Wow, its been a really long time since I published a chapter. I am so so sorry for that. Things got a little crazy for a bit, but now its Thanksgiving break, and I have a lot more time. I can't say when the next chapter will be up, but I hope its soon. (fingers crossed)
Enjoy this extremely overdue chapter!
Over the next few days, the team adjusted around Keith's illness. They created a new normal, trying to ease each others fears and anxiety's.
Pidge continued to help Keith through physical therapy, with patience. She promised to create a new painkiller as soon as possible.
Hunk made his finest meals in an attempt to help Keith gain back the weight he was losing.
Lance helped out any way he could. He kept his teasing down, and offered to go with Keith down the halls of the castle so he wouldn't be confined to his room. Keith hated to admit it, but his arms tired from wheeling around. Having Lance there made it easier, and he found listening to the blue paladins easy chatter. Though he would never admit it.
Shiro would pepper Keith with questions, and made sure the teen had everything he needed. Sometimes he would sit next to the teen in silence. The black paladins presence was reassuring. Keith could count on him to not tell anyone when he would cry in a moment of frustration, or when he needed a hand to hold.
Allura and Coran did their best in keeping him comfortable. The Alteans informed themselves on the symptoms of the illness. They poured over ancient Altean documents and medical records. Both of them were besides themselves with worry, when, after a sleepless night, Keith dozed off during a check up. Keith assured them he was alright, and they had visibly sighed in relief.
Even as this became the new normal, they all knew it wouldn't last for long. They couldn't escape the inevitable, the fact that Keith was only going to get worse.
It hung over them like a rain cloud, waiting to pour down on them.
Mornings were not kind to Keith. The light would pull at his dark eyelids and force them open. The tingling would return with full force, leaving off where it had been the day before. His legs would cramp, and Keith would have to wait out the painful few minutes as his legs eased.
This morning was no different.
Except it was worse.
Keith relived his routine morning wake up as he had for the past few days. He exhaled when the cramps in his legs released their hold. He took a moment to brace himself for the pain that would ignite when he moved.
He swung his legs over the side of the bed.
Or that was what he intended to do.
In reality, his legs only twitched. Keith frowned, reigning in the panic that waited at the edge of his mind. He tried again, harder. His legs moved a couple centimeters before going still again.
Keith bit his lip, panicked tears filling his eyes. This couldn't be happening. He clutched his legs, willing them to move. Fear set in when he realized he could hardly feel his hands grasping them.
"No, no no." He mumbled, not completely believing the fact that he couldn't feel his legs. "Come on, move." They would not. "Move...move...move!" Keith bit back a sob.
Reality came crashing down on him.
He had known this would happen. His condition had been deteriorating for the past few days. It had only been a matter of time. Keith thought he would be ready. How had he expected to prepare himself for this?
The panic, the anger, the denial.
Keith covered his face with his hands, trying to control his breathing. He had to see Shiro, he would know what to do
With clumsy hands and with a lot of effort, he managed to lift his legs and set them over the edge of the bed. He glanced at the wheelchair across the room by the door. He cursed himself for being so careless and not asking for it to be put by his bed.
Keith knew his legs wouldn't hold him. They were useless now.
Carefully, he lowered himself to the floor, using his arms to support all his weight. He gritted his teeth as his nerves went into a frenzy, a fresh wave of heightened pain washing over him. Keith dug around in the pocket of his sweats, taking out the bottle of pills.
He shook it, realizing it was empty. He had taken the last two pills sometime in the middle of the night when the pain had become unbearable. In anger, Keith threw the bottle across the room. It bounced off the wall and rolled innocently to the side.
Keith inhaled slowly and set his jaw. He stretched himself out on the ground, his legs a crumpled heap behind him. He raised his chest off the ground, bending his arms beneath him. He extended one bent arm, using his forearm to pull himself forward.
Once that arm was back under him, he extended his other folded arm forward, and repeated the process. It was painful, slow, and exhausting. Keith hadn't made it halfway when his arms buckled beneath him.
He managed to prevent his chin from cracking against the ground, catching himself in time. He lay on the ground, breathing hard as sweat gathered on his forehead. Keith slammed a fist against the ground, fighting back angry tears. He was pitiful, pathetic. Raising his head, he glared at the wheelchair still out of his reach. He was not about to be beaten by this illness.
Gritting his teeth, he raised himself on his forearms. The muscles spasmed in protest, the pins and needles in his hands and arms intensified. Pain was making it difficult to concentrate.
Keith only wanted Shiro.
Shiro.
He pulled himself forward, ignoring the stars that danced across his vision. He extended the other arm, and pain exploded in his shoulder, his vision going white. He had a moment of feeling dizzy weightlessness. His vision settled and cleared. Keith found himself on the ground again, his chin stinging. He attempted to move his arms, but white hot pain engulfed his left shoulder. He bit his lip, fighting back tears, and failing miserably. The red paladin gave up, defeated and exhausted.
Sweat and tears rolled down his face. Keith made no move to wipe them away. The pain was almost unbearable. Merciful black was creeping at the edges of his vision. With a soft whimper, Keith gave in, and the darkness surged toward him.
Consciousness came back slowly. His mind was fuzzy, his limbs felt sluggish and numb.
Keith registered the cold of the floor against his the side of his face. The red paladin realized his whole body felt cold. A small shiver went up his spine, disturbing the nerves and sending them into a new frenzy.
The pain spread across him like a tidal wave, merciless and unrelenting. Keith whimpered, not having the energy to do much else.
The sound of the door to his room sliding open reached his cotton filled ears. There was thumping on the ground that aggravated his newly revived headache. Someone was shouting, but the sound was muffled. There was more thumping, and Keith felt as though his head would splinter. He felt miserable, fresh tears escaping his closed eyes.
Someone was speaking softly near his ear.
"...eith?...ear me?"...uddy?"
A hand was placed on his injured shoulder. Keith inhaled sharply, holding back a cry. The hand pulled away.
"Keith? You're ok buddy, I got you."
The voice was clearer now. The teen didn't have the energy to respond. Shiros gentle hands were on him again. They brushed away the hair from Keith's face and kept a reassuring pressure on his back.
"Hunk, get Allura and Coran. Hurry." Shiros hand moved to Keith's forehead. The teen heard him mutter something about a fever. "Lance, get me some water and towels."
Keith whined when Shiro moved his arms around his shoulders and underneath his legs. Shiro apologized softly and gently lifted Keith off the ground. He pulled the red paladin towards his chest. The teen shivered again as Shiros body heat pressed against his side. The man cupped Keith's face, running a thumb over his cheek bone.
"Can you open your eyes for me bud?"
The teen thought for a moment. All he wanted was to go to sleep and be oblivious to the pain, but Shiro sounded worried. He didn't want him to.
"Keith?"
Summing whatever energy he had left, he attempted to open his eyes. He felt them flutter, and spots of light came through.
"That's it buddy. Easy."
Keith struggled for a few more seconds. He whimpered in exhaustion and frustration when his eyes wouldn't cooperate.
"Never mind bud, its ok."
Fingers pressed down gently on Keith's eyelids and the teen stilled.
The sound of several quick footsteps stopped as they drew nearer. There was quiet frantic chatter as a pair of footsteps came closer then the rest. A pause, a rustle of clothing, sloshing water, and a voice near the red paladin. "Here."
Shiros hand left from where it had been carding through Keith's hair. "Thanks Lance."
There was another pause, and then a wet fabric was pressed against his face. Keith flinched, trying to pull away. He jostled his injured shoulder, hissing as it flared. The cloth disappeared quickly.
"Easy, easy. Its ok. Sorry, I should have warned you. Its just water bud." Shiro soothed. The cloth reappeared, carefully wiping away dried sweat and tears.
"What happened?" Lance sounded worried.
The cloth pulled away again.
"I don't know." Shiro said quietly. "Keith? Can you tell me what happened? Whats wrong?"
Keith made a small noise, furrowing his brow. He was too tired for questions. He didn't think he even had the energy to speak.
A hand was in his hair again. Shiro seemed to sense his distress.
"Its all right. You can tell me later, ok? "
The mans hold became a little tighter. He gently pressed Keith's head to his chest. "Rest now."
Keith didn't need to be told twice.
Please review, I would love to hear your thoughts! Constructive criticism is appreciated!
Have a lovely Thanksgiving everyone!
