Hello,

This one is for all the K & A fans.  

All relative disclaimers apply!

Enjoy,

Failte

***************************************

            Keith blinked the sweat out of his eyes as they raced toward Doom.  His heart was beating so fast he thought it would burst right through his chest.  He was known and respected for the fact that he was able to continue leading his men into battle with a clear mind, no matter what was at stake.  It was of the utmost importance for him to be able to think and plan accordingly.  

            This was never a problem before.  Even when Allura's life was in danger he was able to think it through and get to her, save her.  But this was different.  She was pregnant.  This baby was so important to her, and to him.  Her protection and that of their baby was what consumed his life now.  For a few days they had the comfort and happiness of knowing that Lotor would never again bother them.  Now this new threat appeared.

            Ignoring the pain and stiffness in his right hand, Keith whispered prayers under his breath.  Praying for Allura's safety, praying that they get there in time, praying that Landor wasn't as evil as his brother.

            "ETA five minutes."  Pidge announced over the intercom.

            "Copy that."  Keith replied, wiping the sweat from his eyes.

            "She'll be fine, Cap," Hunk said.

            "Yeah, if he tries anything, Allura will kick his ass."  Lance added.

            Keith gave them a weak smile, "I know.  Thanks guys."

            Doom was a dark, foreboding planet.  The landscape was barren and the air heavy.  They landed near what had once been a large, thick forest and exited their lions.

            "What's the plan, Cap?"  Lance whispered.

            "Dante and Hunk, I want you to come with me, we're going to stake out the front.  Lance and Pidge, I want you to separate and go in from either side.  Get Allura out alive.  If you can get Landor alive, great, if not, that's alright too.  The most important thing is getting Allura out alive."  Keith whispered. 

            The four pilots saluted and Lance and Pidge crept away, weapons drawn.

            They were a ten minute hike from the castle.  Keith, Hunk, and Dante kept to the tree line, weapons in hand, moving quickly. 

            No guards were posted at the entrance.  Keith scanned the area.

            "He's expecting us," Keith whispered.  "I think I should go in alone."

            "No."  Hunk said.

            "He wants me, Hunk, you guys stay out here and wait for me to call you."

            Hunk and Dante exchanged looks as Keith crept cautiously toward the door.  They waited a beat and followed him.

            "You're ignoring a direct order."  Keith growled.

            Hunk shrugged, "Sorry, Cap, we can't let you do this alone."

            With his heart pounding, Keith entered the decrepit old palace.  In its heyday, it had been an impressive structure.  Now it was crumbling down around them.  Torches lit the hallway.  Keeping close to the wall, they made their way further into the castle.  Keith felt his breath catch in his throat when he heard weeping.

            Allura.  Oh God, hang tight baby, I'm coming. 

            The hallway ahead of them was dark, the lights led toward the right.  Turning down the hall, they heard the weeping turn to whimpers.

            Hunk placed a hand on Keith's arm.  To anyone else, Keith was a picture of strict military training.  But Hunk could see the telltale signs of his impending loss of control.  Keith's knuckles turned white as he gripped his blaster, his breathing was coming out in short bursts, and there was a slight shake in his right hand.

            Keith paused a moment when Hunk stopped him.  He closed his eyes and composed himself.  He could not burst in there like this.  A clear mind was needed.

            The old throne room was straight ahead, brightly lit.  Very slowly they entered.  Two guards stepped out from either side of the door, swords drawn, and detained Hunk and Dante.

            "Captain Whitaker!  It's about time.  You aren't as quick as I thought you'd be." 

            Landor paced in front of the throne, idly picking his nails with the eight inch blade of the knife he held.

            Keith didn't even see him, his attention diverted to the throne.  Allura sat there, her crown gone and her hair falling about her face.  She lifted her head when she heard Landor and he saw the cut lip and black eye.  Her hands and legs were tied to the throne, her dress torn and dirty.  She gave him a weak smile.

            An angry red haze blurred his vision.

            "Don't worry, Captain," Landor taunted.  "I've taken very good care of your wife.  You see, I wanted to wait until the baby was actually born, I thought that would be more dramatic, but then I heard about this reception and Haggar suggested that I should gut your wife in front of you."  He chuckled.  "I have to admit that has a certain quality to it that I like."

            Keith took a deep breath and tried to calm himself, "What do you want Landor?"

            "What do I want?  I want you to suffer the way I have suffered!"

            "How have you suffered?"

            "How have I suffered?"  Landor's voice rose to hysterics.  "Because of you I have no family!   First you took away my father and now my brother!  How have I suffered?  You took my family and now I will take yours!" 

            He turned to the throne and pressed the tip of the blade against Allura's stomach.  She twisted against her restraints, but she was tied tight.

            "No!"  Keith called out.  "Don't hurt her!  Please, take me, let her go.  You don't want to do this."
            "Oh, but I do."  He pressed the tip into her stomach.

            Keith watched with horror as a dark red spot appeared and grew against the pale pink of her gown.  He lunged forward.

            "Ah ah ah," Landor said.  "Stay back!"

            "What do you want from me?"  Keith cried.

            "Why did you kill my father?"

            "It was him or us."

            "He was a great man!"

            "He was a horrible man!  He killed people, enslaved them.  He tried to take over Arus and take us all prisoner.  Thousands of people died because of Zarkon and tens of thousands lost their homes."

            Landor looked at him, his brow furrowed.  "No. No, Lotor said Father was a great man.  All those planets came to him for help and alliances.  Arus attacked him."

            "No, Lotor lied.  I don't know why.   Zarkon treated him terribly."

            Landor closed his eyes and put a hand to his head, "No, no, you're lying!"

            "Landor," Keith lowered his gun and took a small step forward.  "Put down the knife.  We can help you."

            Landor shook his head, as though he was trying to clear his thoughts.  "Lotor said you would kill me the first chance you got."

            "No, we won't.  We will get you help.  Just put down the knife and step away from her."

            Landor brought both hands to his head and groaned. "No, you're bad!  You'll kill me like you did Lotor and my father."

            "No, Landor.  They brought their deaths upon themselves.  You can save yourself.  Put down the knife and step away.  We will help you."  Keith took another step forward.

            "No!"  Landor roared and raised the knife above his head.

            The sound of a laser pierced the air and sliced through Landor's shoulder.  Two more blasts disabled the guards holding Dante and Hunk.  Lance and Pidge had entered from a rear exit.

            Landor was on the ground, blood poring from his shoulder, "Damn you!  Lotor was right!  Damn you all!"

            Hunk and Dante restrained him while Keith ran toward the throne.  Pulling the knife from his belt he slashed through the ropes. 

            Allura slid off the seat and into his arms.  Keith fell to his knees, rocking her in his lap.  He looked up when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

            "Get her home we'll take care of Landor."  Lance told him.

            Keith nodded. 

            "Dante, go with him.  Cover his exit."  Lance instructed.

            Allura laid her head on his shoulder as Keith clutched her in his arms.  She shook and silent tears ran down her face. 

            "It's okay, baby, we'll get you out of here.  You'll be fine."  He whispered as he carried her quickly down the hall and toward the castle entrance.

            Dante raced ahead, making sure the path was clear.

            Pressing her right hand to her stomach, Allura wrapped her left arm around his neck, burying her face into his collar.  Keith whispered comforting words and sweet endearments to her as he carried her toward Black.  They were meant to calm him as well as her.  Carefully, he sat her on the small, fold down passenger seat in the cockpit.  She was as limp as a rag doll as he strapped her in.  After taking off and setting coordinates to Arus, he flipped on autopilot and swiveled his seat around.  Her head hung down so that her chin was touching her chest.  She had a hand pressed to her stomach and he watched as silent tears fell into her lap.

            "Allura, honey, let me see your stomach."  He felt his heart stop when she pulled her hand away, sticky with blood.

            Reaching under his seat, he pulled out the first aid kit.  Swallowing his fear, he tore away the fabric, exposing her abdomen.  The cut looked deep, but not deep enough for stitches.  Taking out an antiseptic wipe, he cleaned her wound and placed a bandage over it.  Pulling out a hand wipe, he carefully cleaned her hand.

            "Are you okay?"  He whispered

.           She slowly lifted her head and looked at him, "He said he was going to kill the baby while I was still alive to see it and then he would watch me bleed to death."  Her voice was low and hoarse.

            Without saying a word, Keith unstrapped her belts and pulled her onto his lap.  She buried her face into his collar and sobbed.  He gently stroked her back and kissed the top of her head.

            "You know I wouldn't let that happen," he whispered.

            She nodded.

            Keith was at a loss for words.  The intense fear and anger he had felt had diminished and he was now feeling worn out.  All he wanted to do was hold her and never let her go.  So they sat, quietly, clinging to each other.  As they put more distance between themselves and Doom, he felt her breathing even out and knew she slept.

            His communicator went off, causing Allura to wake with a start.

            "It's alright, babe, go back to sleep."  He stroked her hair as he reached for his communicator.  "Whitaker."

            "Keith, its Lance."

            "What is it?"

            "We have Landor in custody.  Hunk and Pidge are taking him to the Garrison outpost on Planet Zettle.  They will detain him until they can move him to the maximum security prison on Luna."

            "Sounds good Lance."

            "How's Allura?"

            Keith looked down at her, curled up in his lap, her head on his shoulder, her hands clutching the front of his flightsuit.  She looked so small and lost.  "She'll be alright."

            "See you back at home, Cap."

            "Bye, Lance."  Keith snapped his communicator shut and clipped it back onto his belt.

            When Arus came into view, Keith shifted to move Allura back into her seat so he could land.  She tightened her grasp on his suit and pressed against him.

            "I need to be able to land, honey."

            "You can do it," she whispered into his chest.

            He looked down at her.  She had been captured before, held at gunpoint, knifepoint, and the end of a sword.  But she was always able to walk away from it, when the threat passed, she would give into the fear.  But never did she crawl into herself and cling to him like she did now.  It frightened him.

            Keith wrapped his right arm securely around her and awkwardly maneuvered the lion with one hand.  Black knew what was happening and all but landed himself right beside the castle entrance.

            Before exiting Keith pulled out his communicator and contacted Castle Control.

            "Koran, have Dr. Gorma on standby.  I'm bringing Allura in and she's pretty banged up."

            "Keith, take her to your room. I'll have Dr. Gorma treat her there."

            "What's wrong with the hospital?"
            "All the women who had been burned are having some kind of reaction.  The hospital is filled."

            "Darcy?"

            "She's there as well.  They're all sick."

            Keith sighed deeply, "I'll take her to our room, get Dr. Gorma there as quickly as possible."

            "Yes, sir."

            Keith pocketed his communicator and stood, holding Allura in his arms.  Black had landed and lay on the ground just a few feet from the entrance. 

            Nanny appeared at the door, "Oh, my poor girl.  How is she?"

            "She's pretty banged up, Nanny."

            "What can I do?"  The old woman wrung her hands.

            "I need to get her to bed so Dr. Gorma can check her out."  Keith hurried past her.

            Nanny watched.  A tear slid down her cheek.  It was so hard for her to admit that Allura was no longer hers to care for.  Keith was a good man, she knew that.  She desperately wanted to go to her queen, but it was no longer her place.

            Setting Allura on wobbly legs beside their bed, Keith carefully removed her bloodstained gown and wrapped her thick robe around her shoulders.  He pulled the pins from her hair and watched it fall to her shoulders.

            "Come on, baby," he pulled the blankets back.  "Lay down.  Dr. Gorma will be here soon."

            "I'll be okay, Keith."  She whispered as she sat on the edge of their bed.

            "I know you will be."  He went into their bathroom and came back with a damp washcloth and a towel.  As gently as he could, he washed her face and cleansed her wounds.  There was a cut on her upper lip and the bruise surrounding her right eye was turning a brilliant purple. 

            She watched him as he crossed to her vanity and picked up her hairbrush.  "I can do it."  She held her hand out for the brush.

            Keith shook his head and smiled, "No, I want to."

            He slid into the bed behind her. Carefully he pulled the brush through her hair, smoothing and untangling it.  When he finished, Allura sighed and leaned back against his chest.  He kissed the top of her head and laced his fingers through hers.

            "How're you feeling?"

            "A little better.  What's keeping Dr. Gorma?"

            Keith paused, wondering if he should tell her what was going on.  "He has some patients he needs to see."

            "What's going on, Keith?"

            "I don't know, honey.  You'll have to ask him when he gets here."

            Allura turned so she was on her side, curled up against his chest.  "Thank you, Keith."

            "Hmm?"

            "Thank you, once again, for coming to my rescue."

            He placed his finger under her chin and forced her to look up at him, "Allura, you are the most important thing in the world to me.  I couldn't live without you.  I don't ever want you to worry about your safety, or the safety of our children.  As long as I'm alive, I will keep you safe."

            She kissed him gently.  "My hero," she breathed against his lips.

            He framed her face with his hands, "I love you, Allura."  He kissed her forehead. 

            "I love you, Keith."  She curled up on his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck, laying her head on his shoulder and cuddling as close to him as she could.

            This is how Dr. Gorma found them five minutes later, wrapped around each other, Allura dozing.  A quick examination showed all of her wounds to be superficial.  Much to Keith's relief, she, and the baby, would be fine.