This chapter is a bit on the long side. I just couldn't find a place to cut it, so...make sure you get your coffee mug, blanky...whatever! :)
My editor says you guys are going to kill me...really? Well, I guess we are just going to have to see about that, right?
"To get through the hardest journey we need take only one step at a time, but we must keep on stepping" Chinese Proverb
Chapter 38: The Long Journey Home
Haggar walked through her laboratory, preparing herself for the coming. Pondering back to weeks prior, the witch took pride in how well her plan was executed.
What you don't know is that I can save you both. Only one can truly live; it is the law of the amulet. I can certainly rule without either of you, but I don't want to be a queen, that's too inferior to what I want."
"And what is that?" Lotor coughed again.
"I want to be the greatest sorceress this galaxy has ever known! But I need one of you to achieve this."
"What's in it for me…if I…help you?"
Haggar stood up and walked over to the dead king then caressed his face. "You live." She turned and looked at him, "If, you do what I tell you. You will help me in my quest to become more powerful than any being this galaxy has ever seen."
"And if I don't…cooperate?"
She sighed, "I can always bring back Zarkon." Haggar shrugged. "So, tell me Lotor, who will it be?"
The witch remembered the words and everything that took place thereafter. She had achieved what she wanted, the first part of her plan was now complete. Haggar walked to the cabinet that held the amulet. She opened the door and saw just empty space. The amulet now had another keeper and the keeper would ultimately be her pawn to reach the power that she had longed for centuries.
So far, everything had worked out perfectly. She heard the voice of Zarkon as he walked into to her lab. "Witch! You've made me wait enough time. I want my son back!"
"Patience Zarkon, I told you that the commander would need time to recuperate. As soon as he's better, we can bring him back."
Zarkon stared at her with wonder, "I don't get this. This is the best time to attack. He's weak. They're weak!"
The witch walked up the king, "Your Majesty, everything will work out how it should. I guarantee you, the prince will come willingly."
Zarkon had no more patience with the witch. He wouldn't wait either. It didn't take long for him to recover after his bout with Lotor, but he still found himself somewhat weak. Haggar had convinced him to wait, telling him that the prince had been wounded himself and it wouldn't be wise to move him in his current condition. But now it had been almost three weeks. No more waiting. The time for action had come and he wouldn't allow Arus to continue keeping his most prized possession.
VVVVVVVVVVVVV
"Last hand buddy, I know that you're tired," Lance told him as he began shuffling the deck of cards for one more game.
"I'm not tired," Keith countered, despite his constant yawning. "When did Gorma tell you I could get out of here? I'd like to go to my room at some point of my existence."
"Patience my dear Commander and Chief, you're not completely well yet. You still look crappy. As long as your hemoglobin is low, Gorma won't let you go," he answered in a musical tone. "So, what will be the outcome of this game?"
Although partly true, Lance lied. He didn't want to tell Keith he was still being kept under suicide watch. Each member of his team took turns and watched over him from the observation window. So far, he hadn't tried again, but then, they knew how smart Keith could be. His meals were brought in paper cups and plates and his cutlery was plastic.
Keith sighed in frustration, "Lance, I feel fine now."
"Look at the bright side, you are looking less yellow every day," he ignored Keith's last comment. "How about this, I'll talk to Gorma tomorrow and see if I can take you to the rec room. We can finish our card game in there."
"Lance, I'm not going to kill myself. I know that's what you all all thinking," Keith looked at his friend seriously.
Too smart for his own good, Lance thought, "I'm not buddy. Really, I'm not. We just need you to build up your strength, that's all. "
Keith looked at him, unconvinced of his friend's reply.
A knock at the door interrupted their conversation, "Come in," Lance hollered.
Allura walked in a bit timidly, "Hi."
Lance looked at her, "Hey Princess," he answered gently as she gave him a quick smile.
She turned her attention to the man lying on the bed, "Hello Keith."
"Hello," he answered. She noticed that he didn't smile at her. His eyes rose to look at her briefly before lowering them almost immediately.
Lance stood up noticing his friends' interaction. He thought it might be better if he'd leave, giving Keith and Allura a bit more freedom to talk. "Well, I must be going; I need to...be somewhere," he put the deck of cards back on the table and took his leave.
There was an uncomfortable silence in the air. Allura knew it was now up to her to rattle Keith out of the darkness and it was she who needed to help him see. But, she had trouble finding a way how.
"You're looking better," she finally told him as she took a step forward, but kept her distance from him.
"Thanks," he answered, not looking at her directly, "I'm feeling...better."
"Are you?" the princess tilted her head as she asked, "I mean, do you feel glad that you're back with us?"
"Of course I do," Keith answered, sounding unsure. "I'm glad I'm here."
She looked at him, unconvinced, "Maryann said your withdrawal symptoms will go away, but it would take some time."
He nodded stiffly, "Sure," now he sounded unconvinced.
"I know you must feel very confused. But I promise, you'll feel much better in time."
Keith sighed in frustration as he played with the deck of cards on the table, "I don't think that's ever going to happen. It's like I know they are the enemy, but I can't help feeling an allegiance to them...to him."
"You won't...give yourself time to understand," she carefully reached for his hand, but he retracted it abruptly. Ignoring his actions, Allura continued. "I know it must be hard for you now, but you need to be patient."
His head came up, and for a moment, Allura thought she saw a look of deep anger in his eyes that was gone seconds later as he looked away again. However, his tone was normal as he continued to speak.
"I just want to feel I'm in the right place, I really do," he told her, shaking his head.
"You will, I know you will," she reassured him.
A moment later, her comm. went off, "This is Allura."
"Allura, come to the control room please," Sven stated in a neutal voice.
"Something wrong?"
A pause, "Just something that needs your attention."
"I'll be right over," She looked up at Keith, "I'll be right back. Maybe you can show me how to beat Lance at poker."
He didn't look at her, but noticed the change in her tone. Something is going on, he said to himself as he gently answered her, "Sure."
Allura turned around and walked out of the room, but before leaving MedTech, she stopped at the front desk to speak to Grace, who sat filling out some paperwork. "I need to go to the control room. Keep Keith busy till I come back."
"Yes, of course Princess," the nurse answered as she stood up and walked around the desk.
VVVVVVVVVV
"You don't seem to understand what I am telling you. I am capable of sending all my armies to bring my son back. I am asking nicely, a rare attribute for me to display. You should take advantage of it while you have the chance."
Sven and Lance stood tall, glaring at Zarkon as he spilled the words loosely through the Vidscreen.
"Do you think we would voluntarily give up Keith?" Lance questioned sarcastically. "Please, you're more delusional than we gave you credit for."
"Give him back to me!" Zarkon now shouted, his nostrils flaring like a volcano's rising fumes before it erupts.
"Not a chance!" Sven yelled back. Romelle stood proudly next to her fiancé, her eyes igniting hatred that could burn the Vidscreen through.
Pidge and Hunk stood behind them and heard the doors to the control room open. They turned to watch Allura walk in, pass them and stand next to her cousin, "What do you want Zarkon?"
"You know exactly what I want. I want Kogane back!"
"How dare you order us to give him back after everything you've done to him!"
"I've given him a chance to be possibly the greatest ruler in this galaxy."
Allura didn't even have a chance to reply, when Romelle countered, "You almost killed him!"
Zarkon shook his head in obvious regret, "A minor setback caused by Lotor. I guarantee it won't happen again. You do have to admit this proves once again that my son is even stronger than we all give him credit for."
"Bastard," Romelle spilled out with intense hatred. "You are a sick bastard."
"Enough of this! I'm giving you…" the king suddenly cut off his next statement when he saw another person walk in the control room and smiled. The others turned to see Keith. Wearing his robe over his hospital gown. He walked slowly but steady into the room.
Both king and son stood in silence for a long while. Keith spoke first, "I'm not going back."
"It's not a matter of me telling you to come back, or they telling you to stay," Zarkon replied, studying hos son. "It's about you trying to convince yourself, son."
His voice felt familiar, good. It sickened him as much as it pleased him. Keith felt even more disturbed at this feeling.
Zarkon just stared at him, seeing past his pale pallor and weakened state, "I still sense your allegiance to me, son. I know you want to come back to us."
Lance was about to step up, but Maryann motioned him to stop. She shook her head at him, wanting to see Keith's reaction to Zarkon's statement.
The king continued taunting him, "Come home now, son. You look ill. I promise you, I'll take care of everything. You're in pain. I'll make it better. You want to forget, I know you want to. I can make you forget this life that hurts you. Start new…fresh…with us."
Silence again. The offer seemed so tempting. Keith looked at his group briefly, then at Zarkon. He smiled at the king. The group's eyes were now on him, Oh no, Sven thought to himself.
"I am…where I'm supposed to be," Keith finally answered. "I may be ill, but I'll get better. Just know this… Zarkon," his voice became stronger, his smile faded, "I don't want to forget. If I forget, I'm forgiving you. That can never happen. I will make sure you pay for everything you've done to me. Everything. That's MY promise to you," he turned and began to walk away.
"Son, I haven't given up on you," Zarkon replied in a calm voice. "I know that you are not your true self, but know that you will come back to me. And just to prove it, I'll make this simple for you to understand."
Keith turned around to look back at the king. Allura noticed the beginnings of perspiration on his temples. His hands shook despite him hiding them in his pockets.
"If you don't return to me within twenty four hours, I will send a fleet large enough that even you won't be able to stop me. I'll destroy everything that you supposedly care about." The king's eyes moved to the Princess of Arus. A menacing smile formed in his lips. "Remember, I know enough about you to know what your next moves are…son."
That stopped Keith. He briefly looked at Allura before he closed his eyes, feeling a tinge of defeat but also preparing for another word fight with the King. Fortunately, Allura beat him to it. "Send them!" she broke in as she hit the button forcefully to terminate the connection.
Keith looked at her, stunned. A look of despair entered his eyes, "You don't know what you've done."
"I do," the princess gently answered him as she walked over to him. "We'll take care of it," Allura looked at Lance and Sven, who nodded immediately at her, "Come on, I'll walk you back to your room."
Before he walked out, Keith stopped and looked at his team, "I want to know everything. No secrets, no lies, no cover ups," he ordered. "Got it?"
"No problem Chief," Lance answered with a slight grin, "We'll keep you posted."
VVVVVVVVVV
They made it back to his room a few minutes later. Keith walked in first as Grace stopped the Allura, "I'm sorry Princess, he just slipped out."
"That's okay Grace. Don't worry, I would have been more surprised if he had stayed."
Grace sighed with relief.
"I'll be in here with him. Make sure no one disturbs us unless it is necessary."
"Yes Princess."
Allura walked into the room to find him already in bed and breathing a bit uneasily, his hand on his chest. He body still shook.
"Do you want me to call Dr. Gorma?" her brow furrowed, worried.
He shook his head, "No, I'm finding myself still a bit tired after even the slightest effort." Keith settled back, "That was one gutsy move you pulled on fa… Zarkon," he continued, and then sighed in frustration.
"I only did what you would have done." If all this would have happened to me, she thought.
Keith became quiet, pensive. "I had to push myself to say those things to him."
"You didn't mean them?"
He took a deep breath, "Yes and no." He ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. "It's so damn confusing...inside my head."
"It will take some time…"
"Stop telling me this!" He finally shouted, exasperated and tired of hearing the same thing over and over. "You don't know what it's like! You all tell me it will get better, but it doesn't! None of you understand...everything in my head feels so jumbled. It's like I don't know who to trust... what to feel...who I am. I'm so...I can't... I can't stand it!"
She didn't know what to tell him. No words would work. So, Allura allowed herself to do the first thing she thought at that moment. She walked over, bent down and hugged him, but he jerked himself away from her almost immediately.
"Get away from me!" Keith shouted as he shook. "Don't…don't touch me."
"Keith…" Allura withdrew from him. "Why do you feel the need to get away from me?"
"No," he shook his head. "I can't…" he looked away as his shaking increased. "I can't…just don't."
She withdrew a few steps and looked at him, "Keith, you don't have to be sorry about anything."
He didn't answer her but when he looked up at her, his face showed his confusion. "That's not true…why won't you…" Keith whispered, but he didn't finish.
"Keith, I…"
She was interrupted by a knock on the door and the entrance of Dr. Gorma. "Your Highness, I don't mean to interrupt, but thought I should check on the commander." The doctor's gaze fell on his patient, who looked anxious, nervous and trembling. "Allura, why don't you wait outside?"
"But…"
The doctor gave her a signal with his eyes that told her to go. Obediently, she stepped out. Once Allura left, he turned to the commander. "Keith, you're experiencing an anxiety attack. I'm going to give you something to relax you." The doctor told him as he withdrew an injection from his lab pocket.
"No! I don't want to sleep! Don't put me to sleep. I'm not letting you do this!" Keith almost shouted as he shook his head nervously.
Gorma put his hand on the commander's shoulder to try to calm him. With a calm voice, staring right into Keith's eyes, he said, "You won't. I promise you, this will not put you to sleep. It's just to lower your heart rate and help you relax. Keith, you'll sleep when you feel like it. Okay?"
The commander hesitated for a moment, "I can't sleep, Doctor. The nightmares..."
"It won't happen, I promise." Gorma gently injected him and ordered him to lie down, " Just lie down and relax. I'll be back in a few minutes to check on you."
Keith nodded again as the doctor turned to leave.
Outside Allura waited. "What happened?"
Sighing, the doctor answered, "An anxiety attack. Coran notified me about what happened in the Control Room. My guess is that Zarkon's call brought it on."
Allura kept quiet. She had another idea as to what might have caused it. Gorma continued speaking, "I gave him a mild sedative since he is adamant about not being put to sleep. Maybe you should visit him tomorrow."
"Sure, thank you Doctor," she nodded uneasily.
Gorma gave her a sympathetic smile, "Allura, it will take him some time to find himself again."
"I understand. It's just…I hate seeing him this way."
The doctor nodded, "I know. I can only help him physically. The rest is really up to him."
Sighing, Allura replied, "Well, you know…if there…"
"Don't worry. If anything happens, I'll notify you immediately."
The princess nodded and although it took all her resolve to leave MedTech, she gently turned and walked out.
xxxxxxxxxx
As Allura stepped out of MedTech , she ran into Maryann, Lance and Sven, who were about to walk in. "Princess, I came to check on the commander. After what happened in the control room…."
"Dr. Gorma gave him a sedative for the evening," Allura began, "He had an anxiety attack."
"Is he okay now?" Sven asked looking concerned.
"He's resting," Allura answered them as she nodded
Maryann nodded, "I expected it. This was his first encounter with Zarkon after returning to his normal self."
Walking over to the nearby chairs, Allura sat down as she asked, "I don't know how to reach Keith. I keep telling him that he couldn't control his actions, but I feel that it just gets worse every time I tell him that."
"I see," the doctor replied pensively.
"What? What is it?" the Lance asked curiously.
Maryann sighed, "Alright, I have this theory. Keith seems like man whose strength is being in control of things right?" Allura nodded. "Well, when he asks for forgiveness and everyone keeps telling him, it's not his fault…it's…it's like you don't allow him to accept his part of it. You're not allowing him to control his only means of…making restitution with all of you."
The princess stayed quiet for a moment lost in thought.
"I guess it's my turn to ask you, what you are thinking about?" The professor inquired.
"He pushes me away, Maryann. Do you think…"
"Allura, I think he feels the most guilt when it comes to you, for what he feels he did to you. And you're not allowing him the control of seeking absolution from you."
"Then what should she do?" Sven sighed with frustration.
The professor took Allura's hands within hers, "Accept his forgiveness and we'll go from there."
VVVVVVVVVV
The next few weeks passed by rather quickly. Allura found herself spending most of the days with Keith, just having superficial conversations, playing games, and watching some Earth programs that Hunk had lent them.
During these times with him, she found Keith to be quiet and very withdrawn. They were times where she thought he was lost within his own mind, reliving everything he had done. She tried pulling him slowly back, but found it hard at times.
The times he'd fall asleep were the worst. During the day, horrible nightmares hit him with a vengance and Allura would have to wake him up. His moods grew worse during those times, causing the occasional anxiety attack, but Allura could tell he fought against his bouts of withdrawals and sudden anger even though that sometimes they beat him.
One Saturday morning, Allura had asked Dr. Gorma if she could take Keith out to the gardens for a stroll. Although, not happy at first, the doctor soon decided to give up the battle with the Princess of Arus.
"Allura, he's still has a pretty low immune system and is suffering from panic attacks. I don't want something from the outside to provoke them."
Sighing, Allura began her counter argument, "Come on Dr. Gorma, it's a very pretty day. You know that there's no rain on Arus before winter hits and I promise not too keep him out for too long. He's been cooped up in the castle for a while. I'm amazed he hasn't tried to escape MedTech. And as for the anxiety attacks, maybe a moment outside will help him relax. It has to be better than the four walls he stares at all day!"
"Fine!" The doctor shook his head, frustrated. "I can't win with any of you. Half an hour and I mean it Princess!"
She kissed the doctor on the cheek and with a smile, she told him, "Thanks Doctor. I promise I'll follow orders."
Once she was gone, the doctor rolled his eyes, "Yeah, sure…that will be a first."
VVVVVVVVVV
She knocked before entering, but didn't hear a reply, so the princess gently opened the door and whispered, "Keith? Is it ok if I come in?"
Again, she heard no answer. Knowing no one else was in the room, since Hunk and Pidge had visited earlier for a couple of minutes and were now on patrol, Allura walked in to find the commander moaning softly in bed. He was dreaming. Again. Allura knew they had just started as he was only mumbling.
Quickly, she went to his side to stir him into wakefulness. "Keith…wake up." She gently caressed his face.
His brow knitted together, he continued moaning, unable to wake from whatever had him trapped in his dream.
"Keith…"
"No…" he whispered. "Don't…"
"Keith wake up," she called out a little louder.
His face began to contort into one of pain, "just …kill me."
"Keith, wake up!" Allura shook him.
He gasped and opened his eyes, looking about the room, trying figure out where he was at the moment. His gaze finally shifted to Allura, who still caressed his face and offered him a warm smile. "You had another nightmare."
He swallowed hard and nodded, but now flinched at her touch.
The princess stepped away. It had been several weeks, but he still would not allow her to touch him, "You want to talk about it?"
Keith shook his head and his eyes dimmed as he looked out the window. Sighing and not wanting to push him, Allura changed the subject. "I got Dr. Gorma to agree it would do you some good to get some fresh air. How about a nice walk in the gardens?"
"I don't feel like going Princess," he replied flatly, not bothering to look at her.
"It will do you some good, Keith," she tried reasoning again.
"No," he firmly stated.
"It's just for a half…"
"Damn it…leave me the hell alone!" Keith yelled at her.
His tone startled her, but Allura refused to give up on him. "I will not leave you alone."
Keith turned to her slightly, trying to intimidate her for only a moment, "Allura…just let… me… be."
The princess shook her head, "No, you've given up on yourself, but I haven't."
He laughed at her sarcastically, "Give it up Princess….realize that I'm not worth saving. You should have just let me die at the lake."
"Don't say that," Allura answered him in an angry tone.
"You have too much faith in me."
"Damn you Keith! What does it take for you to realize that…"
"What? That it wasn't my fault!" he snapped sarcastically.
"But it is your fault!" Allura finally shouted.
The lone statement seemed to shock him. For the first time in weeks, he stared at her straight in the eyes. "What did you just say?"
She nodded, confirming the statement she had just stated, "You heard it. It is your fault." Allura walked away from him and to the window where she faced him again. "It's your fault that you can't accept that there are things you can't control…no matter how much you try to control them. It is your fault that you don't want to make an attempt to make it better for yourself. It is your fault that you are pushing us away. We all could have fallen under Zarkon's crazed antics. What would you have done if it would have been me? Would you have treated Sven, or Lance, Pidge or Hunk the same way you are treating yourself?"
Keith stared at her in disbelief, listening to every word she said to him.
"I'm not saying this is easy for you. I, myself, wouldn't know if I could control myself as you are now. I know that you don't feel it, but we're astonished at how you're taking this. But…you can't keep abusing yourself like this…do you understand what I'm trying to say?"
He maintained his silence for a long moment, but finally, he simply nodded at her. "I'm…sorry about that."
Allura smiled. "Apology accepted. Now, can you take a walk with me in the gardens?"
VVVVVVVVVV
Pidge and Hunk continued patrolling the skies, looking for any signs of Lotor or Zarkon. The last several weeks had been a bizarre and nerve racking. Since the king's threat, nothing transpired, no attacks, no fleets, nothing that signaled an impending attack from Zarkon ever came to fruition. No one understood what could be happening at Doom.
"This is the weirdest thing," Pidge shook his head as they made one more round of patrolling. "They know we're at our weakest and they still haven't attacked?"
"I know what you mean," Hunk replied. "I'm surprised too. Zarkon seemed pretty adamant about wanting Keith back. I was expecting that fleet to show their faces and yet nothing has happened."
Pidge stayed quiet for a moment, looking at his radar, before he spoke again, "You think he will ever be the same?"
At that question, Hunk frowned and paused to think before answering, "I think he'll find his way back. We're just expecting things to be fixed overnight and real life isn't that way. There's a reason why patience is a virtue that we, as humans, lack at times."
From his vidscreen, Hunk saw Pidge nod, "As for things being the same? I doubt it. It will be different, not necessarily bad, but different." Hunk stopped speaking when he heard his radar suddenly pick up a signal, "Hey."
"Yeah, I picked up on it too."
"Control, we're picking up an unidentified aircraft coming into Arus airspace," Hunk called in.
From the control room, both men heard Lance reply, "I'm on it. Hold position until I tell you to do otherwise."
"Holding position," Hunk answered. He hoped that their short luck would not end soon.
VVVVVVVVV
They walked through the circular garden in silence at first, but idly began small talk as they walked. A majestic fountain decorated the middle as a brick trail led the path around it. About a mile in diameter, the garden held different types of flowers and plants around the outer edge and around the fountain itself. One door led you in and out of the garden. Even though the garden was sealed within the castle, sunlight still radiated around the area and simulated soft breezes lingered around, still giving the feeling that one was outside in uncontrolled natural surroundings.
The princess waited patiently for him to change into a pair of black sweatpants and a black and white hoodie before walking out. Allura inwardly smiled as she walked with him. She was amazed at what a little sunlight could do. Keith's semblance changed. Even his pale complexion had diminished slightly during their walk. He kept his hands in his pockets as they walk around. This was Keith's M.O. whenever Allura was around, to keep any part of his body away from her.
"It's a pretty day," she mentioned to him, trying to break the silence.
"It's bright," He told her. "It's been a while since I've seen such brightness."
Allura knew what he meant, but kept quiet, "See, you have to give me credit Commander. I got you out of MedTech for a while. A feat, even Lance couldn't accomplish."
He smiled a little, "That's true Princess. I have to find a way to pay you back for it." Keith tried to joke, but the tone wasn't quite there. At least Allura knew he was trying to make an effort.
"That's ok. Just give me an extra hour of sleep when we resume lion practice and we'll call it even," Allura noticed how he suddenly looked tired, even though he tried to hide it by continuing to walk. Changing tactics, Allura suggested, "Mind if we take a break? I was so excited that Dr. Gorma let you out for a while that I didn't bother changing out of my heels and my feet are taking a beating."
Noticing Allura's heels under her maroon sundress, Keith nodded, "Sure. Would you like to go back?"
"No, not at all. Just a small break and I'll be fine. Besides, we've made most of the circle and we're only a few minutes away from the doors."
They sat on a bench overlooking the fountain that sat in the middle of the garden. "Gorma told me today that you'll be discharged in a week. "
"One more week?" Keith asked. Ironically, the one place he always wanted to leave was the one place he now saw as a safe haven. Leaving would mean so many other things to think about. "That's…great." He tried to sound enthusiastic, but Allura saw right through him.
"Well, don't get too excited. Coran doesn't want you to take command just yet."
"Oh," he sounded suspicious.
"He wants you to take it easy, I mean," Allura answered naturally. "Coran wants you to begin your exercise regimen and Nanny is already talking about a type of diet to get your weight back up," she laughed.
Keith nodded, but didn't look at her.
"Why don't you look at me anymore?" she suddenly asked as she pushed her hair back behind her ear.
"What do you mean?" he replied with unease.
Allura sighed, "Ever since you…remembered, you don't look at me. Sometimes I feel that you…don't want to be with me anymore."
"No!" He snapped, "No, that's not it at all…I just….Allura," Keith took a deep breath before he answered her. "I'm so ashamed of what I did to you. I took a part of you that you should have given up on your terms, with someone you cared about. Someone you…loved…and I ruined that."
The princess stayed quiet for a moment, thinking of what to say, how to tell him. She knew this was her opportunity. "Keith, I'm going to move closer to you and I don't want you to pull away."
"Allura, I…"
"Please. I need to tell you something and this is the only way I know how to do it. Please?"
Hesitant, he only nodded slightly. She moved closer to him on the bench until she was almost right next to him. His breathing became a little heavier, but he did well on his promise. He never pulled back.
"Can I take your hand?" Allura whispered.
He shook his head, but she lightly grazed her finger on along the back of his hand, "Please Keith?" He flinched at first, but she slowly and gently took his hand and intertwined it within hers. "Look at me Keith, I want you to look at me."
Slowly, Keith raised his gaze toward Allura until he met her eyes. She leaned a bit closer to him and whispered, "I've missed you. I've missed you so much."
He stared at her with wonderment and ambiguity. "I don't understand." He told her looking straight into blue eyes that welcomed him with a gentle kindness.
She smiled nervously and leaned a bit closer to him, "Keith, I…"
"Keith!" the couple heard another voice call out. Instantly, Keith withdrew his hand from Allura's and looked around. Within moments, both saw Erin Hawkins walk up to them. "Hello," she smiled at them both, "I came to see you. The nurses at MedTech were kind enough to tell me where you were." She paused when she noticed how close they are sitting together, "Did I interrupt something?"