Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Dude Looks Like A Lady ❯ Chapter Twenty Three ( Chapter 23 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

A/N: (PLEASE ALL READ!!!) -- There have been lots of worries that this fic is nearly ended. I assure you, this is not the case! It begins April 1, 796 -- and will not end until the story has reached somewhere near January 800. That's roughly four years. Now, granted, we're not touching on each day - but the fic IS far from over. This fic is fifty some-odd chapters, and counting - so don't give up! When I say there's quite the ride ahead, I very much mean it! :)

Innocence is Futile
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Dude Looks Like A Lady
By Raven Pan and Alison Sky
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Chapter Twenty-Three
April 1 (friday)
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It was Trunks's birthday, exactly a year since he'd been turned into a woman. And that woman... changed. Became less cruel, a little more kind. And Goten loved this woman. It was strange, but to him, it seemed like this was how it was meant to be. Maybe Kami had screwed up somehow.

Now, Trunks was seven months pregnant - and Goten had plans to take her to a fancy restaurante to celebrate her birthday. He'd been saving for the past few months.

Goten smiled at these thoughts, bidding goodbye to a patient - when the smile on his face froze.

The side window of the hospital pharmacy opened on the emergency lane - and, curious, Goten watched as a newly arrived ambulance opened its doors - pulling out a gurney which held a small, very-pregnant woman - her head wrapped in bloody bandage, the paramedeics seeming quite worried... even for them.

What caused his heart to lurch, however, was the sight of the woman's profile, and a long, blood spattered lavender lock of hair.

He knew of only two people on the planet with hair that colour... and only one of them was female.

Goten turned to one of the other pharmacists, "Take over!" he told them, vaulting the counter and rushing toward the E.R.. By the time he got there, she'd already been put into a room. He stood outside the door, frantically looking through the small window at the swiftly working doctors, hoping to see someone he knew. Hoping they would come out away from the trauma patient, and tell him what was going on.

Finally, he caught the eye of one orderly. Once her duties were done, she slipped out, "What is it, Goten?"

"What's her condition?"

"You know her?"

"She's my best friend."

"Stable, for now. They're trying to stop a miscarriage - seems she slipped on a spilled soda and fell down the stairs at the mall."

Goten's hands lowered to his sides, gripped into tight fists as he remained silent.

"She seems pretty far along, so if they can't stop it - they can probably save the baby by c-section."

"Can I go in? Just... so she has someone there?"

"I'll ask - seeing as she's unconscious right now..." the young orderly then realised she had something in her hand, "Oh, I almost forgot - I have to go phone her emergency contact."

"I'll do that, you go find out."

"Okay," she nodded as she handed him the emergency-care card, then went back inside.

When Goten looked, he saw that he was listed as her emergency contact - no one else. He sighed, "I'll have to call Bulma, she'd kill me if I didn't," he muttered to himself as he went for a landline.

Bulma's machine answered. "Hello, this is Bulma Briefs. I am not available right now - please leave a message. If this is an emergency, call my cellphone at 762-2923. If you do that and it isn't an emergency, you'll probably have one soon," there was a chuckle. "Leave a message - Ja matta ne!"

Goten hung up and dialed her cell, taking a peek inside the window as he waited for her to pick up.

"Bulma."

"It's Goten. Sorry to disturb you, but I have a problem...."

"It had better be important Goten, I'm in the middle of a conference."

"They just brought Trunks into the emergency room. They say she fell down the stairs at the mall, and well..." he ran a hand through his hair, "She's going to need you."

"She WHAT?! Stay with her Goten, I'll be there as soon as I can... which'll likely be tomorrow, unfortunately."

"Want me to call Vegeta?"

"Uh... no. You don't want to call Vegeta, at least not until the mall is empty. I'm in New York, and I'll get the first flights back. Be there for her, okay?"

"You know I will," Goten hung up, then knocked on the door - looking to see if it was okay for him to enter.

The orderly waved him in, nodding her head. There were now several IV lines running into Trunks, the mishappen bandage missing from around her head while a medical student was carefully stitching the cut above her right eye.

Goten walked over and took her hand gently, running a thumb along her palm. "How is she?"

"She should be fine - the baby too. They were able to stop the premature laber, for now anyhow-" the Student Doctor said as he meticulously set about the last few stitches. "Don't worry, Sir. We're doing all we can."

Goten ran his other hand along Trunks's face gently. "Thank you."

()()()

It was an hour later, and in a private recovery room, that Trunks moaned slightly as she finally began to regain consciousness.

Goten was dozing in a chair nearby, having been excused from work for the rest of the day. He heard Trunks's moan, and sat up - running his hand over her face. "Trunks?" he asked softly.

She stirred, opening her eyes. "Goten?"

Goten smiled, and moved to sit on the edge of the bed. "Yeah, it's me. How do you feel?"

"Achey," she blinked then began to panic. "Oh no! Little Chibi!?"

"He's fine," Goten leaned over and kissed her cheek. "The Doctors say so, and I can feel our baby. Both of you will be fine."

Trunks sighed in relief, rubbing her belly slightly, the baby moving against her hand in reassurance. "I'm so sorry... I didn't see the spill."

"It was just an accident, Trunks. Things happen, it's okay."

"You're not angry with me?"

"How can I be?"

"I wasn't paying attention to where I was going."

"You can barely even see your own feet," he chuckled.

She reached out for him, "Still...."

He took her hand, placing her palm against his cheek and gently rubbing her arm. "It's okay, hon."

"No it's not!" She blinked and a tear splashed down her cheek. "I almost killed Little Chibi with my carelessness!"

He leaned down, pressing his forehead against hers. "It was an accident, Trunks. It would have happened anyway."

She sniffled, her watery blue eyes begging for reaffirmation that it was all going to be okay. He closed his own, leaning down a bit more so he could kiss her.

She accepted the kiss, and returned it. When it broke, she nuzzled his cheek slightly, and he lay down with her in the bed, nuzzling back.

Just then, the door opened. "Ms. Briefs? Oh, I didn't know your husband was here. Don't mind me, I'm just gonna change your IV - try not to be too active, you need to stay calm and on bedrest for now. The doctor will be in to see you later," she chirped.

Goten just hid his face into Trunks's neck to hide his identity, laughing quietly into Trunks's ear.

"Sure," Trunks smiled. "Close the door when you leave?"

The bag changed, the nurse smiled, "Sure thing!" and the door was closed.

Once she was gone, Goten sat up with a smirk on his face. No words, just a smirk.

Trunks raised her eyebrows and looked at him, "What?"

"So. You're my wife now, huh?" Goten chuckled.

"Okay, like I was going to correct her and let everyone know my child is illegitimate? I had to deal with that enough when I was the bastard child."

"If you want..." Goten started, then shook his head. "Nah, it wouldn't work."

"Yeah, I'm going to be a guy in a couple of months again anyways," Trunks stated.

"That you are," Goten sighed, looking away, a tiny twinge of sadness in his voice.

Trunks was already looking at the sheets and half smiled, feeling a similar twinge - but refusing to admit it. She couldn't figure out just what that twinge was, anyhow.

"Well, I should go and let you get your rest. Call our moms and let them know you're okay," Goten said softly, standing.

"Don't you have a cell phone?"

"Can't use them in the hospital anymore, remember?"

"Oh," she looked around the room and spied a phone, "There's one over there."

"It's not hooked up yet. Don't worry, I'll be back. Want me to get you anything?"

"No, I'm okay," she sighed, shrugging and looking away.

Goten gave her a smile, then left. Once outside, he rested his back against the door, his face falling as he rubbed an arm along his eyes.

The nurse walking by stopped and put a hand on his shoulder. "Is everything okay?"

Goten nodded, "As good as can be expected," he told her.

"Well, if you need anything, just let us know - okay?"

"I will, thank you," Goten nodded, then put his hands in his pockets and walked away.

()()()

By the time Goten returned, after appraising their mothers of Trunks's continuing condition, the doctor was just finishing up with her.

"So, Ms. Briefs - that's about all you need to know. You're safe to head home now."

"And I can't get out of bed except to relieve myself?!"

"Yes, Ms. Briefs."

"Shower?"

"Is there someone at home that can help you clean up?"

"I... guess...."

"Sponge baths. If there's a problem, we can send you a visiting nurse to do that for you."

"No... that's alright."

Goten entered, his eyebrows narrowed in concern. "Is everything okay?"

Trunks waved her hand. "Yeah, except I'm ordered on bedrest until Little Chibi is born."

"How come?" He looked at the doctor.

"Her condition is mostly stable, though it is still something to watch carefully. Excessive movement, or upright status, may push her back into premature labour, and or hemorraging, endangering both her life, and the child's."

"So now I have to wait on her hand and foot?" he asked with a sarcastic smirk at Trunks.

"Yeah. As if I like this any more than you do..." Trunks grumbled.

"If it is too much trouble, the insurance does cover a visiting nurse."

"Nah, I'll take good care of her and our Little Chibi," Goten walked over and took one of Trunks's hands, squeezing it. "Don't worry about that."

The Doctor nodded. "Well, now that you know of the requirements - you may be discharged. A nurse will bring you the paperwork shortly."

"Thanks doc," Goten held his hand out to the doctor, the other still gripped to Trunks.

His hand was shaken, and soon the doctor disappeared, leaving Goten with a deeply frowning woman.

"What's wrong?" Goten turned to face her, sitting on the bed.

"I have to stay in bed for the next two months, unable to do practically anything for myself!" she grumped.

"Well, I'll be there to take care of you, and our moms and people will help when I have to go to work," Goten squeezed her hand. "We'll get through this."

"But after all this... even the simplest things are going to be out of my control! I HATE that!" she pouted, scowling.

"Just think of me as your slave," Goten smirked and kissed her cheek... or would have, if she hadn't unexpectedly turned her head, their lips brushing against each other's.

Goten smiled and kissed her, then pulled back to look Trunks in the eye, "I'll take care of you, always."

She smiled slightly, and a little sadly. "Yeah...."

Goten ran a finger along her cheek. He knew Trunks wasn't going to be a woman forever, but he wished it could just stay like this... just for a while longer... like... forever.

Trunks looked a bit confused, and broke eye contact when a nurse came in. No words were exchanged as Trunks signed the releases and a wheelchair was provided.

"Just take your time, Ms. Briefs."

Gently, Goten helped Trunks into the wheelchair and grabbed the handles. "When you're ready, my lady."

"I just wanna go home, Goten."

"And that's where I plan on taking you," Goten pointed out.

"Yeah... let's go, Chibi."

Goten wheeled her downstairs, then into the alley behind the hospital. He gathered Trunks into his arms, "Hold on tight."

"Goten Express... it's the only way to fly," she joked, resting her head against his chest with a sigh, her arms loose about his neck as she sighed.

Goten chuckled, then gently flew them back home. He landed and took her to her bedroom, laying her down. "What do you think you'll need within your immediate reach?" he asked.

"Food, drink, manga, you, book, stereo, remote...."

"I could move your bed into the livingroom at this rate," Goten chuckled, having missed himself among her list of wants.

"Don't really need anything," she shrugged, "I guess."

"Just everything," he kissed her forehead. "I'll be right back."

She smiled slightly as she watched him go. "Well... if I have to be helpless, I guess I can survive as long as you're here," she murmered to herself.

()()()

It wasn't long before Goten returned with a basket of food in one arm, three cases of soda balanced in his other. He set them down on the bedside table, and from his back pockets pulled out four manga. "This should be a good start for today," he commented.

"I guess," she half smiled. "Sorry it's turned out like this."

"It's okay. Mom says that first pregnancies can be tricky," Goten stated, putting the radio and Television controller within Trunks's easy reach.

"Goten. Even being only pregnant is tricky," she smiled.

()()()
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