Title: This is so Die Hard

Chapter: 10

Rated: T for violence and language

Author's Notes: Shiro thinks I knocked him out because I am uncomfortable writing his voice…he might be right -Set near the end of season 2

Keith came out of the pods next. Hunk and Pidge had a warmed blanket ready for him. As soon as he warmed up, though he was off to check the castle. He needed to see for himself that it was clear and that the lions were okay. Hunk made him put on his paladin armor and wear his helmet so that he had a constant communication line.

"Where are you know Keith?" Hunk asked. He was asking about every fifteen dobashes.

"Still on my way back from Yellow's hanger. The ship is still there like you said. It's empty and I made sure it is completely powered down, so it shouldn't be a threat. I would still feel better after you and Pidge give it a thorough look through, either that or we jettison it into space and blow it up." Keith growled. He did not like the feeling that Hunk was checking up on him constantly. He wasn't one to be micromanaged, but then Hunk was a little nervous. Hunk had threated to put some kind of tracker on his armor before he left but Keith had said the radios would be enough. He wished he could find some bad guys to beat the snot out of or shoot or run through with his sword. He had anger that really needed dealing with before he blew his top.

To be honest he was still worried about Shiro, but sitting and waiting for him was going to end with him yelling at Pidge or Hunk and they didn't deserve it. He decided maybe he was going to run to Black's hanger next.

Keith had run to each lion's hanger. The Lions were all seated and not active. Seeing them this way helped Keith to release some of his tension and worry. If there was someone still in the castle he didn't think they would have shut down. He was sweating and out of breath. He made to the control room and did a double check on the alarms. He found everything in place. Hunk had said Allura had locked it all up, but he needed to see for himself. Too much had gone wrong and he had spent too long today without any control over what was happening. He spotted a glare on the floor and bent down to pick up Pidge's glasses. They must have knocked them off of her face.

"Keith?"

"Yeah, Hunk." Keith had become resigned to the frequent check-ins.

"About 20 dobashes and Shiro should be out. Coran just woke up as well."

"On my way. Thanks, Hunk!" Keith grinned and decided he could run a little further.

Shiro stepped out of the pod into Keith's waiting arms.

"Hey, Shiro."

Shiro really wished that he had any idea of why he was in the pod, or how he got in the pod, or why Allura was sleeping in a pile of blankets or why Lance was in another pod. He almost feel on his backside as his brain failed at trying to process the gap in his memory.

"Easy, there, Number one. Have a seat. Number two bring him one of those food bars and a hydration pack. His body has been almost a day and a half without liquid or nutrition." Coran eased Shiro over to an exam table and helped him sit up on it.

"Coran, I…what…how?" Shiro looked around.

"Easy now, Number one. I have a few questions." Coran ran Shiro through a series of fact questions while he ran a scan over his head. He checked his reflexes and had him perform a series of exercises that looked and sounded ridiculous, but when questioned he was adamant that they were necessary. Finally he finished and gave Shiro a grin, "I am happy to report, no brain damage."

"Brian damage?" Shiro stared at Coran in horror, what had happened here.

"Shiro, what's the last thing you remember?" Pidge pushed her glasses up on her nose and touched his knee.

"I remember getting ready for the Nitomian delegation. I was in my room. I don't remember getting hurt, or anyone else, why are we here?" Shiro was confused and frowning. He was a little panicked actually, but there is no way he would let that show to his team. Lost memories wasn't something he was unfamiliar with, but in his experience that usually meant very bad things had happened.

"Okay, first, you've been unconscious for most of what happened, so you're not missing as much time as you think." Pidge tried to reassure him and in an odd way it did.

"I thought you weren't supposed to tell amnesia patients what happened? Doesn't it mess with them getting back their memories?" Hunk asked.

"I don't think it would hurt, Hunk. He's not missing much time where he was awake like Pidge said." Keith didn't like seeing Shiro this way. He knew him well enough to read the fear he was hiding.

They spent the next several dobashes going over what had happened from each of their perspectives. Shiro asked questions and put it together in his mind. Their were parts and pieces missing because Lance was still out, but Shiro was getting a pretty clear picture of what had happened. His heart pained him when he realized how much pain each of them had dealt with. His fear spiked when he looked back at Lance in the pod, from Keith's description Lance had been forced to kill multiple enemies at close quarters. He couldn't remember if any of their past missions had put him in that kind of situation, but he didn't think so. Being able to deal with enemy deaths from afar was very different than dealing with it face to face.

"Okay, so Allura locked down the castle, Keith did a parameter check, and we are completely secure, correct?" There were nods all around. "Coran how long until Lance is out?"

"Oh well, it looks like at least another quintant maybe two." Coran answered checking the pad on Lance's pod.

"Alright, Pidge, I need you to go repair whatever you had to undo to let the particle barriers down." Pidge nodded but looked nervous.

"Keith, until we feel a little safer I want you to keep an eye on Pidge." Pidge looked embarrassed, but relieved. Keith nodded seriously.

Shiro smiled. Those two needed something active to do and that would keep them busy for awhile.

"Hunk, can you get some clothes down here to be ready for Lance and then we can work on getting a meal ready for everyone tonight."

Hunk nodded and then laughed, "As long as you promise to not touch any actual food. Keith told me you burned tea."

"He did, did he?" Shiro gave Keith a glare.

"Hey Pidge, lets get to work." Keith hurried Pidge out the door.

"And I will be here with the Princess and Lance." Coran offered.

"Thanks, Coran." Shiro smiled at the mustached man. "We owe you our lives." He walked over and grasped his hand firmly to convey his sincerity. "Really, thank you. Thank you for saving me and the others."

"It was my honor to serve." Coran managed to say choking up a little and a tear running down one cheek.