Goodnight Sweetheart

The leaden skies darkened as the stretcher was wheeled out, into the ambulance. Goku cradled Chi-chi and Goten, as they watched from the rain-washed sidewalk. Tears escaping all of their eyes, they stared after the ambulance as it sped off on its way to the hospital. A strange silence hung over the city, though the cars continued to sound their horns, and person after person escaped the rain. This was a grim time for the Son family, but the accident had been as unexpected as ever; it couldn't happen to Gohan…it just couldn't. Only a matter of hours ago, Gohan had set off on his motorbike for a ride. He had been gone a long time when Bulma had called, sounding shaken and telling Gohan's parents and younger brother that they needed to come to west City; though she did not explain why. Her words tumbled out of her mouth, rushed and frantic – a manner not used by Bulma often. Upon arriving, they had seen the horrific scenario clearly. Though he had survived so many horrific things, life had caught Gohan off guard one too many times. Unconscious, his breathing unsettled and frantic, it was only obvious that he had been involved in the accident considerably. Overcome with grief, the Sons watched as his body bled, waiting for the ambulance.

"C'mon guys…" Bulma said; barely audible as she began to usher them into Capsule Corp.

Inside, Vegeta sat, unmoving and silent. His usual air of pride and arrogance was gone. On a normal occasion, he would be almost certain to call the situation a 'pathetic human accident', but no sound came from his unmoving lips. Trunks was sat in the corner, also apparently dumbstruck. His face was tearstained; he looked paler than his mother, and seemed to be shivering in fear. He was recalling involuntarily the slamming of brakes, the screeching of tyres…and then…then he heard Gohan's agonised yell of distress. He shook even more violently at this point, not noticing as his mother and the Son family sat down. Try as she might, Bulma could not bring herself to heighten the mood. She did not even have to explain. There was a certain iciness in the room, though the heaters were on as warm as they could go. Goku held the sobbing Chi-chi firmly in his warm grip, though he was weeping, too, his cheerful glint gone. Goten remained solitarily hugging his knees, and wondering what would happen to his big brother.

"Tea…" Bulma asked shakily, but received no response. She could not expect anything else. It was unusual for Vegeta to be so subdued, and the same for Trunks. Likewise, Goku had always been so happy, even at the time of his own death, and now, here in front of her sat a different Goku. One who expressed sadness instead of happiness, or in the case of an enemy, anger and determination. It was as if they knew something that she didn't. That was a stupid theory, really. It was obvious that they could tell, like so many times before, whether Gohan was winning or loosing in the battle for life.

Goten twitched sadly from beside his mother.

"Mom," he said, in a voice that did not sound remotely like the happy go lucky seven year old boy that he was..

"I wanna go see Gohan." He sobbed. Chi-chi gasped and shook worse than ever, before uttering a mousy 'no' underneath her breath. Goten knew that he was too young, but he could almost tell that he might not see his brother again.

"I'll take you and Goku if you like." Bulma offered. Just then, Vegeta spoke for the first time all evening.

"And who would stay here? I want to see Gohan too. In case you're wondering, I can tell he's…" Bulma shushed him, mid-sentence. She looked sorrowfully from Goten to Trunks. But she could not pretend that she was not surprised. Vegeta had called Gohan by his name, and not 'Kakarot's first brat' or anything else to that effect. This shook her even more. It was a sign almost, that Gohan's time was growing near.

"We'll all go." She decided. "If Goten is mature enough to ask, I'm sure he'll be able to see Gohan." She sobbed a little, a crystalline tear journeying sadly down her white cheek.

Was this it for him? Surely it couldn't end like this. He had so much left…and yet, here he was, unable to move, and his bandages coated in blood. His eyes were closed, leaving him staring into nothing but the darkness of his own mind. Maybe this is it, maybe I am dying, he thought to himself. Just then, he heard a voice. It seemed to come from far away, but he still remembered it as Goten's. He tried t reach out for his little brother, but his arms would not move. He could no longer sense their ki, but could recognise each voice distinctly from when they spoke to him. Following Goten came his father, telling him that he would pull through. Trunks was next, explaining the way that he had always looked up to Gohan. As Trunks finished speaking, Gohan wanted to weep, but he was only shedding tears of blood.

"Gohan." Said a voice that Gohan wasn't quite sure if he knew or not. The only person it could have been was Vegeta…but Vegeta had never called him Gohan before…at least…not that he could remember. Vegeta's almost consoling words, telling him to live up to his reputation as a Saiyan, and not to give in shocked Gohan. Chi-chi was second last, sobbing heavily. What Gohan would give to tell her it was okay. Her crying and sorrow made him want to grasp life even more firmly. But strangely, Bulma's words touched him most. She told him not to hold on, just for them. If dying would relieve him of the pain, then to leave this plane; they would all see him someday. If dying meant leaving peacefully, and not fighting for his life, he should not worry about leaving – it would be easier for them knowing that he left in peace. Gohan's Ki was fading, his heart rate was slowing…and then…he didn't know what had compelled it, he did not even know how, but his eyelids suddenly parted. He took in the image of those standing around him, before closing them once again. Slowly, his spirit drifted away…to where his father had been many times before.

Goten immediately began to cry worse than his mother. Gohan was…gone. It wouldn't sink in. No. Gohan would come back. He would be fine. Goten shook as Chi-chi picked him up and held him to her, though she looked as if she might collapse at any moment. Goku embraces both of them, crying himself. There was no way for him to lighten the situation. Not now. It did not feel like 2am. Time was standing still for them, also united in their grief. Vegeta stood, remarkably like a statue, holding on to Bulma and Trunks. Though he had done before, the prince could not cry for shock. Gohan had fought so many enemies, beaten Cell, only to be repaid for it by dying in a motorbike accident. It didn't add up.

"He's not in pain now…" Bulma sobbed into Vegeta's torso. She was as upset by the death as anyone. Memories kept flashing through her mind of the first time she had met Gohan…their journey to Namek together with Krillin…finding Cell in the time machine…the Cell games…him in his Saiyaman costume…He had been such a promising scholar, and such a promising fighter. So how come it had happened? How could fate have been so cruel as to take him? Bulma cried harder, her tears staining Vegeta's chest.

Gohan's body lay there, drenched in blood and expressionless. He had left so many loved ones behind without him, and for what? A motorbike ride ending in tragedy.