Darcy felt as though she was waking from a deep sleep.  Consciousness crept into her mind and light invaded the darkness.  It was so cold.

            "Darcy?  Can you hear me?"

            A voice entered the gray realm in which she rested.

            "Mmm."  Her eyelids felt heavy as she forced them open.

            "Go, contact the Lieutenant.  Tell him she's waking."

            Lance was on duty in Castle Control when his communicator went off.

            "Collier."

            "Lieutenant?  This is Nurse Helene, it looks like Sgt. Barlow is coming out of it."
            Lance jumped to his feet, "Thanks for contacting me.  I'll be there as soon as I can."  He looked over to where Koran was speaking with Keith.

            "Excuse me, Keith."  Lance interrupted them.  "It's Darcy, they said she's coming out of it."

            Keith looked at his watch.  Lance still had another hour on duty.

            "Swap with me Keith, it's just an hour, it'll give you an extra hour off tonight."

            The Captain nodded, "Alright."

            "Thanks man."

            He raced down the hall toward the hospital wing, past the rec room and almost knocked Pidge flat on his backside.  The waiting room was empty.  Three of the women had been sent home feeling much better.  The wife of one of the Cabinet members went home to be cared for by her personal physician.  This left Darcy and two other patients.  Dr. Franziena, a math professor at the University of Arus, was in the worst shape.  She was hooked up to a respirator and had yet to regain consciousness.  Miss Wlyth had awakened just a few hours earlier.

            Lance stopped at Darcy's room and knocked on the door.  A moment later, Nurse Helene exited, carrying a vial of blood they had just extracted.

            "Dr. Gorma is in with her now," she told him.  "You can go ahead on in."

            Dr. Gorma stood over the bed holding Darcy's wrist, checking her pulse, while she lay quietly with a thermometer in her mouth.

            "How's she doing, doc?"  Lance asked.

            "Her fever broke last night, so she had her first full night's sleep in two days."

            "Things look good, then?"

            "Yes, Lieutenant.  But I still want her to stay here a couple of days, until we're sure the danger has passed."

            "Op alkin ike um nah ear.  Wha hat in?"

            Lance and Dr. Gorma looked at Darcy as she tried to speak around the thermometer in her mouth.

            "What did you say?"  Lance asked.

            She looked up at Dr. Gorma who took the instrument out of her mouth.

            "I said, stop talking like I'm not here.  What happened?"

            Dr. Gorma looked at the thermometer in his hand, "You're looking better, Sergeant."  He was interrupted by a loud buzzing sound.  "That's Dr. Franziena.  I'll let the Lieutenant explain it to you.  Just call if you have any problems."  He rushed from the room.

            Lance sat on the edge of her bed, "You know, I'm getting really tired of having to come to the hospital to see you."
            She rolled her eyes, "Tell me about it.  I've spent more time in here than in the lions."
            He reached over and stroked her cheek, "How're you feeling?"

            "I'm cold and my arms and legs feel like they weigh three hundred pounds each."

            Lance found another blanket in the cupboard by the door and tucked it around her.  "You're going to be weak for a while."

            "What happened?"  She asked.

            "You've been in and out of it for about two days now."

            "Huh?"  The last thing she remembered was Nurse Helen helping her into the bed.  She was now wearing a hospital gown and Lance was sitting beside her, a cocky smile on his face.  "Allura?"

            "She's fine.  We found her on Doom with Landor.  He's even more screwed up than Lotor was."

            "Why am I here, what's wrong with me?"

            Lance took her hand, it was like ice. "Remember the burn on your arm?"

            She lifted her left arm.  The mark was beginning to fade.

            "We figure it was a spell Haggar created.  When she touched you, a poison seeped into your bloodstream through your skin.  The amount of poison depended on how long her hand was in contact with your skin.  A couple of the women were only brushed by her hand, so they felt dizzy and nauseous, but it passed.  A few others, like yourself, actually had their arms gripped by her and more poison seeped in.  You had a fever of 105 and have been in and out of it for two days.  It was touch and go for a little while."  Lance explained.

            Darcy pulled the blankets tighter around her, "But everyone will be alright?"

            "There was one death.  Alona Kassenn.  Haggar grabbed her, Dr. Gorma said she probably held her arm for a good two or three minutes.  Enough poison was passed that she died quickly.  Haggar took on her image to get into the reception."

            "But why did she do this to us?  What was it about the seven of us that she had to do this to us?"

            Lance shrugged, "We don't know.  She may have just been trying to create a diversion so they could get Allura out.  Or she just wanted to have some sick fun.  Who knows with her.  Dr. Gorma has been testing the blood of all of you, he has discovered the poison, but has not yet been able to place where it came from."

            "What happened to Allura?"

            "We found a note with Alona from Landor saying that we cost him his family, so now he was taking ours.  He had Allura tied to the throne at the palace on Doom, holding her at knifepoint. She was pretty banged up and he cut her stomach, but it wasn't deep."

            "Oh, God," Darcy whispered. 

            "She's been resting, but Dr. Gorma said she and the baby will be alright.   He was toying with Keith.  Landor was convinced that it was all Keith's fault that his father and brother are dead."

            "Where is Landor now?"

            "He's locked up in maximum security on Luna."

            "What about Haggar?  Couldn't she get him out?"

            Lance shrugged, "He is under constant surveillance.  They're taking plenty of precautions to make sure that doesn't happen, including having a wizard brought in to try and combat anything she might try."

            Darcy yawned, "When can I get out of here?"

            Lance chuckled, "You heard Dr. Gorma, he wants you to stay for observation.  We have to make sure the poison is out of your system and you're out of danger."

            "I am freezing, Lance. Could you get something warmer to wear?"

            He leaned down and kissed her forehead, "Is there anything else you need?"

            "Not right now, thanks."

            When Lance returned to her hospital room, he found her curled up in the fetal position.

            "Darc?"

            "Oh, God, Lance, it hurts."  She whispered.     

            "What is it?"

            "My stomach.  Cramps."

            "Do you want me to get Dr. Gorma?"

            She nodded.

            Lance stood impatiently outside her door while Dr. Gorma examined her.   He twisted the sweatshirt he brought for her in his hands. 

            "She'll be alright," Dr. Gorma exited her room, closing the door behind him.     

            "What was it?"

            "Just some bad cramps.  I gave her some pills that will relieve it."  The doctor lowered his voice.  "I think we may have found the root of the poison."

            "That's good news."

            "Yes, we should be able to know how to fully treat her and the rest of the women.  I'll let you all know what we find."

            "Thanks, doc," Lance said, putting his hand on the doorknob.  "She'll be alright, won't she?"

            Dr. Gorma sighed, "I think so.  It'll be easier when we have confirmed what the poison is."

            Lance nodded and opened the door. 

            Darcy was lying on her back, one hand held a hot water bottle to her abdomen.

            "How're you feeling?"

            "The knots in my gut have loosened."

            "I brought you this," he held up the sweatshirt.  "Want me to help you?"

            She nodded.

            He went over to the bed and helped her into a sitting position and pulled the shirt down over her head.  When her hands slid through the cuffs, she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him to her.  Lance slipped his arms around her, sitting down on the bed.  Her cheek was so cold as it rested against his.

            "What's wrong with me?"  She whispered.

            "You'll be fine, Darc.  Dr. Gorma said they're close to confirming where the poison is derived from."
            "I'm beginning to think I'm cursed."

            Lance smiled and kissed her temple.  "I think you might be."

            She pulled back and looked at him, "That doesn't exactly make me feel better."

            "It makes life more exciting."

            "You can always see the bright side, can't you?"

            He combed the hair back from her face with his fingers, she was very pale and had dark circles under her eyes.  "Why don't you get some rest?"           

            "Will you lay with me?"  She asked, shyly.

            Lance looked down at the narrow bed, "You'll have to move over."

            She scooted to her right, leaving him enough room to stretch out on his side.  Lance was shocked at how cold she felt against him, pulling the blankets up, he wrapped his arms around her, trying to warm her.

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

            Lance woke from a light sleep to find Darcy on her side, pressed against him, shivering.

            "Darc?"  He ran his hand up and down her arm, trying to warm her.

            "Mmmm?"

            "Do you want something hot to drink, like tea or broth?"

            She rolled over and looked at him, "Would you mind?"

            "Not at all."  Very carefully, he climbed over her and out of the bed.  "I'll be right back."

            Keith was in the kitchen putting together a sandwich when Lance walked in.

            "Hey man, how's Allura doing?"  Lance asked as he filled a kettle with water.

            "She's better, although she is still having nightmares and isn't getting enough sleep.  Physically, she and the baby are fine."  Keith pulled a stool up to the butcher block table.

            "But emotionally…"
            Keith looked up at Lance, "She told me that when she was captured by Lotor, she wasn't really afraid.  She knew I would get to her and that he wouldn't really hurt her since he harbored some strange form of love for her.  But now, Landor isn't fueled by the same things.  And now it isn't just her, she has a whole other life the think about."

            "You're going to have a baby, your lives will never be the same."  Lance got out a mug and dug in the cabinet for tea.

            "It helps to know that Landor is in custody.  I hope that Haggar has realized that it is fruitless to help him and leaves him to rot in prison."

            "I can't believe she would have any obligation to serve Landor."

            Keith shrugged, "How's Darcy?"

            "Her fever broke, but now she has real bad chills.  Dr. Gorma thinks they're close to finding what exactly the poison is."

            "That's good news."

            "Yeah, they'll be able to treat them all better when they know what their fighting.  How's the hand?"

            Keith held up his scarred right hand.  He had started physical therapy the day before.  "It's still stiff, but I can bend my fingers at the knuckles now."

            "Good.  I know the rescue was pretty hard on you."

            "I didn't even think about it."

            Lance sat at the table, "Keith, now that we know Lotor is dead and Landor is in custody, what happens next?  I mean, how long will we continue to be stationed here?"

            "Well, I know you will all stay here until the rebuilding is done and we're sure it's safe."

            Lance nodded.

            "What's going on?"

            "Um, I've been thinking about our next assignments.  We'll all go our separate ways and I really enjoy it here."

            Keith took a bite from his sandwich and chewed thoughtfully, "You're worried about being separated from Darcy."

            "And the rest of you guys."

            Keith smirked, "Uh huh."

            "Seriously, Keith."

            "Seriously Lance?  I figure you guys will be around another couple of years.  If you guys want to stay, I can see what I can do."

            Lance grinned, "Thanks man, I really appreciate that."

            "Is it what Darcy wants?"

            "I think so.  I'll talk to her about it."  Lance stood when he heard the kettle whistle.

            Nurse Helene stopped Lance as he entered the waiting room. 

            "You'll need to wait out here, Lieutenant; Dr. Gorma is in there with her now."

            "Is everything alright?"  Lance asked, the hair on the back of his neck standing as a chill ran down his back.

            "Yes.  Dr. Gorma has confirmed where the poison was derived from."

            Lance nodded and sank down into one of the chairs.  Something wasn't right.

            It was about five minutes before Dr. Gorma left her room.  He nodded to Lance and went into his office.

            Knocking quietly, Lance opened the door.  Darcy was sitting up in her bed.  Three blankets were piled on her lap and she stared, unseeingly, at the wall.

            He set the cup of tepid tea on the bedside table and sat on the edge of her bed, "What did Dr. Gorma have to say?"

            She shifted her hollow gaze to his.  "You said they found a note with Alona, something about ruining families?"

             "Yeah, he blamed us for the loss of his family and he wanted us to pay."  Lance furrowed his brow, "What is it, Darc?"

            "The poison came from the Ttechken plant.  It's rare, it can only be found on a planet at the edge of the Wallerin Galaxy.  It only effects women, no one knows why, but it will make you sick, causing high fevers, severe chills, dizziness, and nausea.  One of it's side effects is that it attacks the female reproductive organs."

            He took her still, cold hand in his, "What does that mean?"

            "Depending on how much of the poison was absorbed, I may never be able to have children."

            Lance looked at her, not sure what to say.

            "Landor wanted to make sure he ruined everyone's families," she continued in a calm monotone. 

            "You're, uh, you're sure about this?"  Lance whispered.

            She shrugged.  "Dr. Gorma said there is still a chance that I didn't have enough of the Ttechken in my system to cause that much damage."

            "Um, how do you feel about this?"  He asked, uncertainly.

            "I don't know, Lance.  I feel numb.  I mean, I didn't want to have kids right now.  But I did, someday, after I got to fly for a few years and when I was ready to settle down.  But now I don't even have that option.  I just don't think it sunk in yet."

            She was so calm, it worried him.

            Very slowly, Darcy slid her hand out if his and moved until she was lying down.

            "Darc?"  Lance had no idea what to say or do.

            "I'm very tired, Lance."  She whispered.

            "Can I do anything?"

            She shook her head.

            He gently stroked her cheek, "I love you."

            Darcy gave him a weak smile, "I love you too, Lance.  But, right now, I want to be alone."

            He nodded, "You have your communicator, if you need anything, let me know."

            "I know, thank you." 

            Lance placed a lingering kiss on the forehead.  When he pulled back, her eyes were closed.  He was hesitant to leave her.  What he really wanted to do was crawl into the bed with her, wrap his arms around her and help her deal with this.  But he knew she needed this time alone and he would wait until she was ready to talk about it.