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Dude Looks Like A Lady	By : RavenPan Category: Dragon Ball Z > General Views: 2412 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own DragonballZ, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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Innocence is Futile
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Dude Looks Like A Lady
By Raven Pan and Alison Sky
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Chapter Fifty-Nine
April 8, 799 Sunday
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It was mid morning, and Goten was still sleeping when Trunks finally realised he should check his pager. Upon doing so, he groaned. "Three... four... five... damn."

Gohan was reading the paper. "What's wrong?"

"Huh?" Trunks looked up. "Oh, Noriko - I just remembered I was supposed to take her out the friday night, but... well it looks like I stood her up and she's been trying to contact me," he sighed.

Gohan cringed. "That's not good. Why don't you go call her, I'll stay with Goten."

"Yeah, I better do that now - I'm in enough trouble as it is... th Goh Gohan," Trunks got up, frowning at his pager as he headed out the room and to the payphone a few metres down the hall. Swiftly, he dialed in her number.

"Rizon residence, Noriko speaking," a soft tired voice answered.

"Noriko, it's Trunks."

"Well hello," she said. "How are you?"

"Tired. Listen, I'm really sorry about the other night, Noriko," Trunks's voice was soft with regret.

"What happened? I mean, you didn't even call or anything, Trunks!"

"My roomate's in hospital," He said, running a hand through his hair. "I found him unconscious in the hallway."

"Oh gods!" she gasped. "What happened?"

"A really bad case of pneumonia, he only just woke up briefly earlier this morning," Trunks said. "I'm sorry I didn't call you sooner but..." he hoped she would understand.

"Well... I guess that's ok... I mean, I was just worried, you know..."

"I know, I'm really sorry," Trunks leaned back against the wall. "He's still not totally out of the woods yet, though."

"Do you want me to come over and keep you company?"

"No no!" he said quickly. "I appreciate the thought but, no... that'd be a bad idea." He was pretty sure it'd just set Goten off worse....

"How come?" she asked, her voice curious.

"It just is," Trunks sighed. "He..." he sighed and shook his head, jamming his hand through his hair again. "I'm sorry Noriko, it'd just be better if you weren't here right now."

Noriko sighed. "Fine, I guess... but call me soon, ok? I have tickets to Le Mis this weekend, and I was hoping you'd come with me."

"I'll do my best, Nori - When do you need to know if I can make it?"

"Wendsday, so if you can't go, I can get someone else," she stated.

Trunks nodded, "Yeah, I'll let you know. I'm really sorry to put a kink in plans."

"It's ok," she said softly, a little put out, but what could she do, right?

"You're awesome Nori - I'll make it up to you," he promised. "I have to get going now, though...."

"Sure. Take care, Trunks." -=click=-

He sighed, hanging up the phone, and made his way back to Goten's room, log tog to see if he was awake at all.

Which he was, both the nurse and Gohan working to help Goten sit up a bit so that they could give him something to drink.

Trunks swiftly entered, moving to help as well, "Hey Chibi...."

Goten looked at Trunks and gave a weak smile.

The nurse smiled. "We're going to change Goten over to just an oxygen pump, and not a full mask... it'll let him start taking in food on his own, and hopefully move him along in being able to get home."

He sighed in relief, giving Goten a small grin, "You always were a quick healer."

"Runs in the family," Gohan chuckled.

The nurse nodded. "Now, if one of you would be so kind as to hand me the tubing, I'm going to change over Goten's mask..."

Trunks reached for it, bringing it to the Nurse.

The nurse carefully lifted the mask off of Goten's face, then handed it to Gohan as she took the tubing from Trunks anappeapped it over each ear, then let the tiny two tubes go into his nose. "Comfortable?" she asked Goten, who nodded.

Trunks stood back, his hands loosely wrapped around the guardrails.

"Ok... now, if you two promise not to drown him, I'm going to get some broth sent up from the kitchen for Goten to drink. But go slow, Goten... you haven't had food for a few days, so your stomach will be iffy."

Trunks chuckled, "We promise."

"Yeah, his mother would kill us," Gohan chuckled.

"Good. It'll be up here in a bit." The nurse smiled, then left, the door still opened. Goten was wiggling his nose, trying to get used to the tubes there.

"Those things tickle, don't they," Trunks sympathised, leaning a bit so he could cross his arms on the guardrail.

Goten nodded. "Just a bit..." he spoke slowly, but his voice was broken and scratchy and barely audible.

&;Not;Not yet, Goten... wait till you get some liquid in you before you try to talk," Gohan said softly, stroking Goten's hair gently.

Trunks nodded, already chagrinned that he'd made Goten speak. His pager still in hand, he put it back on his belt and looked at the coverlet.

Soon an orderlye ine in with a tray that he put onto the side table. It was a bowl of soup, along with two packets of apple juice and some jello. "Enjoy," he said, and walked off.

Gohan looked at the food and sighed. "Guess when they say bland..."

"Looks tastier than the stuff they tried to feed me," Trunks muttered, going to open up the packets and uncover the food.

Goten just wrinkled his nose... he was NOT going to eat that.

Gohan saw that look and recognized it. "Goten..." she stated.

"I promise I'll smuggle you in something later - but you have to have something, Chibi," Trunks looked at him worriedly. "You've hardly eaten...."

Goten clamped his mouth shut and shook his head.

"If you don't eat, you won't get better, and they won't let you out of here so you can have some decent food... like that roast eel you like so much, or the dino-steak I'm sure we can get your mom to make for you...."

Goten shook his head again. The one reason Goten never got sick was because he did NOT like being a patient... he was good being the caregiver, but did not like being taken care of.

Trunks sighed.

Gohan sighed as well. "Do not make me call Mom, Goten."

Goten whimpered, but shook his head no.

"I guess I should call your folks anyway," Trunks stepped back. "Tell them to let the kids know they're not gonna see us for a while."

Goten whimpered, giving Trunks his puppy eyes, begging him not to make him eat the food.

"Please?"

Goten just lowered his head, defeated.

Gohan chuckled. "Save the jello for last... it should have some flavour..."

Trunks pushed the table so it was over the bed and in reach of Goten. "Don't make me spoon feed you," he chuckled.

"Might be best to anyways," Gohan said. "He's been asleep so long, he'd probably tremble enough to get the soup on him more than in him."

Goten jusot hot his brother turned sister a glare.

Trunks sniggered.

Goten shot the same glare at Trunks, then pursed his lips shut.

Trunks sighed. "C'mon Goten - the sooner you get better, the sooner you can come home."

Goten's eyes got soft for a moment, then he sighed and nodded.

Trunks half smiled. "Thanks," he said, picking up the bowl and spoon and going to help Goten with it.

Goten whimpered, but opened his mouth obediently.

And Trunks began to carefully feed Goten his meal.

Goten took a sip, then coughed and looked at the bowl of soup with more hatred than anything else. Gohan just laughed.

"Careful there."

There weren't any more incidents, for the most part, in getting Goten fed. Soon the containers lay empty on the table, pushed out of the way, and Trunks was again in his seat next to the bed.

"Yuck," Goten whispered, his voice low but a bit better.

"We've eaten worse - this stuff is about on par with dorm food."

"Never again."

"Well, at least one more time... you're going to need dinner." Gohan pointed out.

"No."

"You'll get sick again," Trunks frowned.

Goten just wrinkled his nose. At that moment, Gohan's pager went off. "Uh oh, time to check in with the evil witch of a wife I have..." she chuckled. "I'll be back in a bit." Gohan ruffled Goten's hair, then walked out

Trunks chuckled, shaking his head. "Those two," he sighed, looking up at Goten from where he sat. "You really scared me, you know."

"Sorry..." Goten said softly... suddenly becoming a bit uncomfortable.

"Why didn't you say something, if you weren't feeling well?" he asked.

"Didn't think.. was serious..." Goten whispered.

"Yeah," Trunks sighed, resting his chin on his arms. "But you almost died... it's better to be safe than sorry, y'know?"

Goten just sighed and looked towards the window. "Sure..."

"Please? If not for me, for the kids." Trunks pleaded.

"Sure."

Trunks sighed in relief, still watching Goten.

Goten leaned back against the pillows, then started to cough, curling forward as his body shuddered with each cough.

Trunks was up instantly, hitting a buzzer for the Nurse as he rubbed Goten's back... frightened.

The nurse came running. "Oh dear, just what I thought was going to happen." She grabbed the mask and pulled the tubes from Goten's nose, putting the mask back on and turning the nebulizer on. "We tried this a bit too early."

Trunks frowned, "Well why can't you get your acts together!" he snapped, stress and sleeplessness wearing him thin.

"Until you get a medical degree, Mister Briefs, I suggest you hold your tongue," the nurse stated sharply, reaching for the needle on the bedside table, filling it with the antibiotic.

Trunks was unable to hold back the snarl that came to his lips. "You just make sure he gets the best care you've got," he threatened.

"TRUNKS BRIEFS!" Gohan's female, but still very autoritive voice echoed in the room as she stood in the doorway.

The nurse just shook her head, injecting the medicine into n's n's arm.

Trunks shot a glare at Gohan, but held his tongue... for the moment.

Goten's coughs lessened, and his eyes flittered closed as he fell into an exhusted sleep. The nurse did a quick check of his vitals and nodded. "Maybe we'll try again tomorrow, but we'll keep the mask on tonight." She looked at Trunks. "Help me lower the bed back down so he can sleep."

Trunks nodded sharply, doing as he was asked.

Gohan walked into the room, watching from along the wall and Goten was laid back down and the nurse tucked him in. "Please, don't let him get too upset if he wakes up... that can set off an attack." The nurse looked at Gohan, "You two really should get some rest of your own."

"I'm actually going to head home for the night... I trust Trunks will behave himself though."

Trunks worked his jaw but said nothing, in stead nodding sharply.

"Good, dearie. Spending too much time here can get on anyone's nerves." She looked at Trunks, then ran a hand along Goten's hair. "I'll be back in the morning to check on you three."

"Hn... you do that," Trunks muttered, still upset.

Goten whimpered a bit in his sleep, shiftincomncomfortablly. Gohan walked over and ran a hand along Goten's hair. "That was uncalled for, Trunks, and you know it."

"How was it uncalled for?" Trunks hissed.

"That woman has done nothing but the best for Goten, and you snapped at her like this was her fault," Gohan said in a soft but warning tone.

"She should have known better than to take Chibi off the nebuliser if he couldn't handle it - she even said so herself!"

"She is a nurse, not a doctor... and she only follows what a doctor tells her to do, first off. Second, Goten was fine until I left the room... what did you two talk about? You ever think that maybe that set him off?" Gohan stared at Trunks, also very protective of her little brother.

"All I did was ask him, if he ever felt poorly, to please tell someone and not let it get so bad," Trunks muttered, "...and that he'd scared me."

"You know Goten, Trunks... he'd rather die than admit he's weak.." Gohan said softly. "He already has to deal with being the youngest, softest, and weakest of our lot... this is just a bad reminder to him."

"Bad reminder? You don't seem too concerned that he almost DIED! I don't see YOU at your wit's end!"

Gohan looked at Trunks, a dark glare that if Gohan still had her powers, would have been accompanied by a flicker of mystic red lightning. "I hide my concern much better than you do, Trunks Briefs. Do not attempt to take apart my emotions."

"AND you're going home," Trunks hissed. "If you care so much, why aren't you staying here?"

"Because I trust YOU enough to care for Goten... or do you think I should stay, if I can't trust you anymore," Gohan stated.

Trunks just snarled.

"Damnit, Trunks, will you settle down already!" Gohan sighed. "You're acting like a three year old."

"I almost lost the most important person in my LIFE Gohan, how do you EXPECT me to react!?!?"

"Like an adult," Gohan stated firmly, crossing her arms over her chest. "Keeping your calm, and listening to the people who, right now, know a hell of a lot more than you do."

"Excuse me for caring," Trunks growled. "Just go home to your family Gohan," he narrowed his eyes.

"And yours. I'm going there because Mom and Dad want to come here, and Videl can't watch the kids alone," Gohan stated. "But I will be back in the morning."

Trunks's features softened a little at that. He nodded, "Fine then. Tell the kids their Papa's just fine," he didn't mention himself.

"I will." Gohan sighed, then place a hand on Trunks' shoulder. "Please, Trunks... try and get some real rest... you've been running on adrenaline for days now... you're going to crash and we don't need you in a bed next to Goten, ok?"

"I'll be fine."

Gohan squeezed Trunks' shoulder. "Ok then. I'll see you tomorrow." With that, Gohan walked out, stopping to talk to the nurse a moment, and then disappered down the hall.

Trunks paced the room for the next quarter hour, restless...then finally sat in the chair beside the bed again. For five minutes, before he was up and pacing like a caged animal once more.

Soon another nurse walked in, carrying a nice pot of coffee and a mug. "Mister Briefs?" she asked softly.

"Hm?" he looked up, pausing in his pacing.

"Your friend suggested that we bring you up some coffee since you can't get downstairs to the cafeteria..." she placed the tray on the table.

"Oh... thanks," he half nodded, moving over to it. "Thank you."

"No problem. Take care and sleep well." The nurse smiled slightly, then walked out, closing the door behind her.

He snorted, "Yeah, sleep... not on this watch sister," he muttered, taking the coffee. He paused, looking at it a moment. Then, he sniffed it. It didn't seem off. Maybe she was just making bad assumptions - and he was indeed thirsty.

He poured a cup, black, and drank it down before pouring another and doing the same. The third cup, he moved and sat down in the chair, a little jittery as he drank this cup a bit more slowly. It had a sweet tang to it - he'd have to ask what brand they used.

He blinked, sitting back in the chair as he drank the coffee. He yawned, blinking hard once more. "Must be decaf." He shook his head swiftly, trying to wake himself up. His eyelids grew heavy against his will. "Maybe ten minutes won't hurt..." he muttered to himself as his eyes closed.

One leg drawn up, his hand resting across his thigh, the other leg stretched out. His head leaning against the wall, the last few drops of coffee spilled to the floor as his hand dropped to the side.

The nurse peeked her head back in and smiled. She brought a pillow and blanket, carefully propped Trunks up a bit more comfortably, then tucked him in with the blanket. She removed the cup and decanter, "Hmm.idn'idn't think it'd take that much sedative to knock him out", and started out. "Night night," she whispered, and dimmed the lights before she shut the door almost all the way.

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Dude Looks Like A Lady