At the service, Sven's com-band beeped discreetly. Sven glanced down at it, then quickly looked up to where he had last seen Lance. The color drained from his face. Romelle looked up at him. "What's wrong?" She whispered.
Sven didn't answer. He looked for Pidge and Hunk. They had identical looks on their faces. "Ve need to go now!" Sven whispered. He grabbed Romelle's hand, and quickly started out of the hall. Pidge and Hunk followed at their heels. Out in the hall they paused for a moment. "Did you get de message?" Sven asked.
Hunk nodded. "Just 'Get to sick-bay, immediately.' What's up?"
The Admiral joined them before Sven could answer. "What's going on here?"
"Ve all received messages to get to sick-bay." Sven told him.
The Admiral looked around. "Where's Lance?" He asked hoarsely.
All five of them looked at each other, then turned down the hallway at a dead run. They burst into sick-bay at the same time. A nurse looked up, startled at their sudden entrance. "Vhere is he?" Sven asked, his throat dry with fear. She pointed to a door across the room.
The Admiral paused and opened the door. At first, all he could see was Dr. Gorma bending over someone. Allura sat perched on the bed, her back obstructing Harrison's view. He stepped inside. Allura looked up, tears rolling down her cheeks. The Admiral's heart pounded.
"Hey Dad, look who we found!"
Harrison started. That was his son's voice. Lance stepped into view. "Lance? But we thought…" Before he could finish, Allura stepped away. There on the bed, was his other son, the son he thought dead. "Keith?...My God, KEITH!" He yelled incredulously.
Sven and the others looked at each other, then crowded into the room. Sure enough, their Captain lay there on a bed. Keith was covered in bandages, his left arm strapped to his chest. "Are you real?" Romelle whispered.
"If I'm not, some one has some explaining to do." Keith grinned weakly.
Pidge was the first to move. He flew across the room, wrapping his arms around Keith's neck. His body shook with sobs. Keith returned the hug with his good arm. "Easy Pidge, I'm ok." He said softly.
As Pidge drew back, Romelle and Hunk took his place. Romelle kissed him soundly, and Hunk grasped Keith's hand, beaming. The Admiral was next, holding Keith tightly. Sven stood, still in shock, by the door.
Lance walked over to him. "I know. I keep pinching myself to tell me it's real."
"Min broder…." Sven whispered in Swedish, finally walking over and embracing his friend. Tears filled everyone's eyes.
"So, a memorial service, huh? Who showed up?" Keith joked, trying to lighten the mood.
It worked. Everyone laughed. "Only half the Fleet including the 'Explorer' and their Voltron Force." The Admiral told him.
"No kidding! I haven't seen Jeff and the gang since we all graduated." Keith said thoughtfully. "Do they know I'm all right?"
Allura looked shocked. "No! The service is still going on!"
"Don't you think some one should tell them upstairs?" Hunk asked, still grinning.
The room was beginning to fade in and out. Being back home, hearing his friends around him, finally made him feel safe and secure. Keith lay back and closed his eyes.
The door opened and Coran walked into the room. He glared at all assembled.
"Captain." He nodded towards Keith, then turned to face the others. "And what pray tell, was so important down here that you all had to get up and leave the…Captain's… Memorial….Ser…" His voice trailed off, as he stared at Keith.
Lance laughed. It seemed like he couldn't stop smiling. "Well, that's the first time I've ever seen you tongue-tied Coran!"
"But…Keith…How?" He stammered.
"That's what we'd all like to know!" Pidge quipped.
Keith smiled weakly. He struggled to keep his mind focused, and his eyes open. Dr. Gorma noticed, and started to usher everyone out of the room. "Let him rest, he's not going anywhere, trust me." Pidge and Hunk rushed out to tell the assembled guests the good news. Sven and Romelle stared for a moment, the smiled at him and left. Harrison gave Keith's good arm a quick squeeze, then followed them out the door. Keith was already fast asleep. Dr. Gorma looked up at Lance and Allura. "Go, get some rest yourselves." He told them.
Allura shook her head. "I won't leave him." She sat down in a chair, holding tightly to Keith's hand.
"Me neither Doc." He sat on the foot of the bed, staring at his friend.
Dr. Gorma shook his head and muttering, left the room.
Allura bent forward, and brushed a lock of hair off Keith's forehead. "I love you." She whispered, placing a soft kiss on his lips. Lance smiled.
Out in the waiting room, Sven, Romelle, and Admiral Harrison, gathered around Dr. Gorma. "So, how is he really?" Asked the Admiral.
"The Captain is in very good shape all things considered. He is mostly suffering from trauma and fatigue. He has a broken shoulder, a few cracked ribs, and a concussion that is just about healed. The cuts are mostly superficial. He had some internal bleeding, but that seems to have stopped on its own accord. The only thing that saved his life where the antibiotics he found in the ship's first aid kit. His shoulder is the worst of the damage right now. That and exhaustion. A few more days rest, and he should be fine." He paused. "It's the burns on his back and legs I'm really concerned about."
"What kind of burns?" Harrison asked.
"I'm not sure. I've never seen anything like it." Dr. Gorma said, puzzled.
Romelle looked at Sven. He lifted his shirt. "Do dey look like dis?" He asked.
Dr. Gorma gasped, and nodded. "That's exactly what they look like! Sven, what are they?" He asked, taking in the angry red scars on Sven's chest.
"Haggar. She used her staff. They vill heal in time." He carefully tucked his shirt back in. "But dey vill hurt forever."
The Admiral looked murderous. "I wonder what really happened up there." He looked back towards the room where Keith lay. "I guess we will just have to wait and find out."
Keith awoke to something heavy lying across his legs. Where am I? He opened his eyes. Sick-bay. It wasn't a dream. I'm home. He lifted his head to glance down at his legs. Lance was sprawled across him, half on the bed, half in a chair, sound asleep. He glanced towards his right. Allura was curled up in another chair, also fast asleep. Keith lay back down smiling. Lance shifted, and looked up sleepily at Keith.
"Hey Cap. How you feeling?" He asked quietly.
"Better." He nodded to Allura. "Lance, put her to bed. Get some rest yourself. Believe me, I'm not going anywhere."
Lance looked thoughtful. "She'll kill me when she wakes up." He got to his feet and stretched. Then bent over and took the Princess in his arms. Allura sighed, but didn't wake. Lance winked at Keith. "See you later." Then he turned and left the room.
Keith waited until they were gone, then took a deep breath. He slowly sat up, wincing in pain. He shifted until he was sitting, with his feet on the floor. His ribs ached, and the pain in his shoulder made him see stars. The burns on his back felt no better than they did a week ago. Keith slipped his arm out of the sling, and managed to pull the I.V. cord out of his arm. He took another deep breath, and struggled to his feet.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Keith looked up. Jeff and Cliff, from the other Voltron Force, were standing in the doorway. Jeff walked over and helped Keith sit back down. "Glad to see you're still with us Montgomery." He said, smiling.
Cliff stood leaning on the doorframe. "Hell of a way to get us to visit you old chap."
"Yeah, I planned this purely for your enjoyment." Keith said sarcastically.
Jeff looked him over. "What did you do it for Keith! No one thought you got out of there! You shouldn't have gone in alone."
"I'm higher rank than you Jeff, instead of the lecture, go get me a cup of coffee. I haven't had one in a week." Keith growled. Jeff rolled his eyes and headed towards the kitchen. Keith looked up at Cliff. "Are you going to start too?"
Cliff sat down next to Keith. "Keith, that was a damn fool thing to do. We trained together, what did you think you were doing?" He asked, frowning at his friend.
Keith narrowed his eyes. "Shadow taught us to never leave an enemy in a place to do more damage. I got Lance and Allura out of there before I did anything. They were my first priority." He growled.
"And Lance had no business even being there!" Cliff paused. "Tell me one thing, Keith, did you kill Lotor?" He asked seriously.
Keith shook his head. "I couldn't." He sighed. "When I left him, he was alive. I won't say I didn't hurt him, but I left him alive."
"Well," Cliff added, "You're a better man than me."
Keith got to his feet again. "I haven't eaten in a week. Where the hell is Jeff with my coffee!"
Cliff laughed. "You think goody-goody Dunbar is coming back here? He'll have reported to Admiral Harrison, that you're awake, and making demands. The brass will be descending on you any minute. Come on, let's get out of here. Hospitals give me the willies."
"Yeah, like they're going to let me leave. Nice try Cliff." Keith muttered.
There was a knock on the door. Crick walked in, carrying a steaming, mug of coffee. Keith's mouth watered. "Hello Keith! Glad to see you up and around!" Crick handed Keith the cup. Keith took a sip, and closed his eyes in pleasure.
Cliff and Crick laughed at his expression. "How are you feeling?" Crick asked.
"I've felt better. Feels like a marching band is practicing in my head." Keith responded.
"Let me help." Crick placed his hands on Keith's temples. Keith closed his eyes. A sharp, bright pain shot through his head, then it disappeared. "Better?"
Keith opened his eyes. The pain in his head had vanished. "Much better. Thanks."
"Hey Crick, where'd Jeff go? Cliff asked. "Is he that afraid of Keith?"
"Security Council meeting. Commander Hawkins wants you and me to join them as well." Crick told him.
Keith opened his eyes. "I suppose I should be there too."
"I hate to say this, but I think you're right." Cliff looked out the door. "Coast is clear. I guess they figure if we're here, you won't be going anywhere."
"They guessed wrong. Let's go."