Title: A Place to Remember

Rating: T

Chapter: 14

Author's note: first season story

I felt myself wake up slowly. I was cold and dizzy. I blinked my eyes and felt something move in front of me. Then there was warmth and Hunk.

"Hey, I got you," He wrapped a warm blanket around me. "You okay?"

Am I? I had to think about it for a minute. Cold, yes. Hungry, yes. Headache, gone. "Yeah, I feel good."

"So like really good, or sort of good, or you're totally lying to me good?" Hunk asked looking intently into my eyes.

"No headache, no nausea, I'm cold and hungry." I meet his gaze evenly.

"Okay," He pulled me in for a tighter hug. "Let's get you warmed up and then off for food."

I leaned into his hug and rested my head against his shoulder, "Thanks for always being here for me."

"Hey, what are friends for?"

"Putting up with stubborn friends who don't listen to your good advice?" I may have blushed, but I really owed him this apology and since I've embraced this whole turning over a new leaf and being more open thing I might as well start with the easiest one.

I could feel him take in a deep breath and then he started laughing. The infectious kind that I can't help but join.

"I love you. I never put up with you. I would do anything for you and I happen to know you'd do anything for me." He squeezed a little tighter. I swear I'll never be as open as Hunk, but he's a pretty good example to work toward.

I realized we were the only ones in the med bay. Now, the coward part of me is pretty good with it, but the rest of me needs to see the rest of the team. "Where's everyone else?"

"We decided I would meet you. They all want to talk with you and they have some questions, but we weren't sure how you'd feel when got out and we didn't want to overwhelm you." Hunk released me from the hug. My legs weren't wobbly anymore and I was feeling closer to chilly and less frozen. "Are you ready to go get something to eat? The pod seemed to think you hadn't eaten in days?"

"Yeah." I felt a little guilty, I hadn't been very honest with Hunk lately. "I tried to eat, just didn't stay down very good. Except your soup! Your soup was awesome. And since we're going with confessions here, the last few days are kinda of jumbled in my head, so I might not be able to answer all your questions."

"Funny how a skull fracture and swelling in your brain will do that." Hunk swatted my shoulder.

"Oh." I'm not sure what to say to that, cause skull fracture? When did that happen? "I didn't realize."

"I know you didn't. You're not that crazy." He ushered me into the hall and down to the kitchen, sat me in a chair and got a bowl from the kitchen. "You are in luck, cause I made more of that soup."

I smiled gratefully and started eating. Not only was it filling, but it was helping take the last of the chill from my bones. As I was eating Shiro came in and sat down. Hunk, brought him a bowl as well. Most be lunch time or supper…oh I have no idea what time it is.

"Good to see you up." He said and then went on to eating his soup. I was expecting questions or a talk or something, but he just sat there and ate his soup. I looked over for Hunk, but he had disappeared.

"So, um, what time is it?" I asked as I finished the last of my soup.

"Middle of the night, about 2 am." He answered.

"I'm sorry you have to be up so late for me." I mean really, these pods should just keep you frozen until a decent hour.

"It's no trouble. I don't sleep much anyway." He didn't even look up, just answered casually.

"Oh, why?" Maybe it was rude to ask, but it was out of my mouth before I had a chance to think about it.

This time he did look up, "Nightmares mostly, I worry about things, sometimes it's just hard to relax."

I'm not sure what I was expecting, but that wasn't it. I may have sat a little too long with my mouth open.

"Lance?" He was looking at me waiting for a response.

"Oh, yeah, I'm sorry, I just didn't expect you to have nightmares I guess. I mean not that you don't have reason to or anything, it 's just you're you and I…" I gestured vaguely with my hands because my mouth stopped spilling out words.

He smiled, "I'm just a person Lance. I'm not perfect."

"You're pretty close." I blurted out. Okay now I'm blushing and so is he.

"It's nice of you to say that, but I think you'll see when you get to know me that it isn't true. Keith, I'm sure could point out a million not perfect things about me. For instance, did you know I'm a horrible cook? Hunk started leaving me late night snacks in the fridge after he caught me setting the toaster thing on fire one night." Shiro chuckled.

"How did you?" I turned and looked at the space toaster. It was even more simple than an earth toaster, how could he burn it? You literally just push a single button.

"I don't know." He shrugged.

I couldn't help but laugh at that point, I mean one button. He smiled back at me and I realized I hadn't given him a chance to be more than my hero, a guy in a poster. Sure I'd admired him, but I hadn't really gotten to know him either.

"I owe you an apology. The last few days are really jumbled up in my head, but I remember yelling at you and I'm sorry." I met his eyes and he nodded accepting my apology.

"Lance, I have some questions about the last few days if you think you want to answer them?"

"Sure, I owe you some explanations first. I want to apologize for not telling you everything I see when we are in battle. The reason I didn't go to Pidge was because I saw a cannon about to fire on Hunk. I should have told you, but I honestly just had it in my head that you would see it anyway. Then in the last battle, at least I think that's right, like I said the days are kind of mixed up in my head, anyway in that one I saw the fourth cruiser show up and Blue and I moved to take it on. Then Keith called for back up, which he never does that, so we left the ship to go help him. I'm not sure what happened, but when Red was free we turned to go back to the ship and we got hit with something." Shiro nodded never taking his eyes away, concentrating on what I was saying.

"Anyway, I woke up and Blue was down. I didn't know what was going on and I was really worried and confused. But she came back up and I heard you telling me to take out the ship. Blue said she was ready so we did that."

"You blacked out?" He asked.

"I guess, I don't really remember. Anyway someone pointed out to me that I'm not helping you lead us if I don't tell you what I see and I'm sorry for that.' I looked up and was surprised to see a soft smile on his face.

"You don't have to apologize, we need to learn to work together and that takes time. Who was it who told you that?"

"Um, that's a longer story, I think I'd rather wait and tell everyone that at once, if that's okay?" I was a little uncertain I don't want to mess up this good thing going here, but its such a weird story I don't want to have to tell it more than once.

"Okay, how about tomorrow?" I can see he's concerned I'm holding back and wants to make sure I don't back out. He's probably right it's better to set a time.

"Sure. After breakfast?"

He smiled and nodded, "Now I'm going to walk you back to your room, because I'm not sure if you noticed, but your eyes keep drifting shut while you are talking."

"Oh," I hadn't noticed, but now that he mentioned it I am very tired. "Shiro, I can get to my room on my own, you know?" I am being genuine here, I really want to know why he's doing this.

"Sure you can, but a couple days ago you almost died and now I can see how tired you are feeling. I told you I worry. It will make me feel better to see you safely to your room." He stood and offered me his hand to help me up.

"Oh," I'm saying that too much, but that had not occurred to me at all, "well in that case, sure, I am really tired." He didn't think I was weak, he really cared. It was nice. I let him help me up and he walked me back to my room and waited by the door as I crawled into bed.

"Goodnight, Lance."

"Goodnight, Shiro. Oh, and thanks for making sure I was okay."

"Anytime, buddy."