Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Dude Looks Like A Lady ❯ Chapter Seventy-Four ( Chapter 74 )

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

Innocence is Futile
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Dude Looks Like A Lady
By Raven Pan and Alison Sky
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Chapter Seventy-Four
December 22, 799 - Saturday Continued.
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Trunks made another sound, questioning, afraid. Was he alone?

Goten recognized that sound and closed his eyes. No... he couldn't leave him alone like that. "I'm here," Goten said softly, walking back over to the bed.

Trunks's eyes darted toward Goten's voice, and he looked up at him, questioning.

"Remember when our parents used to yell at us for playing out in the snow too long, and we never believed their tales of getting sick?"

Trunks raised an eyebrow.

"They were right," Goten smiled and sat on the bed.

Trunks closed his eyes and sighed, whimpering slightly.

Goten reached up and ran a hand along Trunks's forehead, brushing his hair out of the way. "Don't worry, I'm going to get you out of here soon, ok?"

He opened his eyes, thanks in them, whimpering slightly again.

"Still feeling cold?" Goten asked.

Trunks grunted a hesitant negative. He was, a little, but he didn't want Goten to worry. He then crossed his eyes down at the tube in his throat and whimpered, looking up at Goten.

"I don't know how to take those out.... but let me get the doctor, ok?"

Trunks sighed an assent.

Goten stood up and went to the nurses station. "Um, can we get Mr. Brief's doctor? He's awake."

"Already? Wow, that's the fastest anyone's come out of that, sure thing, if you'd like to go back and wait with him, I'll be sending Dr. Asakura in shortly."

"Arigato," Goten smiled, then walked back in

A few minutes later, a nurse came in, going to check Trunks's vitals once more, turning off the machine connected to his stomach while she turned down the heat a little bit on the blankets. "Now, Mr. Briefs, I need you to exhale when I count to three, alright?"

He blinked in understanding, and on three did as he was asked, coughing as his throat was freed. "Fuck," He grimaced at the taste in his mouth.

"Not a good idea, not at least for a couple of days," she teased, brushing a hand through his hair and taking the machine away. "Dr. Asakura will be with you shortly."

Goten chuckled, then nodded. He reached for the water on the table and poured Trunks a glass, warming it a bit with his ki. "Here, drink this..."

Trunks pushed himself to sitting, best he could, accepting the glass with a hoarse, "Thanks," drinking it carefully.

Goten helped him lift it, then ran a hand along Trunks's hair, fixing it. "Better?"

"Yeah... thanks," he coughed bringing a hand to cover his mouth. "Shit, I hate hospitals... can't you just break me outta here?" he asked, looking up at his best friend.

"No... because I want to make sure you're taken care of... we have enough work taking care of the kids that I can't afford to take care of you too," Goten smirked.

Trunks just huddled under the blanket, "I hate hospitals..." he muttered.

"I got over it..."

Trunks pouted, "You didn't have to get cut open in one, either."

"You just need to learn to take care of yourself better."

"I was just gonna rest my eyes a moment before walking back!" Trunks protested, falling back into the bed as he coughed.

"Shhh," Goten hushed, getting another glass of water for Trunks.

"I don't get it, it wasn't," cough, "that cold...."

"You fell asleep in a snowstorm, Trunks," Goten stated.

Trunks frowned, "I didn't mean to... It didn't feel that cold," he looked away.

"I know..."

"Ah, Mr. Briefs, good to see you're awake - you heal swiftly," the doctor appeared in the doorway and came to check up on him. "Your body temperature's back to normal."

"Does that mean I can leave?"

"Let's let the rest of this warm IV into your system, and then we'll check up on a few more things and I'll tell you then."

Trunks frowned.

"Rules are rules, we need to make sure you're healthy before we release you."

"You said that after he woke, it would be an hour... right?" Goten asked.

"Roughly," The doctor nodded in agreement. "Then you can go. Someone will be back in later to check on your progress."

Trunks grumbled something inaudible, and the doctor just smiled, leaving the room.

Goten yawned, then reached up to rub his eyes. "You really pick good times to land in the hospital, eggplant head."

"Well, I'd rather not be in one at all," he sighed. "I take it your folks are watching the kids?"

"No, Truten is watching them," Goten rolled his eyes.

Trunks stuck his tongue out at Goten. Then he sighed. "Honest, I didn't mean to land myself here...."

"I know... I know." Goten yawned again.

"Go home and get some sleep, Chibi... I'll get a cab."

"No, I'll wait." Goten leaned over to streatch out across Trunks's lower legs.

"You sure?" Trunks watched him carefully.

"Uh huh..." Goten said, resting his head on his arm, his eyes heavy.

"Hm..." Trunks sighed, yawning, he was still tired. "If you're sure."

"Uh huh...."

"...Kay," Trunks closed his eyes with a soft sigh.

Goten was already fast asleep, his skin a bit cooler to the touch, but slowly regaining warmth, thanks to the blanket he was laying atop of. Trunks, too, fell swiftly to sleep.

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They'd been able to go home after a little over an hour later. Following doctoral advice, Trunks suggested they take a cab, "It'll be warmer that way," and now were exiting said cab to go into their apartment building. Trunks stumbled slightly on a patch of ice at the doorway.

Goten reached out and grabbed Trunks's arms, keeping him standing. "You ok?"

Steadying himself, he nodded, "Yeah, just slipped."

"Just watch where you stepping, ok?"

Trunks nodded, "Right," and moved a bit more carefully to the door, then up the elevator.

Goten pulled out his keys and went to unlock their door for him. "You go lay down, and I'll talk to my parents and check the kids."

"Sounds like a plan," Trunks sighed, making his way in once the door was open.

"Trunks!" Chichi was there in an instant, checking his temperature, and then bustling him toward the back of the apartment. "Straight to bed for you - shame on you for making us all worried. Didn't you ever listen when I told you not to stay out too long in the cold...." and on... and on before the door closed and she went about mothering Trunks into his bed.

Goku chuckled, then turned to Goten, "How are things? He's better now?"

Goten chuckled as well, his hands in his pockets as he turned to look at his father. "Yeah... I warmed him up and they let him go..."

"Warmed him up?" Goku asked.

"I pushed some of my ki into him... warmed him up from the inside out..."

Goku nodded, "Well it's good that he's okay...." he eyed his son, "How are YOU doing?"

Goten shrugged, then yawned and rubbed his eyes. "Tired."

Goku put a hand on his shoulder, "Then why don't you head to bed. Chichi made busywork, so your fridge is filled with meals for the next two days," he chuckled.

Goten chuckled. "Figures. Were the kids ok?"

"Slept the entire time," Goku affirmed.

"Good."

Chichi appeared, shutting the door quietly behind her, and tapping on Goku's shoulder. "Come on, these boys need their rest, you WILL go to sleep now, right Goten dear?" she asked, coming forward and hugging him.

Goten hugged his mother gently. "Yeah, I'm beat, in more ways that one," he told his mother.

"Off to bed with you," she chided, starting to bustle him off toward his room. "I've made you food enough for at least two days, call me if you need more," she instructed.

"I will. Thanks Mom." Goten smiled.

"Good boy," she pushed him into the room. "And be quiet, Trunks is sleeping," she instructed, patting himon the back before going back to Goku... and the two disappeared from sight.

In the room, piled under a heated blanket as well as a couple of comforters, Trunks lay, asleep.

Goten went and checked Trunks, then crawled over to his bed and snuggled under his own covers, asleep almost instantly.
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LATE MORNING

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"Papa?" Truten was leaning over the gate to the nursery, looking out. "Where's Uncle?"

Goten was sitting in the rocking chair, his eyes half closed as he fed Gotenks, Teena sleeping on a pillow on the floor beside him. "He's sleeping, Truten... it's naptime."

"Uncle has naptime?" she looked back at him, then frowned, and started to climb the gate.

Goten nodded, his eyes closed. "We all need... naps," Goten yawned.

There was a slight thud as Truten made it to the other side of the gate, and she ran to the other bedroom, pushing the door open.

Goten was already asleep, supporting Gotenks as he slept.

She looked in to see that her 'uncle' was asleep, and crept into the bedroom. "Naptime," she nodded, then climbed into the bed and under the covers, cuddling up to him. In his sleep, Trunks put a protective arm around his daughter, and she soon fell asleep too.

About an hour later, Goten woke up, realizing he had fallen asleep with Gotenks in his arms. He smiled, then put the little boy to sleep on the pillow next to his sister. He then looked around and realized that Truten was missing. "Truten?" he called softly, stepping over the gate and walking into the main hallway of the apartment.

She was nowhere to be seen, though from his own bedroom, the sound of two light snores could be heard.

Goten blinked and walked to the doorway, looking inside quietly.

There was Trunks, Truten curled up against him. They were fast asleep, the top of Truten's spiked hair drifting now and then with Trunks's breath as she sucked on the end of her tail, his arm across her as only a protective parent would naturally do.

Goten leaned against the doorway and smiled, watching. He thought to go get the camera, but didn't want to lose another one.

Trunks wrinkled his nose as his daughter moved, cuddling up to him, her hair tickling. He opened his eyes and blinked in surprise, then looked down to see her in his arms. Not noticing Goten in the doorway, he kissed her head, nuzzling it slightly before closing his eyes and going back to sleep, a small smile on his lips.

Goten smiled, then turned and slipped out the door, closing it behind him. He went to the couch and stretched out, falling to sleep himself.

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December 27, 799 - Thursday

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Trunks stretched as he got home from his first day back at work, putting his jacket on the hook. He'd ended up staying late, past the kids bedtime, to finish up a few deadlines, and was beat.

Goten was in the livingroom, a movie on the television, but his eyes half closed.

Trunks flopped on the couch beside him, pushing his shoulder, "Wake up, it's time to go to bed."

Goten moaned. "If it's bedtime, leave me be...."

"Your back'll be killing you in the morning if you sleep on the couch, we both know this," Trunks grabbed the remote and turned off the television.

Goten yawned. "I'll crawl in later... don't worry, I'm fine."

Trunks sighed, pulling Goten to his feet. "C'mon..." he supported him a bit. "Time for bed, Chibi."

"I'm fine, Trunks," Goten whined, trying to pull back.

"What's gotten into you?" Trunks let him go, blinking in surprise.

"Nothing, but I can take care of myself...."

Trunks lifted his hands in surrender, "Sorry..." he muttered, going to the kitchen for a pint of milk.

Goten sighed and sat on the couch, then sighed and lowered his head. "Gomen Nasai..." he said softly.

Trunks came back, drinking from the jug, "What's on your mind?"

"Not sure.... just, well... I don't know."

"Try talking in full sentences, it'd be a start," Trunks smiled.

Goten wrinkled his nose.

"C'mon," Trunks came into the living room and sat in the chair nearby. "Give it a shot."

"I guess... I guess I'm just trying to stop being so soft... trying to build up my walls again... you know..." Goten said softly.

"Meaning if one of us is ill, it's okay to look out for each other - but the rest of the time, I-my-own, hmm?" Trunks asked quietly, taking several gulps of the milk to punctuate hiself.

"I guess so..."

"You want me to leave you alone then?"

"Not sure."

"Well, I'll finish up this milk, go check on the kids, and come back and ask again in about ten minutes," Trunks said, standing and heading to the ktichen.

Goten reached for the controller and turned the tv back on. "I'm not really sleepy anymore."

"Fair enough, I'll just head to bed then," Trunks said, waving goodnight as he went to look in on the kids before heading to bed himself.

Goten watched the tv for a bit longer, then fell asleep sitting up, the controller in his hand until it slipped to the floor.

Trunks had trouble sleeping... something eating at his mind. It was a little past midnight when he got up to make himself something to eat, hoping that a food-coma'd help him get some sleep.

Then he saw Goten, and half smiled, shaking his head. He turned off the television and shook Goten's shoulder slightly. "hey, Chibi."

Goten just moaned and turned a bit into the couch.

Trunks sighed, picking him up, careful not to wake him, and carried him back to bed.

Unconciously, Goten curled up in Trunks' arms, snuggling into his shoulder.

Trunks sighed, shaking his head, laying him carefully into the bed, and tucking him in. "Sucks to be us, don't it?" he said in barely a whisper.

Goten just whimpered and snuggled into his blanket.

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January 4, 780 - Friday

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Trunks woke from a deep sleep, and frowned - wondering just what had wakened him. Then he heard it, childlike whimpering. He swiftly got out of bed and made his way to the nursery.

Truten was in her tiny bed, whimpering a bit and shaking some.

He knelt beside the bed, shaking her shoulder a little. "Truten, sweetheart, wake up," He said softly.

"Papa... Ma... Uncle..." she whimpered softly, turning.

Trunks picked her up, cuddling her. "Shhh, shh, Truten it's okay sweetie. Wake up, everything's okay."

Truten's eyes blinked awake and she looked up at Trunks. She then whimpered and wrapped her arms around his neck tightly, whimpering.

He held her gently, rubbing her back. "Shhh, shhhh, it's okay, sweetheart," he said softly, rocking a bit.

"No leave me," she whimpered.

"I'm not going to leave you," he kissed the top of her head. "Not ever."

"No leave," she whimpered, still clinging to him.

"I won't leave," he told her, still holding her close, rocking slightly and rubbing her back. "Shhh, it was just a bad dream."

Truten shook her head. "Very bad dream... you leave me."

"I promise I won't leave you, Truten," he nuzzled her and held her gently. "Okay?"

Truten just whimpered and nuzzled her head into his shoulder.

"C'mon, let's just get you back to bed," he said, gently laying her back down and starting to tuck her in.

"NO LEAVE!" she cried and clung back to him.

He sighed, "Okay, I won't leave... I'll sit right here by the bed while you sleep, okay?"

Truten nodded.

"Okay," he lay her back and tucked her into the bed, and began to sing softly to her as he brushed his fingers through her hair, trying to get her to go back to sleep.

"Stay..." she whimpered, moving over a bit for Trunks to lay down too.

"I'm too big..." he sighed at the look in his daughter's eyes. "Okay," he said, kissing her forehead and climbing into the toddler-sized bed, curling up around her a little, atop the covers she lay beneath, and cuddled her. "You'll sleep now?"

Truten nuzzled into Trunks's chest and nodded, resting her head against his chest so she could hear his heartbeat. "No leave me."

"I'll never leave you Truten, as long as I can be here, I will be," he promised. "Now go to sleep, sweetheart."

"No leave... Papa... too..." she mummbled as she fell back asleep.

"I'm not gonna leave your Papa either," He said softly. "He's my best friend," He closed his eyes, yawned, and fell to sleep swiftly.

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