Hey guys!

First of all, I just gotta say, the response to this completely blew me away! Y'all are amazing and every favourite, follow, and review is extremely appreciated!

As usual, I've responded to the reviews in DMs.

To SpiritFighter208, since your DMs are disabled, I'll just respond here:
Haha, me too! I hope you enjoy this chapter just as much!
To the Guest:
Thank you! Don't worry, there's plenty more angst to come!

Alrighty, without further ado, here's the next chapter!

WARNINGS: Some violence, nothing too graphic, but it's there, more needles, and angst

Pidge woke up on hard ground. Remembering where she was, she bolted upright, eyes darting around frantically. How could she have fallen asleep? They could have done anything to her. The thought send another surge of panic through her and she immediately examined her sleeve. She let out a long breath at the single hole in her sleeve. Either they had amazing aim or they hadn't given her any more injections.

But she still didn't know what the first dose had done. Taking a moment to notice how she felt, she didn't notice anything strange. Maybe it was a slow-acting drug? Or it could have been the reason the fell asleep. Quiznak, what if she hadn't been asleep but she couldn't remember it?

Shuddering at the thought, she put her hand over the hole in her sleeve. She wanted to just stop thinking. All it was doing was stressing her out more.

Feeling stir-crazy, she got up and stretched. The position she had - hopefully - been sleeping in probably wouldn't have been recommended by a physical therapist, but she supposed the rest would come in handy anyway. Better to rest now than once things get started. Another thought she didn't want to dwell on.

Looking at the clear wall, she saw her fellow paladins sitting near the back wall. Upon closer inspection, she realised Shiro's mouth was moving. He was taking turns to look at each of them, but Lance wouldn't meet his gaze.

Pidge wished she could hear what they were saying. She'd be less scared if she was in there with them.

Although that probably meant that someone else would be in her place, and she definitely didn't want that.

She continued to stare at the others, trying to figure out what they were talking about.

Keith was the one speaking now, his expression stoic. That was his mission face but, considering their situation, that didn't actually tell Pidge much.

After a moment, everyone's face suddenly turned towards Lance, who stared bitterly at the ground. It took Pidge a tick to realise he must have said something. She briefly wondered if he was mad at them, but Hunk put a hand on his shoulder, his face sympathetic.

Perhaps they were discussing what they thought was going to happen then? She could picture Lance saying the blunt truth everyone was thinking but no one wanted to say. Especially with the way he wasn't looking at any of the others.

She let out a sigh and sat against the opposite wall, using the others as a distraction. They seemed to have slipped into regular conversations. Or as regular as their conversations ever were.

Lance looked like he wasn't in the mood to talk, but Hunk's mouth was still moving. Eventually, Hunk started smiling slightly as he talked and Lance's mouth twitched upwards. He finally looked up at Hunk, a small smile on his face and Pidge thought she made out the words "thank you" from his lips. Shiro smiled at Hunk too.

Pidge couldn't keep herself from a small smile too. She wasn't sure what specifically Lance had been upset about considering how many things it could have been - gosh their lives were screwed up - but leave it to Hunk to be able to cheer up anyone. She just hoped that he was taking care of himself too.

The time passed slowly and Pidge had long since given up trying to figure out what they were saying. Instead, she found herself making up dialogue between them.

'Hunk, we need this chicken out in five minutes but I can't find the seasoning!' She thought, watching Lance's arm wave in the air, emphasising whatever he was saying. His back was now to her, so for all she knew, that could be what he was saying. Pidge let out a weak chuckle at the thought.

Hunk shrugged, his face seeming uncertain. 'Perhaps it's in the other cabinet?' Pidge applauded herself mentally when the sentence lined up with how long his mouth moved.

Shiro walked over, looking slightly on edge. Pidge smiled, and thought. 'Guys? The emo guy is still waiting for his order..." He glanced back at Keith, who was sitting stoically in the corner.

Hunk and Lance glanced at each other. And Pidge couldn't help but laugh at how perfectly it lined up with her subtitles. "What should we do, Chef Hunk?" She said in her best impression of Lance, aloud this time.

Hunk glanced at Keith quickly and Pidge took on a conspiratory voice. "We'll just have to give him it without the seasoning."

Pidge was almost disappointed when the others didn't all dramatically gasp, but she did it anyway, throwing her heart over her chest to emphasise the drama. Hunk looked up at Shiro, his face set. "It's what has to be done."

Keith looked like he was about to talk and Pidge grinned, excited to add in more drama, but then everyone froze and turned to the door. Pidge's smile immediately fell as six guards entered, one holding a knife and five holding guns, already glowing.

The previous amusement completely left Pidge and her gut twisted. What were they going to do to them? Were they going to take another paladin to experiment on too?

Lance looked like he was shouting, the hatred back in his eyes. The guard smiled and Pidge's heart stopped when he glanced in her direction. She could have sworn that he looked directly at her, his grin crooked and filled with malice.

Her breathing got faster. What were they going to do?

The guard sneered something at Lance and he jumped to his feet, looking even angrier than before. The guard motioned and one of the other Galra approached Lance threateningly. The other paladins all looked ready to pounce, but each had a gun on them. Lance glared at the guard, saying something with a smirk. Suddenly, a fist connected with his jaw and Pidge found herself rushing to the wall, screaming.

The rest her team all were shouting too, but she hardly noticed, her attention completely on Lance. His face was contorted with pain, but only for a moment. His glare was back in place as the guard started speaking again.

Keith was the one who shouted something next, looking like he was replying to whatever the Galra had just said. Were they questioning them? Pidge clenched her fist, knowing Lance would never say anything.

The guard glanced back in her direction with a grin and Pidge suddenly knew what was coming. She started pounding against the wall, not even knowing what she was screaming.

Desperation filled her as the Galra soldier brought the knife to Lance's leg. She punched the wall as her as she could, throat aching and not even noticing the pain resonating through her wrist. Lance fell and she pounded harder. She has to help him! She has to do something!

But she could only watch as the guard pulled the blade back, the blood on the tip making it clear that the cut had been fairly deep. With a final comment, the guard led the others out and Pidge slid to the ground with relief.

The others were immediately at Lance's side, Shiro pushing his hand against the wound. Lance instinctively tried to squirm away, but Keith and Hunk forced him to remain still, everyone's face clouded with guilt.

Suddenly, her own door swung open, catching her by surprise. She thought she could faintly hear Lance's cries of pain before the three Galra walked in and close the door.

Her eyes widened as she recognised the last guard as the one who had just been interrogating Lance. He grinned, the same crooked one from earlier. "Enjoy the show?"

Pidge growled, launching herself at him, but the other Galra intercepted it, grabbing her by the wrists. She let out a scream as they squeezed her injured wrist.

To her surprise, the soldier shifted his grip at this, holding her arm a little higher than before. He examined her wrist almost gently. "It's fractured." He said flatly.

The guard laughed. "I'll take that as a yes then. Hold her still." He brought out another syringe and Pidge fought to get away, kicking and screaming.

It wasn't enough though.

The fight went out of her as the needle entered Pidge's good arm. She squeezed her eyes shut, not wanting to watch. "What are you doing to me?"

Nobody answered though, simply shoving her to her the ground and leaving.

Alrighty! That's all for this chapter! I hope you enjoyed it!

I figured I'd give you a little bit of fun before I plunge you into the pure angst and hurt/comfort of the next couple chapters. (;

So, with Whumptober, I'm probably going to having the chapters to this story a little more spaced out than usual, but I'll also probably be posting a lot of other fics between. Definitely more posting per week then usual.

Anyway, thanks again! Favourites, follows, and reviews are always greatly appreciated! (: