Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Stealing Time ❯ Connected Confusion ( Chapter 2 )

Late disclaimer: nothing belongs to me but the story itself.

Stealing Time

Chapter two

The minute Vegeta got home he landed roughly, barging through the door. Practically hovering and running at the same time he frantically made his way up the stairs to his bedroom. The voices had continued to haunt him on his way back. It was just like the bad dream mocking and harsh. Taunting him for being weak and afraid, of what he wasn't sure because they always spoke in a way that Vegeta never knew exactly what they were getting at. Twice, he almost flew into trees distracted by what was going on in his head. He didn't understand how he was hearing his own voice so clearly. It was like a clone of himself was right there beside him whispering in his ear. Things he wasn't even thinking about, horrid things about himself that he'd never say, never.

Getting into his bedroom he ran straight for the bathroom and the cabinet containing the same bottle of pills he'd had last night. "This should fix it." He stared at the container with a pleased smirk feeling like he had won one over on.. whatever it was that was going on inside his head. Pulling the top off he dumped two more of the little drugs into his palm and shoved them down his throat swallowing without a drink. Not bothering to cap it he placed the bottle on the counter and left the bathroom. Sitting down on the large bed, still in shambles from that morning and lied back on the pillow.

Sighing, he let some of the tenseness in his body drain away as he tried to relax. Lying still he stared up at the ceiling for what seemed like an eternity. "Rrr. How long before these damn things work anyway?" Turning his eyes down he noticed that the curtain was still pulled over and for some reason the light coming in bothered him more than it should have. Sitting up, he crawled across the bed and off the other side going to draw the curtains back over. Once the light was gone from the room he was about to head back to bed when he heard a laugh. Quick turning, he searched the room with his eyes but saw no one.

"...Of course no one else is here." He assured himself. "Ha, I must be losing it or this earth remedy is finally starting to kick in." Despite his reassuring words Vegeta remained still another moment, just listening, making sure that the room was truly completely quiet. Satisfied he made his way back over to the bed. Sitting down he pulled the white boots from his feet dropping them to the floor, followed by the gloves that were placed on the dresser beside the bed. Opening one of the lower drawers he pulled out a pair of black sweats and slipped them on over his blue bodysuit and tied the string at his waist. When he went to grab the blanket from the bottom of the bed he swayed a bit and quickly placed his hands on the mattress to support himself. Shaking the uneasy feeling away he straightened up and went back to grabbing the blanket. Vegeta quickly yanked it up to splay across the king sized mattress. White sheets being covered with a rich dark blue velvet forming a sea as it tucked under the fluffy pillows of the same color.

Looking over the accomplishment of making the bed the prince smiled for a short second feeling suddenly nauseas. "Got to.. lie down and let the medicine pass." His body following the command he climbed onto the bed lying face down. Closing his eyes immediately, a shaky breath escaped his lungs before he began to calm down. Everything was calm and quiet. Too quiet for Vegeta's liking. It was almost as if he weren't anywhere at all. Not in Capsule Corp, not in his room on his bed, not anywhere. Not even on the earth itself. The frightening feeling caused him to sit up in such a rush he became dizzy. Down on hands and knees still on the bed, the shaken Saiyan didn't move waiting for the dizziness to pass.

"Wha..t is this?" The silence surrounded him engulfing the room. Hahahaha "Huh?" His head came up again looking around for the source of the laughter. 'I wasn't losing it before someone is here.' Opening his ears he listened carefully as the laughter continued. Hmhmhmhm hahahaha. 'No not again.' There was no one there. It was all in his head that same evil mocking laughter from the nightmare. 'But how? I'm still awake.' Sitting up completely he covered his ears pressing hard trying to shut the noise out, it was useless of course. The Saiyan decided to leave the room all together. Stumbling off the bed he staggered to the door. The sleep inducer in the pills was weighing him down and slowing his pace. He collapsed against the door frame once reaching it and leaned on it for support while he caught his breath.

"This is insane.. I'm stronger than this I'...m th-" Taking a few more steps to get out the door the mighty prince of Saiyans unconsciously fell to the carpeted floor below.

___________

"Don't worry sir you should be fine in a few da-DAD!" A startled Gohan nearly dropped his clipboard seeing his father hovering outside the hospital window five stories up. The patient, now confused at his young doctors words, turned his head in the direction Gohan was looking.

"Huu..aaaah!" With a gasp the man passed out cold in the bed from fright, head lulling slightly to one side.

"Sir... sir are you alright?" The young intern shook his patient lightly then checked him over. Sighing with relief that the man was just asleep from shock he turned his attention to the tapping at the window. The closer he got the more he could hear shrieks and incoherent yelling from the streets below. Goku waved with a big smile on his face as his son came over to open the window and let the child like man in.

"Not that I'm not happy to see you but, what are you doing here?" He stepped aside letting his father enter the brightly lit hospital room. It was small in size just enough room for one bed, a small side table with a hard wood chair tucked beneath it and hospital equipment.

"Sorry for the commotion, I just figured it'd be easier to find you this way," Goku explained as his hand rubbed the back of his head, feeling a bit guilty for the outside uproar. "Iiis that guy gonna be o.k?" They both looked back at the sleeping man, his face still registering disbelief.

"He'll be fine but next time use the front entrance." Gohan adjusted his glasses slightly as he walked towards the exit; Goku following immediately after him. He glanced around nervously. The grown man still harbored a fear of Hospitals and doctors. Since his son decided to become a medic, Goku's been trying to deal with his fears but no matter what he could still never get near a needle. On his way out Goku closed the door quietly so as not to disturb its resident anymore.

"So, is everything all right, nothing happened to Goten did it?" The doctor in training asked trying to get back on track as to why his father suddenly showed up at his job without warning. Especially since he knew how much the man detested the place.

"Oh no everything's fine. I just got bored I guess." He paused his words before continuing. "I was supposed to be training with Vegeta but, something happened and he took off before we could even get into it. It was really strange." The Saiyan rubbed a hand languidly across his chin remembering the strange event that took place only a half an hour ago.

"That doesn't sound too strange to me. It is Vegeta after all. Maybe he just wasn't in the mood."

"Yeah I guess." He dropped the hand from his chin. Not convinced by his sons words, Goku became a bit more serious still trying to figure out what caused Vegeta to behave that way. "But still it's not like him to be late and he was really off his game too." He followed his son down another hall and into a different room. This one a bit larger than the other. The curtains were drawn closed and a cool breeze flowed through the open air vents on the ceiling. A female patient lay half awake in bed recovering from surgery.

"Good morning Ms. Takata." The young intern greeted her warmly. Miss Takata smiled briefly before turning her sleep weary puzzled eyes at the strange man behind him. Noticing her action Gohan turned in the same direction then back to the patient. "Oh this is my dad ma'am, he's just visiting. Nothing to worry about." 'I hope.'

'Hi." Goku waved giving one of his trademark smiles. The woman however was too weak to speak at the moment and offered him a small nod.

"I can see the surgery went well, you look better already." He made small chit chat to keep the woman comfortable. "I'll just check your stats and leave you to rest alright?" Gohan took the woman’s clipboard from the bottom of the bed and read it over. Seeing that she needed to take painkillers, he put the board back and left the room for a second. Goku followed at his heels like a faithful dog. Since the supply room, containing the medicine, wasn't big enough for both of them to fit; Goku waited outside the door. He looked both ways down each corridor watching the doctors wandering the area. Feeling a brief chill in the air he rubbed his arms lightly. 'This place is really giving me the creeps.' He shuddered.

When Gohan found the correct medicine he turned around and, "Ah!" ran smack into Goku who'd been standing in the doorway, the pill bottle went flying from his hand landing behind him back in the supply room. Goku caught his son before he fell backwards as well.

"Dad!" After Goku let go Gohan hurried to pick the bottle of pills up.

"Ehehe sorry 'bout that, this place is making me nervous." Goku moved far enough away from him so Gohan could get back to the patients room problem free.

"I'm positive no one here is out to get you dad. Just relax and be careful okay?"

Goku answered with a silent salute and followed his son again. The patient had to be shaken gently awake, having dozed off in his absence, in order for Gohan to give her the medication. "Here you are, this should help ease the pain while you sleep." He opened the bottle and took out two pain killers handing them to miss Takata.

"Thank you." A weak feminine voice replied. Gohan took one of the water bottles that had been already sitting on the side table and opened it. Handing it off to the woman, who finished placing the pills in her mouth, he waited for her to drink and took the bottle back placing it back on the table.

'My son the doctor, who'd of thought.' Goku stood back against the wall admiring how well his eldest handled the patient. Everyone always knew Gohan would be something great one day and they were right. He wasn't a licensed doctor just yet but well on his way. Since he was a child the half Saiyan showed great expectations and no one saw this more than Piccolo. Who knew the two would become more than the training partners they were when Gohan was young. Now they had a small home at the outskirts of the city close enough for Gohan to get to and from work on time. Since the fighting had ended and earth was basically at peace, for the time being, Gohan had settled down and made a fight free life for himself with the Namek and Goku couldn't be happier for them.

"I'll check back in later." After making sure the woman was comfortable Gohan motioned for Goku to follow him out. They walked quietly down the hallway, Goku trailing behind a few feet.

Thinking about Gohan's relationship made him think about Goten and Trunks. They too had found their way to each other as more than friends. Although he was happy for his boys, Goku couldn't help but feel a bit forlorn. It's true Goku wasn't the type to really settle down but it didn't mean he didn't want to be with someone. He needed companionship just as much as the next man, for those lonely days and nights. The trouble was, there wasn't anyone out there for Goku no one that could really understand him or be what he needed. Except maybe....

"Anyway dad if you're worried about Vegeta," Gohan began getting back on their original subject. "you should just go see him and it'd give you something to do if you're that bored." He turned the next corner they came to on his way to another bed ridden guest.

"Yeeeah." Drawing the word out, his mind still in a distant place, Goku hadn't noticed his sons change in direction and missed the oncoming nurses and doctors running down the hall with a patient on a stretcher.

"Hey watch out!" A female nurse called out.

"Huh?" Lifting his head the raven haired man saw a stampede of his worst nightmare heading his way. "Haah!" Just before any contact was made Goku leapt out of the way backing himself against a wall shrinking away from the needle carrying mob. "S-s-sorry about that?" He stuttered nervously calling after the stampede as they trampled the corridor like a herd of elephant.

Hearing the commotion Gohan emerged from around the corner. "Daad," his tone was a bit impatient as he silently scolded his father for not paying attention and in a hospital of all places. "I'm kinda busy right now, is there anything else you need?"

"No, but thanks. I'm just gonna go find Vegeta. It was good to see you Gohan." Getting ready for instant transmission, "Stop by the house soon okay?" he waved before fading out. Gohan smiled after his fathers departure. The man was a handful at times but he loved him all the same.

"See ya later dad." Turning around he almost tripped over a boy in a wheelchair coming his way. Sloppily holding his balance Gohan swerved out of the way dancing around the crippled boy. "Heheh, sorry." He cleared his throat regaining his composure and stepped past the bitter looking child. 'Huh, like father like son I guess.' With the realization of their likeness he began to laugh heading back up the hall to his previous destination.

__________

Goku was more than thankful for having learned the IT technique, because he really needed to talk to the other Saiyan right away and not just about his different behavior that morning. That breif talk with Gohan made him realize he did have someone to keep him company during those lonely days. Vegeta. He never truly noticed this until now. He and Vegeta had become friends over the years and often found each other in the others company without even knowing how they got there.

'I must be crazy to even consider Vegeta as a....well, partner, but thinking about it now its' the only thing that makes sense.' The fact that he was worried about Vegeta at all over something so meager told Goku he cared deeply for the other. He'd always cared about his former rival. They were the only two full blooded Saiyans left living after all. Their relationship had a kinship about it. Almost as if they were brothers and friends. Despite the way the prince treated him sometimes, Goku knew Vegeta had to have the same feelings towards him as well or close enough. Not completely positive about how Vegeta viewed their strange friendship Goku was determined to find out.

Landing on the soft grounds in front of C.C, Goku went up the short walkway to the door and knocked loudly. There was no answer. 'Probably didn't hear me. This is a big place after all.' Trying the doorbell that chimed a short unfamiliar melody from a modern day song, he only knew that because Goten raved about it once wishing their humble home had a doorbell that "cool". He waited again... still nothing. 'Or maybe he can hear and he's ignoring me.' His hand instinctively reached for the knob with one turn the door opened with ease. 'Huh that's funny.' Pushing the door completely open Goku walked inside warily as he eyed the area. 'Nothing seems out of place.'

"Vegeta!" He walked around the downstairs checking the living room, kitchen, a study with shelves full of books and the den. He even opened closet doors. Finding nothing, he ended up back in the living room. 'I can't sense his ki anywhere, that, or he's masking it.' Heading up the stairs Goku went from a slow pace to a quicker one feeling suddenly troubled. Getting into the main corridor of the second level he opened any door he saw on the left and right of him. Finding empty guest rooms, a bathroom, closets. "Where is he?" 'Instant Transmission wouldn't have brought me here if Vegeta was in another location, I honed in on him specifically.' Getting to the end of the hall he noticed an open door figuring it'd be Vegeta's bedroom so far in the back. A small smile played on his lips until he noticed something lying on the floor halfway in and out of the doorway. 'Oh no.'

"Vegeta!" He ran quickly to the fallen man and scooped the lithe body up into his arms. "Vegeta? Vegeta?" He shook him vigorously a few times getting no response. Leaning down Goku placed an ear to the small Saiyans parted mouth. "Still breathing, thank Kami." He walked the still figure into the bedroom and placed him gently on the bed.

Sitting beside him, Goku tapped lightly on Vegeta's color drained cheeks hoping to rouse him. "Vegeta..?" He whispered close to his ear. "You have to wake up or I can't help you." The man didn't stir. 'I knew something was wrong and if I know Vegeta he wouldn't just fall asleep on a floor.' Getting a quick light bulb, Goku rose from the bed and went into the bathroom. He looked around for some kind of cold compress not having time to admire the rich setting or technology of the automatic light. Getting to the sink he noticed the bottle of pills sitting open and picked them up. He read the label quietly to himself.

"So maybe he did just fall asleep." Putting the cap back on he placed the bottle in the medicine cabinet. "Now where's a cloth I can use?" Opening the wooden cabinets beside the mirror Goku found what he needed and grabbed the small rag from a pile of others. He turned the cold water on full blast and ran the rag beneath it. Turning the water off he gave the cloth a squeeze to ring out any dripping. Smiling at his progress he returned to the Saiyan prince's bedroom. "This should help." He said. Sitting back down he placed the rag on Vegeta's sweaty forehead. "There." Sighing, he sat back against the elaborately carved headboard and watched Vegeta sleep.

'Guess I won't be having conversations with you now.' He placed a hand behind his head staring straight ahead feeling suddenly uncomfortable. 'Yeah what was I thinking.' He glanced back down at the slumbering Saiyan and his expression suddenly softening. Goku looked over the fine lines of Vegeta's face. Even now there was a slight strain in his features. 'You really are something to look at aren't you.' He complimented in his own way. Unaware of his actions one of Goku's hands rose to caress the smooth skin lying before him but it halted midway when Vegeta began to stir.

"Urgh." Vegeta groaned in a pained way as he began to fidget in his sleep. Goku pulled back watching intently to see what was happening.

....………….

"What happened to me? Where am I?" Vegeta stood from the ground or that's what he assumed was beneath him. He was once again encased in total darkness. His eyes roamed frantically in the dark having nothing to look at. Raising his hands up he couldn't even see the white of his gloves. "What's going on... am I dreaming again?"

Vegeta. The quick whisper was almost missed by his ears but he heard the voice and the annoying hint of laughter behind it. 'I am dreaming... I have to be, but if I know that why I haven't I woken up?' Vegeeetaa... The voice mocked. Vegeta.. hmhmhm 'No, I won't listen.' He sank back down to his knees covering his ears. Prince of Saiyans. Prince of nothing! "I'm not hearing this." He stood and began to stagger blindly, not knowing which way to go, he began running. It was an instant dejavu. This time, however, he ran a bit slower using his hands to feel out in front and around him. Helping him to avoid banging into random placed walls and turning the corners more easily.

You can't ignore us forever. You can't run from us... you are us vegeta, We are you. Hahahahahaha. Just like the previous nightmare he ran to nowhere but anywhere to escape his own self mocking. Once again he placed his foot down and it met with air space, he fell.

"Huah!"

"Uugh!"

Jumping from the nightmare he banged heads with an unsuspecting Goku who'd been leaning in close watching him struggle within his sleep. Goku rubbed at the miniscule pain in his head while Vegeta leaned forward resting his hands beside him on the bed, catching his breath. His eyes came into focus adjusting easily to the comfortable dim lighting of his bedroom.

"You had me worried for a minute." His body flinched at the sudden sound of anothers voice. "That must have been some dream."

'Kakarot?'

"How are you feeling?" Goku stood from the bed giving Vegeta some space, the other Saiyan never moved. Goku watched him with concern.

'Kakarot- how long has he been here, when did he get here? And he was... watching me!' Vegeta turned his head slowly to look up at the other making sure this wasn't just another dream. His surprised and confused eyes met with ones of concern and relief. Vegeta didn't know why his rival was in his room and he didn't want to find out. Who knows what humiliating things happened in his time out that the other witnessed. Feeling suddenly embarrassed and bitter, Vegeta looked away. His hands fisted the blanket beneath him and he growled quietly.

"Uh.. Vegeta?"

"Get out." The words came out in a harsh whisper Goku wasn't even sure he'd heard right.

"Huh?"

"I said get out." This time Vegeta made sure he spoke loud and clear as he glared at the other man. Goku was taken aback but didn't say anything. "Hmph, what are you deaf Kakarot? I said get out."

"But Vegeta you were-"

"I don't want to hear it!" Goku jumped a bit at the sudden change in Vegeta's tone. In a more lowered tone he continued. "Just go."

"I was just worried and-" Seeing no change in Vegeta's stone cold expression Goku shut himself up. Not knowing what else to do, he slowly turned away from the bed and headed for the door. He stopped in the doorway glancing back, Vegeta had dropped his head into his hands. Goku couldn't completely see his expression but it wasn't anger registered on that face. 'What's going on with you Vegeta?' It looked as if Vegeta was going to look up himself and that was Goku's cue to leave before things got any worse.

Looking up to make sure he was alone, Vegeta slowly rose from the bed. He walked to the door and slammed it shut. Still lingering by the stairwell Goku winced from the sharp sound of the door slamming, it was soon followed by loud music coming From Vegeta's room. Vegeta left the stereo and crossed the room again to sit against the bedroom door knees pulled up to his chest. He stared blankly at the bed. His eyes still heavy with sleep and a nauseas feeling swirled around in his stomach. 'Its just a bad dream nothing more, I can handle this on my own.' Even as he spoke his words of confidence, Vegeta could sense something wrong within himself. He tried focusing on the loud music hoping it'd keep the voices in his head away. 'I'll be fine, just don't listen.' The music blared throughout the room but all Vegeta could hear was pathetic... you can't run from us... you are us. Hmhmhmhahaha.