Within the com room, James listened intently while the galra soldier gave his account of their rescue. Keith had already confirmed and warned them, so what James heard didn't surprise him. The horror in the soldier's voice while he recounted how his comrades were slaughtered, that was new. It... humanized them, much to James's discontent. Had he not seen Keith and the assassin aliens interact, he might have thought it all a performance. As time went on, James's attention slowly gravitated and Lance stole all of his focus. For the first time in memory, the youngest McClain stood completely still.

He breathed slow and even and stared just past the radio. Every now and then, he'd hold up his arm and tap the armor gauntlet covering his forearm. Lance had changed in his absence, the difference more stark than Keith's initial behavior. James glanced sideways to see if Veronica noticed. If she did, she wasn't showing it. When the soldier fell silent and his inquisitor took his leave, Lance seemed to come out of a trance. He turned, his intense gaze landing directly on James.

"Will someone be posted to keep listening?"

Veronica folded her arms and grimaced. "I'll have Rick come back, but the galra don't do much after midnight."

"No, I suppose not." Lance furrowed his brow, a mirror of his sister, and reached up to play with the studded jewel in his earlobe. "They adopted the living patterns of the colonies... still... That bastard could return at any point."

James bit his cheek. Now wasn't the time to unpack what Lance meant by that. "If it bothers you, we can post a night watch. The cadets are used to long rotations."

Lance shook his head and rolled his shoulders. "That's not necessary. I'll check in with Kolivan. He will know how to handle the prince of the empire."

James considered that statement. No doubt. Keith's confidence about his allies had been confirmed in Lance's words. James shoved it into the growing pit of questions and said, "Then we should head back to the admiral. Since she hasn't sent anyone, they should still be there."

"Lead the way," Lance said.

James listened to Lance and his sister whisper to one another, picking up where they'd left off at some point. The severity of the galra threat never lessened, but they giggled and laughed at small shared jokes James only caught bits and pieces of. He was starting to relax when they reached the admiral's war office. Pushing open the door, he announced, "Cadet Griffin and company, sir."

Upon entering, he paused in confusion. Mr. and Mrs. Holt were standing very close to Sanda while Keith glared from where he stood. It almost looked like they were intervening. And the galra were nowhere to be seen. "Admiral, did something-"

Lance shoved past James and moved to stand by Keith. James saw the brooding mullet-head flash Lance a look. Softer and... relieved? Then Sanda looked from Mrs. Holt to Lance. Scathing anger did not intimidate him. Lance took in the room and stated, "I take it you know the truth?"

Sanda lifted her chin, her lips a thin line. "How can you defend this, cadet?"

Lance slid one foot slightly in front of the other, his right hand ready at his thigh. "I know the sacrifices made. Whatever betrayal you're feeling right now is nothing compared to what the Blades have lost. Is that why you sent them away? Because they didn't intervene when our planet was-"

"I did not send the galra away," Sanda interrupted. Lance cocked his head and she said, "Ask him. They did it for you."

The hostility in her tone only added to his confusion as he turned to Keith and whispered, "Is that true?"

Keith kept his body toward the perceived threat in Sanda's words, the image of a cornered animal, and confirmed, "They wanted us to find the paladins while they dealt with higher threats. When we have completed our mission, we are to return to the castle and await further orders."

"The castle? Keith," Lance's voice died as Keith met his eyes, something unspoken passing between them. Lance clenched his fist and faced the admiral. "Then do we have the assistance of this base? Whatever happened in the past cannot be changed, but our goals of liberating this planet and every other colony under the empire's control won't be hindered."

Sanda narrowed her eyes at the boys in front of her, mouth puckered in angry debate. Then Mrs. Holt touched her arm and said, "Ellen, they're kids. Please, don't do this."

Sanda slowly exhaled and finally agreed, "You will have the support of the base as long as your mission does not endanger the people here." Glaring at Mrs. Holt, she asked, "Is that sufficient?"

Mrs. Holt sighed and patted the admiral's arm. "Thank you. Come, children." She walked forward and Keith and Lance practically magnetized toward her.

As they took their leave, Sanda cleared her throat. "And Kogane, what we discussed..."

Keith paused and shot bitterly over his shoulder, "Don't worry. I understand the pain knowledge can bring. I'm sorry for forcing it upon you... and I won't make the same mistake again."

Veronica shot an incredulous look from Sanda to Lance and back. When they passed, she tried, "Lance-"

Mr. Holt put a hand on Veronica's shoulder then followed his wife out. Approximately five seconds passed before James asked, "What the hell just happened?"

Sanda's intense anger snapped to him before dissipating instantly. A flurry of emotions passed over her face, too quick to catch, and she dismissed, "It doesn't matter."

"But Keith-"

"James," she insisted, "Forget what you just saw. The galra that brought them home left them here for the time being." James opened his mouth, but she admonished, "My orders stand, cadet." Turning to Veronica, she instructed, "V, see our guests settled and get them something else to wear. Their presence will spread enough gossip as it is."

"Yes, ma'am."

Veronica clicked her heels and left the room, but James didn't move. Ina touched his arm, trying to end the awkward standoff. He shrugged her off and stood at attention. "Permission to speak, admiral."

Sanda pursed her lips and slowly exhaled through her nose. James held himself up beneath the intensity of her stare. After nearly a decade, he'd have thought it would be easy not to be intimidated. Then she gave in, the corners of her eyes creasing slightly the way they used to when he didn't live up to her standards in class. It almost made him turn and leave.

She finally sighed and rubbed her forehead. With her other hand, the admiral motioned toward the door and said, "You're excused, Leif."

James let out the breath he didn't know he was holding as Ina rubbed his arm and whispered, "I'll help Veronica. See you in the music room."

When she was gone, James swallowed the lump in his throat and folded his hands behind his back. Relax. She's got the good of the school at the heart of her actions. Just speak your mind respectfully and she'll be reasonable.

"The answer's no."

James jolted and turned to stare at Sanda as she closed the door behind Ina and folded her arms with that trademark scowl of disapproval. James argued, "I didn't even ask you anything yet."

Sanda leaned back on the edge of the table and raised an eyebrow. "I know, but you always hide your hands behind your back when you're nervous about whatever you're about to request."

James immediately put his hands at his sides and denied, "It's not that... this time."

Sanda's lip quirked in a half smile before she shook her head and ran a hand through her hair. "I know, James, and I'm sorry, but I won't risk the safety of the children here on a half baked-"

"It's not half baked!" James interrupted. Sanda's chin dropped toward her chest, eyes wide, and James felt his jaw snap shut. Oh shit. He cleared his throat self consciously and lowered his gaze in respect. "Admiral, Keith and the galra with him saved our lives. The only reason they risked their own lives was because they care about him. We saw just how much first hand. They trust each other like family."

Sanda's shoulders slumped and she whispered, "Jamie," he met her eyes, "their reasons are their own as are mine." She crossed the floor and put a sympathetic hand on his shoulder. "I know you and Keith were close growing up. And I can only imagine what you're going through now that he's back... but trust my judgement. You don't know everything, kid."

James fought hard to hold his posture together and failed. "Don't... don't be angry with him. You have no idea how much courage it took coming home... and seeing you, Ellen. But you don't know everything either."

"Jamie?" Her tone became sharper, less personal and more like how she normally portrayed herself. "What happened?"

He folded his arms across his chest, shoulders hunched, and asked, "Did you know Hunk was sick?" She ducked her head to make eye contact, but he avoided her. He shrugged and explained, "After Keith and the others saved us, we were all just sort of... hanging out at Keith's house, but we didn't know that yet... and Hunk passed out. No one noticed, except Keith. And now I'm wondering..."

"It's not your fault." Sanda sighed and reached up to put a hand on the side of James's neck. "Jamie, look at me. I asked Hunk if he was up to the mission before you left. He insisted he was fine and if I had known how sick he was, I would never have allowed it. He didn't want you to worry."

James tried to let it roll off his back, but then he remembered Hunk and Katie sleeping in the infirmary beneath the careful watch of a beautiful alien woman and he took a step back. "He's not better. I mean, Keith and the doctor treated him out in the desert, but he passed out when we got back. I don't know what to do, Ellen. My team needs me, but I don't see what's right in front of me."

The admiral reached out and pulled him to her chest. He held his breath for five seconds before relaxing into her. "James, kid, it's normal to feel like this. The moment we lost contact, I knew it was a mistake to send your team on that mission. The only thing that kept me from going out after you was anger... and fear. What would happen to everyone here if we lost more people? I'm sorry, James. It should have been my responsibility to bring you home."

He knew what she was doing. Taking the blame and distracting him. She'd done it before to help when classes were hard. But now she just wanted to make him forget why he'd asked to talk. Which meant he wouldn't get any answers to his questions from her. Trust.

Stepping back, he gathered himself as best he could and said, "Thank you, Admiral, for listening. I should probably check in on Hunk and see how the Holts are settling in."

Ellen nodded, eyes searching his with that maternal concern from his summers at the garrison. "Okay, Jamie. I'll be in the principal's office in the morning for the day's briefing."

James pinched the bridge of his nose and nodded. "Alright. Have a good night." Then he left before she realized how much their talk had troubled him. He paused outside the room to catch his breath when a hand landed on his shoulder.

He glanced up sideways at Ryan. When he tried to speak, Ryan grimaced in mutual understanding. Ryan folded his arms and gestured with a head tilt. "Keith and Lance are upstairs. We can talk later."

The walk to the elevator was quiet apart from the whisperings of everyone they passed. The admiral's warning about spreading gossip came true a lot sooner than anticipated. In the elevator, James leaned into the wall and sighed aloud.

Ryan said, "The school's still on lock down so you can let yourself relax for once."

James groaned and slid a little. "It's not that simple." Bending around to look at Ryan, he asked, "How's Hunk?"

Ryan shrugged. "That woman is keeping a close eye on him, but I don't have a clue how her medicine works."

The elevator door opened and they started down the hall. "You and me both, but as long as he's not getting any worse." James leaned in and whispered, "And the way the four of them worked together... Keith barely scratched the surface when he spoke to us at the bonfire."

The cadets who'd been posted along the hall were gathered near the locker rooms. James stopped right behind them and cleared his throat. The teens jumped and immediately dispersed while James shook his head. He entered the room to see Nadia, Veronica, and Mrs. Holt sorting through clean laundry. Keith and Lance sat on a bench, but Mr. Holt was out of sight.

"How's it coming, honey?"

Mr. Holt stepped out from behind the shower curtain holding up the pants by the waistline. "They're a bit loose, dear."

Mrs. Holt glared at the clothes she held and muttered, "If it's not the boys going through growth spurts, it's you loosing weight. It's not healthy."

Mr. Holt rolled his eyes and took the other pair of pants his wife offered. "Ulaz gave me a physical and said I was in perfect body condition."

"Coleen just likes a guy with a little," Lance pantomimed a curvy body with his hands. Keith started laughing and leaned into Lance's shoulder before Mrs. Holt swatted Lance's arm with a scoff.

Lance joined Keith laughing aloud and Mrs. Holt joined her husband while shaking her head. It almost seemed like the last twenty minutes hadn't happened. Then James's shoe squeaked on the linoleum and Keith straightened up on high alert. All humor had vanished and he stared at the door. "Are the cadets gone?"

"Yeah." James bit his cheek and added, "I sent them back to their posts."

Where James had relaxed without the attention of the school kids, Keith only intensified. His dark eyes were focused to an almost predatory keenness, every muscle prepared to act. Even Lance had folded his arms, one leg crossed over the other and a serious expression marring his pretty face.

Keith rubbed his temples and glanced toward the changing room muttering, "Good. I don't want to scare them."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Jamed shot Ryan a warning glare and sat across from them on the other bench. Veronica looked over her little brother's head at James with one hand at her chin. James tried not to betray her worry in his expression and asked, "Did Lance tell you what we heard?"

Keith's expression caved and his shoulders slumped forward. He glanced down and away. Closing off like when he was twelve again. All of the growth he'd displayed had vanished with the assassins.

Lance stepped up to the challenge and answered, "We discussed it." Veronica raised an eyebrow at that. James packed it away for later as Lance continued, "For now, we can only gather and analyze intel. As always." He leaned forward and half smiled at Keith, earning a blushing smile from the moody texan. James physically stopped breathing. What was that!?

"But I do have one thing," Keith said, interrupting James's misfiring internal motherboard. As their attention landed on him, Keith tipped his head, eyes still down, and muttered sheepishly, "Do you guys have any... candles?"

James sat back and put a hand over his face. "What do you, I mean yes, we've raided everything we could, but like... why?" He held out a hand as if Keith's reason needed to be tangible.

Instead, Keith shut down further. He seemed to shrink beside Lance and even when his lips moved what he said was too quiet to hear. Though it almost looked like, 'never mind'. Then Lance moved his hand. Keith folded his arms tighter to his chest, red slowly creeping up his neck.

Lance sighed and said, "He needs them to commune with the red lion."

James tried to process that strange request, but Ryan stood and left. James scowled at his back. He had no idea what Keith was on about, but he had no intention of walking out on him. He met Ina's eyes and she nodded, following Ryan.

Mr. and Mrs. Holt emerged from behind the curtain dressed in the clothes they'd found. With a look around the room, she led her husband to Keith and Lance. Before she blocked them from view, James got a look at Keith's desperate gaze locked on Mrs. Holt's face. They shared a whispered conversation.

When Mr. and Mrs. Holt paused at the door, he said, "Nadia, right? Can you take us back downstairs? We'd like to see our other children."

Another strange phrase that needed pondering. The three of them left. Time passed, silent and hollow. James noticed how empty the room was and saw Keith signing something to Lance. Lance responded in kind. So fast. Too fast.

But Keith sighed and reluctantly said, "I need the candles because the lions are disturbed. I... am disturbed. Red and I share quintessence, an energy and..." He growled and hissed at Lance, "This is pointless! They don't know-"

"Then show them," Lance placated, voice soft and cool like a wet compress. He reached out and pushed Keith's hair out of his eyes. "You can do this, alpha." They gazed at one another until Keith took a deep breath and closed his eyes. The tension left his face, then his neck, and lower to his shoulders as Lance continued to touch his face and hair. The more Keith relaxed, the more Lance's adoring smile grew.

They were no longer aware of anyone else in the room and James felt his heart rate accelerate with every passing second. What was happening? What was he looking at? He opened his mouth to draw attention to whatever it was when Veronica frantically shook her head, one hand repeatedly crossing her throat. His mouth snapped shut, but he gestured in a 'what the hell' way with one hand. It was enough to break up Keith and Lance's little episode.

Seemingly stabilized, Keith rubbed his thighs and stood. "I can show you, but I need the candles. That's all I can say until-"

The door slammed open and Keith's hand swept past his leg. Lance stood and mimicked him. Two matching pulses of blinding light revealed Keith wielding a sword in fighting stance and Lance at his shoulder aiming the strangest battle rifle James had ever seen at the doorway.

Instantly intimidated, James cautioned, "Wait," as Ryan appeared in the open door frame holding a small crate of candles in various stages of use. He froze, one eyebrow raised at the readiness to fight in both Keith and Lance. James reached out to Keith as Veronica grabbed Lance's shoulder and said, "Calm down will you?"

Keith moved out from beneath James's hand before he could touch him and walked toward the showers. The sword vanished with that now familiar light. By the time James looked back, Lance's rifle had also disappeared. Lance reached for the candles and mouthed a quick 'thank you' before wordlessly followed Keith.

Ryan looked from his newly empty hands to James and Veronica and asked, "What'd we miss?"

James answered, "Honestly, I have no idea."

Veronica said while walking backward, "We can explain later." She turned and leaned on the concrete doorway separating the showers from the lockers and asked gently, "Is it alright for us all to stay, Keefy?"

Keith looked up from where he knelt arranging and lighting his candles. "Um," he shrugged toward Lance, "I suppose. Just... stay outside the ring of water."

James looked over Veronica's shoulder. Keith flicked his thumb over the lighter and Lance outlined a faint circle of water a foot beyond the candles. It looked occult. He whispered as much to Veronica and received a sharp elbow jab to the ribs.

Lance finished when Keith placed a fifth candle in front of himself. The other four formed a square around the two of them within the circle of water. Keith rubbed his thighs and licked his lips. Lance settled cross legged across from him with the candle between them. Their faces were cast in flickering shadow. Keith reached out and Lance seemed to understand. They clasped hands. Before they closed their eyes, James could swear Keith's changed and glowed.

For a few seconds, nothing happened as their breaths fell in sync. Lance whispered on a long exhale, "Shh, shh, beautiful."

James felt his eyebrow raise. Who was he talking to? Then Keith's neck veins stuck out and his fingers formed claws, hands reaching forward to cling to Lance's forearms. Lance sucked in a breath and Keith hissed through his teeth, "Patience. Focus. Red, I need you there. Protect them as I- gah!"

He almost doubled over, his hair falling dangerously close to the candle, before his forehead landed on Lance's shoulder. He was panting, fingers raking down Lance's arms. Lance's breathing quickened with a sharp gasp through barely parted lips. He turned his face toward Keith's neck, eyes still closed, and whispered, "Shh... Shh... I have you. Blue... talk to her."

"I know," Keith growled, words overlapping Lance's soothing tone, "She didn't abandon me. This is temporary. Trust me."

Cold sweat sent a shiver up James's back. The candles flickered, flames dancing higher and lower at whim. The room was slightly slanted toward the drains, but in the dim light, the water on the floor seemed to defy physics, forming little rivulets that traveled along the circle. Veronica reached for his arm and he pressed into her side. What the hell were they witnessing?

Keith continued panting, lips drawn back in a feral snarl. One hand slipped from Lance's arm and landed on his leg. He clutched the fabric of his pants and hoarsely cried, "Lance."

Lance responded by cupping the side of Keith's neck and drew him up. Pressing their foreheads together, their lips almost touched, and he whispered, "She's angry because she cares. We all are. Red, you know I won't let anything happen to him."

Keith shook his head, tears starting to trace down his cheeks. "We're here for your siblings. Don't let what the others, what my family did... Please, Red, we don't have the luxury. You know this."

His whole body quaked, muscles fighting to hold himself still. The flames of the candles burned so low they almost went out. Lance dropped Keith's hand and wrapped his arms around Keith's shoulders. He broke out of sitting cross legged and gathered Keith to himself. They rocked back and forth, the candles starting to rise. Lance's arms started to tremble. He murmured, "It's okay, mullet. It's okay. It's okay. Red, please, you're hurting him!"

The words left his mouth as Keith arched backward, lips still pulled back in feral rage. Keith let loose a wild animalistic roar right as the candle flame grew to four feet high, swirling around the inside of the circle in an impenetrable wall. James pulled Veronica back from the door, but the flames didn't pass over the water barrier. The sounds echoed around the small room, nothing human about them.

"Lance!" Veronica slipped free and moved toward the pair.

"Don't get close!" James caught and held her back and said, "It's too dangerous!"

"We have to do something!" Ryan argued.

He scanned the locker room for something, anything, he could use to put out the fire. Frantic, he spotted a small extinguisher tucked against the lockers. He grabbed it and pulled the pin. "Hold you breath!"

Before he could squeeze the handle, the flames extinguished and the sprinkler system activated. The shock of cold water stopped him from dousing his friends in potassium bicarbonate. Veronica shouted her brother's name again and shoved past James. He let her, eyes wide in fear and confusion.

James lowered the extinguisher to see Keith clinging to Lance, arms loose around the other boy's shoulders. He was trembling. Lance kept rocking them, lips moving, but his words too quiet to hear over the water raining through the room. Veronica knelt beside them, one hand rubbing Keith's back, but her focus completely on her brother.

"James." Ryan repeated, "James!"

James tore his eyes away from the three of them to notice Ryan by the door to the hall where the sprinklers were going off all through the school. "Ah, shit," he cursed, and started sprinting.

Veronica heard footsteps in shallow water and looked over to see Ryan and James racing toward the utility room to shut off the main. Raised voices and children shouting floated from the hallways. Keith groaned and rubbed his throat, teeth clenched in a pained grimace. That sound he'd made... She shivered, hoping the cold water would explain it away.

Lance moved to stand, lifting Keith with him. Veronica followed suit, one hand out to help, but Lance had both of Keith's arms around his neck and his own hands clasped behind Keith's back. They stood tight together, chest to chest. Veronica would have a hard time prying them apart if she wanted to assist. With a glance at the voices growing closer as children and parents started evacuating, she asked, "Are you two alright?"

Keith shuddered and put his forehead to Lance's collarbone. He cleared his throat and coughed, then shook his head. Lance lifted one hand to gently play with the hair at the back of Keith's neck and said, "We need to see Allura." Bending his face into the crook of Keith's neck, he encouraged, "Come on, samurai. I have you."

Veronica bit her lip, concern making her chest tight, as her little brother guided his shattered boyfriend toward the locker room door. Because there wasn't a doubt that they were a couple. She'd known about his crush on Kogane long before the invasion, but they'd managed to survive together and come back so much stronger. When he'd had a chance to recover from whatever the fuck just happened, she intended to have a lengthy sit down with Officer Kogane.

Keith stayed close to Lance right up to where they stepped out of the locker room. Veronica hadn't expected her brother to let Keith detach from his hip, but Lance allowed it and even paused so he followed him. Several people startled and Keith lifted his hood. Veronica cursed internally and quickly bunched up the clothes Mrs. Holt had picked out, clothes Lance and Keith seemed determined to ignore.

Even though the water seemed to have stopped, James hadn't found how to shut off the alarm yet. She followed, struggling against the damp crowd evacuating while Keith and Lance seemed to flow through it. By the time she caught up, the elevator doors opened. Veronica entered and stood in the opposite corner. Keith showed none of the weakness from the locker room and Lance hid any concern behind a blank expression beneath his own hood and above crossed arms. Then the door opened and she couldn't spy on them anymore.

The bunker was alive with movement caused by the excitement above. A pair of cadets sprinted toward them and asked, "Is everyone out?"

Veronica tried to answer, but Lance said first, "The evacuation is ongoing, but it's a false alarm. Cadets Griffin and Kincaid shut off the water and the rest of the cadets are helping organize everyone else. Spread the word."

The girls saluted him before darting off toward Admiral Sanda's office. Veronica moved closer to Lance as people moved past and whispered, "That was pretty smooth, little brother. Didn't know you could be so... attentive."

"Of course he is," Keith said from her other side, making her jump. "Why do you think we trust him with our lives?"

Veronica saw Lance glance away to hide a blush and turned an accusing eyebrow on Keith. "You're talking for the assassins again?"

Keith's eyebrow lifted as well and even though his eyes remained distant, she knew, somehow, that he judged her words on a much deeper scale than she could fathom. She tried to match his intensity, but he looked away first and said, "Them, myself, Allura... the lions. Lance and I are a part of something that can impact the entirety of the universe. I want him by my side to see that through... but also because of what he means to me, Veronica. Don't think so little of my emotional investment." Then Keith pushed on ahead toward the infirmary.

Veronica almost came to a stop, but Lance linked elbows with her and leaned in to whisper, "He's a bit dramatic. Can't imagine where he gets that from."

She echoed his audible eye roll with one of her own and let him pull her onward. "Is he serious, Lance? You didn't make it seem so dire this morning. And as long as we're talking about this, what the hell happened upstairs?"

Lance bit his lip and looked at the ground. "Yeah, V, it is serious. I'm the Blue Paladin of Voltron and it is my sworn duty to act as such. Keith needs my support as our leader. The rest of the paladins will as well when we find them. Because that is my role. The rest... I'll explain later."

"You love him."

It wasn't a question, but he nodded in answer. "Yeah, V. I do. As much as you love Nadia, which you never told me about."

Veronica snorted in surprise and cut off her laughter before it escaped. A small smile on her lips, she countered, "You'd never keep it a secret. Proved that within twenty four hours."

Lance gave her a dirty look, but was interrupted by Nadia exclaiming, "Thank God you're here!"

Lance tensed and increased his pace asking, "What happened?"

Nadia matched their speed and explained, "About a minute before the fire alarm went off, Katie grew restless and Hunk started coming out of whatever unconscious state that woman put her in. It took three of us to hold him on the table."

Lance broke free of both of them and ran to Keith's side at Hunk's exam table. Katie's parents and brother crowded around the cot, blocking her from view. Veronica grabbed Nadia's hand and hastily explained what had happened in the locker room while the others were all distracted. "But we can't tell Sanda. Who knows what she'll do to them."

"V," Nadia said, eyes slightly shimmery, "You didn't see Hunk. The woman and Matt had no idea what was going on. They're hurting him whether they intended to or not."

Nadia took a step toward the door, but Veronica held tight. "Please, Nadia, he's my brother. I can't lose him again." Nadia bit her lip and shook her head. Fearful tears threatened to fall. Before Veronica could argue further, Keith and the woman spoke up by the exam table.

"I know I've seen this before, Keith."

"I don't doubt it, princess, but how? The admiral won't allow it."

Veronica started toward the table as the alien woman put a hand on Keith's bicep. "There is no choice. If my hypothesis is correct, we have to bring him to the lion as soon as possible."

Keith looked from her to Hunk resting on the table. "It... it's too dangerous. At least while he's like this. Complete the treatment. Hopefully he'll wake up and then we'll ask him."

"And if he doesn't?" Lance asked. Keith put his hands on the table's edge and leaned his full weight on it. Lance stood across from him and said, "It's a possibility, Keith. Just like what happened to me. So what then?"

Keith rolled his shoulders forward and exhaled slowly. Veronica noticed that all attention was on the gathering at the table. Nadia whispered in her ear, "Still convinced we shouldn't tell the admiral?" Veronica tried not to glare at her girlfriend and said nothing, her eyes locked on Keith.

He met Lance's eyes and answered, "I've considered our options, but we can't act without more intel." He turned to Allura and said, "We wait for the treatment to finish and monitor him until morning. Then we reassess."

"Roger, team leader," Matt said, earning a withering look from Keith.

"Then there is one other thing, Keith," Allura broached. Keith faced her, one hand on the table, as she walked toward him. She hugged him, squeezing him lightly. "It's time for you to rest, too."

Veronica watched in utter amazement as the young woman kind of wrapped him up against her body and pressed the vial she'd hid in her hand against the side of his neck. He grimaced and went limp, but instead of lowering him to the ground, she effortlessly caught his weight and lifted him bridal style. Lance stepped back and followed as she laid him in a prepared bed. The covers were pulled back and everything.

Lance lifted the covers and sat on the edge of the bed. "Thank you, princess. I don't think he's gotten more than a couple hours of sleep the past few days."

Allura lightly pushed Keith's hair off his forehead and covered his hand. "He didn't resist, though I still feel guilty."

Lance wrapped an arm around her back and soothed, "You're the only one who could have, Allura. We don't have Thace or Antok to help."

Allura sat on the edge of the bed and played with a ring on her left hand. She looked at Hunk, eyes still swimming with emotion, and said, "Do we know when they'll arrive? I long for Ulaz's counsel and plotting a safe route-" She cut herself off when she noticed Lance's distressed expression. "Did negotiations fail? Lance, what's happened?"

Lance slumped and whispered, "No, no, it's... they left. Krolia left him... and I don't know when she'll be back."

Allura's hand went to her mouth. She glanced, wide eyed at Keith, and murmured, "Oh. Oh no, you poor thing." She leaned over him and Lance rubbed between her shoulders.

Feeling slightly intrusive, Veronica pulled Nadia into the hall. The distant alarm above had been silenced and the bunker was still fairly empty. Standing in a dark corner, they clasped hands between their chests. Veronica saw the fear in her girlfriend's eyes and hated that she didn't have the answers to make it go away. Yet.

"I... I'm sorry," Nadia started. "When Hunk grew restless... I was scared."

Veronica bit her lip and resisted reaching up to run her fingers through Nadia's hair. "I know I'm asking a lot... but we can't tell Ellen about this. Please."

Nadia held her breath, their eyes meeting, and nodded. "You're right. We don't have the answers and the last thing we need is panic." She looked back toward the infirmary and added, "And they obviously care. I just don't know... V, what do we do?"

Veronica couldn't restrain herself any more and lifted Nadia's hand around her necklace. "I'm not sure we should do anything. For now, let's help upstairs and then-"

Someone cleared their throat and they both turned to see Mrs. Holt standing in the doorway. Veronica immediately stepped forward at attention and asked, "Did you need something, Officer Holt?"

Mrs. Holt smiled and said, "Coleen, please. I haven't actively served in almost two decades, despite my sister's wishes."

"Alright. What can we do?" Nadia asked.

"Lance promised answers, Veronica," Mrs. Holt started. "Gather your team and return in one hour."

Veronica and Nadia shared a confused look. Nadia clarified, "Really? Just like that?"

Mrs. Holt's smile hardened, still maternal, yet defensive. Terrifying. "If you want to know the truth, this is your only chance while Keith is unable to listen again. You have no idea how hard the last week has been for him." She jutted her chin toward the elevator and said, "Hurry up. Clock's ticking."

Sam stepped out of the doorway as the two women retreated and massaged his wife's shoulders. "You've spent too much time with Krolia, dear. I think you frightened them."

Coleen folded her arms and leaned back into his chest. "They're tiptoeing around us and it's getting annoying. Keith and Lance need them now more than ever. Now they can focus... and gain a little patience."

So I'm not completely happy with this chapter, but I don't think I need to drag on any longer! More to come! And how do you like it? Do I still have any readers?