She knew he had been depressed and not himself. Hours of his days were spent in bed, and he was so tired and weak. Since Bunny's death, he had gone downhill instead of getting better. The pain of her loss had seemed to be fading to a tolerable level, but for him, his body was not recovering in kind. "I don't know what to do. I thought he was getting better."

Vegeta moved to stand behind his charge and listened intently to the conversation.

"I don't think it's his depression that is causing this down turn in his health, Miss Briefs." Dr. Tsuda looked over his charts. "There were some abnormal results in his tests and blood work. I think it would be wise if he had a follow up with his health care provider.

"

"What did you find?" Bulma froze with dread.

"I can't make a diagnosis of this magnitude, Miss Briefs. I can say, however, that your father is a long time smoker. It would behoove him to get a screening for cancer."

The sharp intake of breath burst from Bulma's chest. She swayed and was sure she was going to faint.

Vegeta reached out and held her up in one wordless motion.

The doctor looked around and grabbed a chair. "I am sorry. Please sit. I am not sure that is the trouble here. Mr. Briefs has had some previous health issues, and this is merely standard for his age and condition. I didn't mean to worry you."

Bulma sank into the chair and shook her head weakly. "It's ok, Dr Tsuda. I should have been expecting something like this. It really has been my luck lately."

"Well, if there is anything I can do, please, just ask."

Bulma frowned. "There is one thing I need to ask you." She looked up with huge tears in her eyes. "If you are approached by anyone wanting to know my father's condition, or health care reports, please I am begging you, don't tell them anything. If word gets out about this…" Bulma shuddered and looked down. "We could lose everything."

"A patient's records are completely confidential, Miss Briefs. You have nothing to fear." Dr. Tsuda informed her firmly. "Now, let me arrange for your father to be moved to a more private and comfortable room.

"Thank you." Bulma watched him walk away. When the hall was clear she bent over and buried her face in her lap.

Vegeta stiffened as the strong woman, who had so easily taken him to the ground the night before, began to sob in earnest.

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"Is he dying?"

"You know I can't tell you that." Goku leaned on the playground fence and looked toward the road. Small elementary school children ran behind him with a ball, while others played on the swings and jungle gym.

"You're the Angle of Death! Don't tell me you have no idea." Vegeta grabbed Goku's arm whipping him around to face him. "If anyone is going to know if that feeble old man is dying, it's going to be you."

"He has cancer but he's not exactly dying… yet." Goku jerked his arm away. "Dr. Briefs is not your concern anyway. Just stick to saving the woman."

"You're being difficult intentionally. Saving the father is crucial to saving the daughter." Vegeta crossed his arms over his chest. "What are you doing here anyway?"

"Performing a miracle." Goku looked down the road that passed by the lush green park.

"Since when is hanging off a chain link fence a miracle?"

As if in answer to his question a huge tractor-trailer turned the corner heading down the road. A small yellow car raced around trying to pass it. There was a dark blue SUV coming down the road on the other side. Vegeta cringed. "They're going to hit…"

"That wouldn't be as bad." Goku leaned back ready to move.

Vegeta didn't know exactly what was going to happen. Worse, Goku had said. The yellow car darted back into the lane, forcing the truck to break sharply. As the car blasted by them, the truck skidded to the side losing control. It seemed to jack knife in slow motion. Vegeta paled and looked at the children behind him. Then his dark eyes became riveted on the tractor trailer as it teetered and fell on it's side, sliding across the pavement toward the fragile barrier of the chain link fence.

Goku sprang into action jumping the fence, with Vegeta at his heels. The angels ran toward the careening block of iron and steel. Putting their hands up they braced for the impact. Goku shouted as the sparks from the metal flew about them. Vegeta pushed back as hard as he could. God, give us strength he silently pleaded as they were being pushed back toward the fence.

Vegeta closed his eyes. He could see the horrified faces of the parents as they stood up from their picnic tables and benches. The tiny eyes of all those children widening is shock and horror. The whispered voices of the prayers began to bombard him.

"Dear God, save my baby!"

"Please God, NO!"

"Someone save me!"

"MOMMMMMMMMMYYYY!!"

"My God, it's going to hit all those children!"

Each prayer was like a new burst of energy, each believing soul adding it's power to his limbs. Slowly the trailer began to stop. Vegeta spared a look at Goku. The Angel of Death was straining against the force like one possessed. Vegeta felt the chain link fence at his back. He felt the fence buckling as they were being over taken.

"NO DOUBT, VEGETA!!!" Goku shouted, "You must be PURE! You must be STRONG! NO DOUBT!"

And then it happened. The loud whine that sounded like a dying creature began to cease, as the tractor trailer came to a stop, half way over the mutilated fence.

Vegeta could feel the relief and happiness over take him. He turned to see the crying children rushing to their thankful parents. He almost smiled then, but shook it away, before it could bee seen.

Goku stood next to him rubbing his large arms for his efforts.

Vegeta chuckled. "You're not as strong as you make yourself out to be." Then on a cocky note he added, "You would have failed had I not been here."

"Ah, you are right." Goku smiled at him. Then a large hand clamped down on Vegeta's back. "But I knew you were going to be here, so it was all good."

"You know sometimes I think I hate…" Vegeta looked up to see a tiny girl walking toward them. "You."

She had large blue green eyes and soft flowing brown hair. She was dressed in jeans and a tee shirt. The jeans had mud on the knees from playing. The white sneakers were scuffed, but you could still make out the pink stripes on the side. They matched the shirt perfectly, as did the shimmering ribbon that graced each ponytail. She was not a perfect little girl, but her eyes shined with amazement.

Vegeta swallowed hard as she walked toward them. It was like she could see them both standing there before her. This thought was proven true as she stopped before Vegeta and looked over him. The tiny mouth uttered but one word. "Beautiful…"

Vegeta shifted uncomfortably under the girl's intense gaze. "Goku, this child has the sight."

"Yes she does." Goku knelt before her. " Fear Not! Are you alright little one?" She nodded slowly. Goku smiled brightly and then reached up to cup one hand over her eyes. A strong light glowed beneath it for a moment, and when he lifted it away she stared blankly, almost unseeing.

"Kaylee!" A woman who was an older form of the girl rushed over and dropped to her knees hugging the unmoving child. "Oh Kaylee, I was so scared! Are you ok?" When the girl did not respond the mother looked over at a group of people. "I found her, but she seems to be in shock!" Picking the little girl up in her arms she rushed away.

"Why did you tamper with her?" Vegeta turned on Goku. "She is a child! No one would have believed her if she told them about us any way!"

"You don't understand." Goku sighed wearily. "Why do you always have to be this way? Why can't you just accept things and go from there?"

"Because there was no harm in leaving that child with her memory of us intact." Vegeta growled.

"Her parents are atheists. It would not have gone over well with them having a daughter recounting the time she saw two winged angels, saving a park full of little children from a large truck." Goku whispered softly. "Not everyone believes in us Vegeta."

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"You need to drink your juice at least." Bulma leaned over and poured the dark grape juice into a small paper cup of ice. " I know you're worried but this is not helping."

"Then you drink it for me, Bulma." Mr. Briefs sighed. "I doubt you have eaten anything either."

"Don't you start that with me, Poppa." Bulma patted his cheek. "I am not the one in a hospital bed, now am I."

"I am very sorry about that too." Mr. Briefs turned to his daughter. "I thought if I took enough pills I would be able to go into the office, but they just made me sleepy. I didn't mean to worry you."

"Well, you did." She tossed stray blue lock over her shoulder. "So no more self medicating yourself. I am hiring an in-home nurse to take care of you. She will be there twenty-four seven if she has to be."

"Now Bulma, I am a full grown man. I don't need a baby sitter coming in and bossing me about." He sat up and looked at her with intense eyes. "So tell me, how did the share holders meeting go?"

Bulma tried to look undisturbed. She forced a smile. "I didn't get the whole way through it, but what we did go over went well."

"Now, Bulma honey, there are some thing's that never go well and share holders meetings are one of them. You can tell me the truth." He reached out and patted the back of her hand. The door opened and Mr. Briefs' doctor walked in. "Hello Dr. Ogata, so what's the good word."

Dr. Ogata reached up and readjusted his glasses. "Mr. Briefs, we need to talk." As the doctor turned to shut the door, Bulma prepared for the worst.