Shiro found himself in a Galra cell, holding Sarah tightly. It terrified him to the bone that he was again in Galra custody, and worse yet, Sarah was with him. He'd rather die a thousand times than have her be a prisoner of Zarkon. But there was nothing that could be done about that now. He focused on keeping it together for her sake; she was so small and trembling terribly. He wanted to assure her that he'd get them out, he'd protect her…but with his arm disabled, he wasn't sure if he could.

The cell door opened, and instinctively Shiro maneuvered Sarah behind him. His worst fear was confirmed as the officer gave he orders. He didn't know how much damage he'd be able to do, he just hoped the end result would be them taking him instead of her. He'd suffered at Hagger's hands before; he knew he could take it. But Sarah….

He blacked out when one of the sentries threw him against the wall. When he next came to, she was being escorted out of the cell by the sentries. His eyes widened in panic. "Sarah!" he yelled, clumsily getting to his feet and making to run after her. He didn't know what he was trying to accomplish, he just wanted to protect her from whatever Hagger had planned. But the Galra officer caught him, knocking the wind out of him; he collapsed, clutching his middle. Shiro heard her call to him, but he could only just barely make out what she was saying. "Sarah…."

After what felt like a lifetime, the cell door opened again. He hastily rose to his feet, bracing himself. The Galra officer had Sarah slung over his shoulder; he went to drop her but Shiro caught her, holding her small form close to him. He waited till the door closed to check and see if she was breathing. Mercifully, she was. It was then that he noticed the fresh cuts and bruises that decorated her thin body. He couldn't stop himself from crying. He held her even closer, crying into her shoulder as his shoulder shook from sobbing. He couldn't protect her, he couldn't do anything.

"S-hiro…?" she said, her voice small and weak. "Are you okay?"

He shifted to where he could see her face. Her beautiful face marred by a long gash on her cheek. "I-I'm fine." he said, trying to be brave again for her; his voice cracked ever so slightly, betraying him. "Don't worry about me, okay?" She frowned at him; he could tell she wanted to pursue the subject. "I'm so sorry." he whispered, kissing her head gently. "I should've done more, I should've…." he trailed off, not sure how to finish that thought. She brought her finger to his lips, quieting him; she winced slightly, and he realised just how much pain she must be in; he felt his heart break.

"No, there wasn't anything you could do, don't blame yourself, please…." she pleaded, whimpering.

"Shush…" he said, cradling her. "I've got you…I've got you…." He hoped she would sleep at least; he didn't want to think about what Hagger had done to her that left her in so much pain.

Two days later, they came for her again. And again he was helpless to stop them. He collapsed to the floor, sobbing; he was useless. The woman he loved was being tortured, maybe worse, and he was powerless to stop it.

He heard her screams this time. It seemed like they were being broadcast, echoing throughout the ship. They felt like knives stabbing his heart, again and again. But when they stopped, he was filled with dread.

They brought her back shortly after. As the cell door closed, he held her close, noticing just how ragged her breathing was, how pale she had become.

"Stay with me, baby." he begged. "Please, I need you…"

"Sh…iro…." she whispered barely audible; she didn't open her eyes, why couldn't she open her eyes?

"Shuush, shuush, rest…just …" His sobs cut him off, his whole body was shaking. "Sarah….please…."

"I'm…sorry…I am….a damsel….."

"No, no you aren't, don't say that." he cried, tears streaming down his face. He wasn't ready, he didn't know how to live without her. "Please, I love you so much, I need you, I can't…."

"I love you, too…" she whispered, with what might have been her last breath.

"No, no, no, no…" he said, again and again, rocking as he held her limp body. "No, no, no…" It couldn't be real, she couldn't be gone. He kissed her forehead, before resting his head against hers. His vision was blurred from crying but he didn't care. Nothing mattered anymore. The most important person in the universe was gone and he couldn't prevent it.

He jumped slightly when the cell door opened. He clutched Sarah ever more closely as Zarkon and Hagger entered. "What could you possible want?" he spat at them.

"I wanted to see if we could break your spirit." Zarkon said darkly.

Shiro didn't respond, glaring at them through his tears.

"I knew she wouldn't last long." Hagger said, her voice dripping with malice.

"It seems she was wrong. She wasn't your greatest strength." Zarkon smirked. "She was your greatest weakness."

"Why don't you just kill me already?" Shiro growled.

"It's coming." the Galra emperor said, kneeling in front of the Paladin and pulling out his bayard. "I wanted to see you broken with my own eyes."

When Zarkon's blade pierced his heart, Shiro woke up with a start, breathing heavily and covered in a cold sweat. Frantically, he searched for Sarah in the dark. She was sitting up, holding her knees close to her. He was so relieved she was alive, he pulled her into a tight hug.

"Shiro-?" she asked, confused and concerned as he began crying.

"I-I saw it…I had….your nightmare."

"Oh…." she said softly, wrapping her arms around him.

"You died…" he sobbed.

"I….I know….I woke up after I….after that happened." she said, her voice hollow and shaking. "Is that…did it end there for you, too?"

"No." Shiro pulled back, holding her face, her beautiful unblemished face in his hands. "No, I woke when I died."

Her eyes widened in alarm, filling up with tears.

They rested their foreheads against each other; he closed his eyes, listening to the sound of her breathing, savouring it.

"I daresay it's finished." Sarah murmured after a while. "We should tell Niruth…." But she didn't move and neither did he; he had just lived through the worst Zarkon could do, and he just needed to hold her for a while, rationalise with himself; She's safe, we're safe, Zarkon is far away….I won't let Hagger touch her…..