Sven Holgersson hated MedTech. He hated the smells, the hushed voices, the beeping machinery . . . it all took him back to the darkest period in his life, when everything he knew was torn from him, when his life and who he was changed irrevocably. But he loved his brothers, almost as much as he loved his elske, and so he came once a week to visit his broken brother, to give respite where he could.

Maybe it was that he knew Keith better than most; maybe it was that he wasn't on Arus every day. But on his second visit after Keith's awakening, he realized something wasn't . . . right with his former captain. Keith had always been patient to a fault, and rarely short or cross in his dealings with other people. But now, as Sven watched, it seemed his oldest friend had been replaced with a stranger. Keith frequently threw things across the room, smashed his paralyzed arm against the bed rails, and even though he never spoke, Sven didn't have to interpret his sign language to know he was being brusque and rude with the MedTech staff and everyone else unfortunate enough to cross his path. Lance seemed oblivious in his joy at having Keith awake, but Sven was worried. Which led him to Dr. Gorma's office.

The Royal Physician looked up in surprise at the knock on his door. "Commander Holgersson! What a surprise! Please, come in; what can I do for you?"

Sven dropped into a chair with none of his usual grace. "You can tell me about Keit's personality problem, und vhy it is not being addressed."

Dr. Gorma eyed him for a minute. "You know I cannot talk to you about the Captain's condition. And if anyone should be expressing concern, it is Captain McClain."

"Except Lance is so overjoyed, understandably so, to haf Keit back he is seeing none of de problems," Sven countered bluntly. "Und it has to be addressed. Keit has not hurt anyvon . . . yet. But he very vell could, und I tink you know dat as vell as I do." Sven sat forward, concern in his grey eyes. "Dr. Gorma. . . Miklos . . . please. I ask as deir oldest friend. Talk to me. Perhaps together ve can see an answer."

Gorma pulled his glasses off and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Personality changes are not uncommon with traumatic brain injury. The fact that Captain Kogane is, and most likely will continue to be, severely handicapped by his body's new limitations, only exacerbates those changes."

Sven nodded grimly. "So haf I seen. Und you haf said noting of dis to Lance. Vhy?"

"You said it yourself, Commander; Captain McClain is overjoyed to have Captain Kogane amongst the living once more. And unprofessional and derelict of my duty as it may be. . ." Gorma sighed. "I could not bear to deprive him of that joy before it was absolutely necessary."

"I cannot fault you." the former Blue Lion pilot toyed with the signet ring on his left hand before meeting the doctor's gaze again. "But Keit is a time bomb. He vill hurt somevon badly soon. Lance needs to hear dis."

"I am aware, Commander. He will not be happy."

Sven made a face. "You haf a talent for understatement, Doctor. But I vill help you. Und keep him from taking his anger out on you or anyvon else. Let me call him."

Lance, unaware of the conversation in MedTech, had had a good morning. Davidan had expressed an interest in being a backup pilot, if not replacing Allura entirely, and so Lance had taken him out in Red, showing him the ropes and testing his ability. The Prince Consort had proven to be a competent pilot, if not as flashy as Lance himself, and Red approved of him. So, it was a very cheerful Captain who walked into his husband's room, a smile on his lips. "Good morning, dorogoi!"

Keith, clearly just back from physical therapy, glared at him, the glare deepening to a scowl as he took in Lance's uniform, eyes lingering on the captain's pips on the other man's collar. "Maybe for you, CAPTAIN," his fingers flew. "Have a good flight? Enjoying yourself while I'm out of the way? Or maybe you were finding my replacement—in the cockpit AND your bed. If you haven't already."

The words were no less venomous for being signed; Lance rocked back as though struck. "What the hell are you talking about? There is not and will never be anyone but you in my bed. I LOVE YOU. I've waited two years for you. Yeah, I'm looking for another pilot, I fucking HAVE to. But not to replace you; NOBODY can replace you. You're always going to be part of this team! If you don't believe me, ask Black!"

Keith snarled soundlessly. "ASK Black? That's a good one. He hasn't said a damned thing to me since I woke up. Guess he replaced me too. Get out, Lance. I'm tired."

Lance's jaw hit the floor. "WHAT? Dorogoi, what do you mean he hasn't said anything? You don't hear him at all?"

"I SAID GET OUT!" Keith erupted from the bed, swinging his good hand in a vicious backhand that caught Lance off guard and sent him sprawling. "Don't pretend you don't know; don't try to make nice. You got captain, you're the big man now. Go screw whoever's warming your bed, leave me alone!"

Stunned, all Lance could do was stare at his husband in disbelief, one hand cradling his jaw. Keith turned his back, climbing into bed and pulling the covers over himself completely.

Thirty seconds after Lance hit the floor, Sven sprinted into the room, Gorma on his heels. "Gud i himmeln," he breathed, taking in the scene. "Vhat in all hells happened here?"

"He hit me," Lance whispered brokenly. "Accused me of cheating on him, of replacing him on the team . . . then HIT me. ME, Sven!"

The Norwegian sighed, extending a hand to help Lance up. "Go talk to Allura, min bror. I vill talk to Keit, den come find you, ja?"

Lance, eyes suspiciously bright, slowly nodded, throwing a pleading glance towards the bed before fleeing the room. Sven watched him go impassively, then moved to sit within Keith's line of sight. "Explain. NOW. Lance lufs you more dan his own life; for two years, his life vas dis room. Dat bed. Dis chair. How could you tink he vould EVER replace you?" Sven knew the answer was his brother's injury, but wanted to see what rationale Keith would come up with.

A hand emerged from the blankets. "Don't try and take his side. I KNOW. Go away, Sven. I'm tired, don't feel like fucking with you people anymore, and don't owe you a damned THING."

"I am taking novon's SIDE. Und I am going novhere until you talk to me, Keit Kogane." A low growl was Sven's only warning as Keith surged up from the bed, right fist sailing for Sven's jaw as it had Lance's earlier. Sven caught it, face expressionless. "I am also not Lance McClain; I VILL NOT allow you to strike me, und I VILL hit back if I must. Do not push, min bror."

Keith glared for a minute, then abruptly went limp and fell back into the bed. Dr. Gorma, forgotten in the moment, stepped from behind him serenely, syringe still in his hand. "He'll be out for a few hours, Commander. I suggest you use that time to gather your team and decide on a course of action."

Lance had wandered from MedTech in a daze, completely unaware of where he was going or the looks he was getting, until a slender hand touched his arm. "Lance? Lance, what happened to you? Please, say something!" He blinked, startled to find himself sitting in the Royal Suite, a very worried Allura peering down at him. "There you are," she breathed in relief, handing him a glass. "Drink; it's Father's Arcturian brandy, and you look like you could use it." Lance drank it in one shot, hardly noticing, then downed the refill Allura wordlessly gave him before slumping in his chair. Allura knelt before him, her hands clasping his. "Can you talk about it, aniki?" she asked softly.

Lance gently squeezed her hands and took a ragged breath, then another. "I went to see Keith after practice. He. . . gods, he was horrible." He swallowed, trying to steady his voice and nerves. "He accused me of replacing him, on the team AND in my bed. The things he said, 'Lura. . .so hateful; I've NEVER heard such from him, never! And then. . . when I didn't leave fast enough. . ." his voice failed, and one hand came up to trace the darkening bruise on his jaw. Allura gasped, but he barely heard as he fought himself. "My Keith. . ." he whispered brokenly. "He's gone, I've lost him. I waited so long for him. . .And now. . . . " The tears he had been fighting finally overpowered him, and his body shook with grief.

Allura didn't hesitate. She scrambled into the seat next to Lance and wrapped her arms around him, whispering soothingly as tough, brash, Lance McClain had the breakdown she'd been expecting for two years. As he cried into her blouse, she silently cursed the Drules and the indifferent Fates for breaking such a strong man, for destroying Keith, and wondered just what was to be done about it all.