Sven took a deep breath and followed Dr. Woodhall into his son's room. She had spent the last five minutes explaining to him just what was wrong with Erik. It didn't look good. The retina had been detached and the optic nerve severed. He would never be able to see out of his left eye again. As for his face, there would always be some scarring, but with time and surgery, it would lessen. For now, Erik was very weak and needed time to recover his strength.
He, in turn, explained to the doctor why he wanted to tell Erik. Sven knew all too well what it was like to be injured and unable to continue the career you loved, the life you loved. He wanted to be the one to tell Erik that his life was not over, it was just going to change.
Dr. Woodhall lowered her voice and tried to prepare him for what he was about to see. "Please understand that your son has sustained some serious injuries. He does not look well, I just want you to be prepared for what you are going to see. His head was shaved and more than half of his head is wrapped in bandages. He can see clearly with his right eye and can gesture with his right hand. Just be patient with him. I'll go in first and speak with him, then I'm off."
Sven nodded, swallowing hard and mentally preparing himself for what he might see.
Dr. Woodhall pushed open the door and spoke loudly and clearly, "Hi Erik, how're you doing?"
Sven sucked in a sharp breath. His son was lying in the bed furthest from the door, the other bed was empty. A white sheet and beige blanket were pulled up to Erik's chest, under his arms. All Sven could see were the thick white bandages that were wrapped around his head and diagonally across his face. His right eye, part of his nose, and only half his mouth were uncovered. His skin was blotchy and swollen with fresh scars peeking out from the edge of the bandages. The white gauze was wrapped down around his neck and over his left shoulder where his arm and hand were also bandaged. A heart monitor beeped and an IV dripped into the back of his left hand. As Sven watched, Erik lifted his right hand and weakly gave a thumbs up.
Dr. Woodhall smiled, "That good, huh? You have a visitor."
Erik tried to shift so he could see.
"No, just lay still, he'll come to you."
Sven suddenly realized he was still standing in front of the door. With a heavy heart, he walked around to the bedside, trying to swallow the lump in his throat as he looked down on his eldest. "Erik."
The corner of Erik's mouth twitched, as though he was trying to smile or possibly speak.
"I'll leave you two to talk," Dr. Woodhall said. "You have the button if you need anything, Erik. I'll be back later tonight, until then Dr. O'Reilly will be in to check on you."
Erik gave a small wave with his fingers.
Sven pulled the chair from beside the window to the side of the bed. All night he had gone over and over in his mind what he would say to Erik, but as he looked down on his beaten and battered son, he found that all his carefully planned words had slipped his mind.
"D..d…"
Sven leaned closer as Erik tried to speak, "No, son, don't try to talk. Just relax, de only vay you vill get better is if you relax and take care of yourself. I'm so sorry dis happened, Erik."
Erik's tongue slowly licked his dry lips before he tried speaking again, "C…ca…"
"Cady?"
Erik raised his thumb.
"She's fine, she's here vith everyone else. Dey all vant to see you, but only if you are up for visitors. She actually vent home last night vith Tristan, she'll be fine. You did good, son, she's alive and vell because of you. Ve are all very proud of you…" Sven stopped to clear his throat as his voice cracked. "Ve are very proud of you and glad dat you're going to get better. I, uh, I asked Dr. Voodhall if I could be de von to tell you just vhat happened."
Erik's eyebrow went up slightly as he watched his father fumble for words.
"Dis isn't easy, son," Sven took his hand. "So I vill just come out and say it. You are going to get better, dere vill be scarring, but ve can get you plastic surgery to correct it as much as possible. And…and de retina in your left eye vas detached and de optic nerve severed. You are blind in your left eye."
Erik convulsively gripped Sven's hand.
"Don't vorry, Erik, dere is still so much you vill be able to do. After you get better, dere is plenty you can do on Pollux, you can finish you're schooling and help me on de ground…" he trailed off as Erik closed his eye. A single tear slid from beneath his eyelid. "It vill be all right, son, you vill be all right. Dis is not de end, Erik, but a whole new beginning, I know vhat I am talking about."
Erik slowly opened his eye and stared dully at his father.
"I'm so sorry, Erik, I really am. But you are strong and smart and you have so much to live for. You survived a horrific attack and you vill come out of dis stronger dan ever before." He squeezed his hand. "Ve vill all be here for you. Sky is here, she can't vait to see you…"
Erik's eye widened and he pulled his hand away.
Sven leaned over the bed and spoke sternly, "Erik, I know your first thought is to put distance between yourself and Sky. Don't do it. Vhen I first met your mother, I thought I vas too…damaged for her. I never thought such an amazing voman could love me, a broken man vith no possible future. But I quickly learned dat I couldn't live vithout her. My future vas vith her and I found de strength to create de life ve have now. Ve have a vonerful family, I am running de Polluxian military, and I married de voman of my dreams. Sky loves you, Erik, and she vill love you despite your scars and injuries. You vill only hurt yourself more by pushing her avay."
With an unsteady hand, Erik gestured toward his head.
"Listen to me, Erik, I am speaking from experience. I know you don't believe me, but I know exactly vhat you are going through. Don't push Sky avay, I mean dat. You still have a terrific future ahead of you. I know dat right now you are depressed, angry, hurt. But you still have so much to live for. And you have your family and friends who love you very much. Ve are all here for you and ve vant to help you."
Erik's mouth opened and closed slowly. Frustration marred his expression as he tried to communicate with his father.
"Don't push yourself, son. Just relax and rest so you can regain your strength."
Erik pursed his lips.
"Everyone vants to see you, are you up for visitors?"
He gave his father the thumbs down.
"Not even your mother?"
Thumb down.
"Sky?"
Erik hesitated. Truth be told, he wanted to see Sky desperately. But he didn't want Sky to see him.
Sven saw the hesitation, "I'll get her."
Erik waved his hand and gave his father a thumbs down.
"Too late, Erik, I know you vant to see her."
Erik sighed.
"She vants to see you."
The corner of Erik's mouth quirked up.
"I'll get her." Sven patted Erik's arm and left the room. Once in the hallway, he turned and pressed his forehead against the wall, trying to gather his composure. It took every ounce of self control to keep from putting his fist through the wall. He had thought he would never feel pain as intense as he had felt when Haggar had taken away his ability to fly and fight, but watching his son go through the exact same thing was proving to be a hundred times more painful.
Sky abruptly stopped pacing the waiting room when Sven walked in. Her heart stopped when she saw the look on his face. She had seen her father and his friends endure much over the years and she had heard all the stories of what had happened to them, but this was the first time she had ever seen any of the original Voltron Force near tears. He chewed on his lower lip and blinked rapidly as he looked around the room.
Sven cleared his throat, "He, uh, he vants to see Sky."
Romelle stood, "How is he?"
"He, um, he's very veak and can't really talk. He is communicating vith his hands. Right now he just needs rest."
"H-he wants to see me?" Sky whispered hopefully.
Sven nodded, "Ja, come vith me, I vant to talk to you before you go in dere."
As Sven walked Sky toward the room, Erik was mentally preparing himself to see Sky. His heart pounded in his ears as he thought of her and her reaction. He knew he must look horrible, he didn't want Sky to see him in this condition. His head was foggy from the medication, slowing his thinking process and reaction time. Maybe this was all a horrible dream, he would wake up, safe and sound, and whole in the bed at Alexander's house.
He brought his hand up, brushing his fingers over his exposed skin and the thick bandages that covered the majority of his face. Without a mirror handy, he could only imagine how bad he looked. But how could he stop his father from bringing her in here? Maybe if they thought he was asleep they would…
His thoughts were interrupted when he heard the door open and the slow footfalls of his fiancée. He heard her quiet gasp and he closed his eye.
Sky found her feet stuck to the floor as she looked at Erik. From this angle, all she could see were bandages. He was hurt, badly. She was finding it very hard to breathe, to think. What was she supposed to say? What was she supposed to do?
Her mind was made up for her when she saw him raise his hand and waggle his fingers at her.
A sob tore from her throat as she hurried to his bedside. "Oh, Erik, oh honey," Sky clasped his hand in both of hers as her words came out in rushed gasps. "Oh, baby, I am so, so sorry this happened. But you're going to be okay, they said with rest you'll get better. I just…I was never so scared before in my life, Erik, there were about four hours last night when we didn't know what was wrong or what had happened to you. I kept imagining the doctor was going to come out and tell us you…you…you didn't make it. Oh, Erik, I am so proud of you. I am so happy you're going to be okay. Oh, honey, I love you so much."
He listened to her blubber and gasp and cry, tears coursed down her cheeks as she rubbed his hand between hers. He wanted to calm her, to soothe her, to tell her everything would be all right, but he couldn't.
Sky stopped to take a breath and noticed the corner of Erik's mouth twitching, like he was trying to speak. She leaned closer, "Don't try to talk if it hurts, honey, I want to help you. What do you need? Are you thirsty? Should I get a nurse?"
He licked his lips and worked his mouth.
She leaned closer, bringing her ear so close she could feel his breath as he whispered.
"L…love you."
Raising her head slowly, Sky smiled through her tears. "I love you too, Erik," she gently touched her lips to his cheek. "So much."
Declan looked up at the shining palace that was his home. The Castle of Lions. To everyone else it was an impressive structure, beautiful and intimidating. To him it was home.
He had gone on a walk, hoping to clear his mind. Winding his way around the lake, through a couple of paths in the woods and found himself behind the castle. Was he ready to take over flying Black? Would he fly her permanently or just until Erik could fly again? Was he really ready to give up Blue? And what about Blue? If he didn't fly her, who would? He couldn't hand her over to just anyone.
Frustrated, he ran his hands through his hair and looked around, trying to find another way out. His communicator beeped and he groaned, unclipping it from his belt. "Whitaker."
"Dec, where are you?" Brina asked, worriedly.
"I went for a walk," he replied brusquely.
"Dec, I'm worried about you. Come on, I'm off this evening, let's go to the café, get something to eat and talk."
"I'm really not in the mood, Brin."
She licked her lips nervously, "Something's wrong and I hate that you won't tell me what it is. Did I do something?" Brina narrowed her eyes as she glared at his small image in her communicator, "Is there another woman? Because if you think you can…"
"Geez, Brina," he interrupted sharply. "There is not another woman. I have a lot on my mind and it has nothing to do with you. The whole world doesn't revolve around you, you know."
As soon as the words left his mouth, he regretted them. He was stressing out and he had no right to take it out on her. The hurt look that crossed Brina's beautiful features was like a slap across his face.
"Brin, I'm sorry, I just…"
"No," she interrupted, her voice tight. "I tried to get through to you, I wanted to help, but you obviously don't need me. The great Declan Whitaker can handle it all by himself, he can do it all, including being a total jackass."
Before he could respond, the connection was cut off. Declan immediately tried dialing her up again, but she ignored him.
"I don't need this right now," he grumbled, turning to jog back to the castle.
"Declan James."
He stopped and let his chin drop to his chest in defeat. Standing just outside the side door he was heading to was his godfather, his father's best friend. Why was it that when you most wanted to be left alone, everyone seemed to come out of the woodwork with the soul purpose of talking to you and driving you nuts?
"Uncle Lance."
Lance leaned against the wall of the castle, watching the young pilot slow to a walk as he approached. Gideon and Brina had not been the only ones to notice Declan's behavior over the past couple of days, and they weren't the only ones worried about him.
"What's on your mind, Dec?"
He shrugged.
"Something is on your mind," Lance continued. "You haven't been your normal obnoxious self, we're all worried about you and, well, we're sick of this attitude you've developed."
Declan rolled his eyes.
"What is it?"
Realizing that he wanted to talk to someone, Declan looked up at him, "Do you think Erik will be able to fly again?"
Lance shrugged, "I don't know, son, we won't know until he's better and exhausted all medical avenues. I know he will want to fly again, it's all a matter of whether he can or not. Is that what this is all about? We're all worried about Erik."
"Some strange things have been happening."
"Like what?"
Declan ran his hands through his hair, causing it to stand up in untidy spikes, "Like…like, it all started the other day, Blue wasn't flying right, something was wrong. So I asked Hunk to check her out and he could find nothing wrong. I didn't know what it was, but I knew something wasn't right. Then, last night, I had a dream."
Lance laid a reassuring hand on his shoulder, "What was it about?"
"I…I got a calling, from Black."
Lance's eyes widened, "Are you sure?"
Declan nodded, miserably.
"And you don't want to be Black's pilot?"
"I don't know. I don't know what to think. I'm not ready to give up flying Blue, I don't think I'm ready to lead the Force."
"Well, Dec, no one is going to force you. If you don't feel you are up for the challenge, you don't have to do it," Lance assured him. "You wouldn't go into it unprepared any way. If you do pursue this, your father and the rest of us would work with you to make sure you are ready, you are prepared. Black wouldn't choose you if she didn't think you were the right one for the job."
"I know," he sighed. "But, it's like, by accepting this, it would be like saying that Erik will definitely never fly again."
"We don't know that for sure."
"And who would fly Blue? I mean, I can't just let someone take her over."
"I know."
Declan looked up at him, "Why me, Uncle Lance? Gideon would be a better choice. Or what about Sky? She is the second-in-command."
"Because Black thinks you're the best choice. You have your father's mind of military tactics and leadership. Now that's not saying Gideon or Sky couldn't do it, but she thinks you're the best choice of the three."
"But Erik is Black's pilot."
"Yes, he is, but he was also injured and may not be able to fly again, and if that is the case, then Black needs a new pilot."
Declan pinched the bridge of his nose and groaned.
"Look, Declan," Lance slid his arm around the young man's shoulders. "You need to take it easy on yourself. I know this is a stressful situation for you, don't try to take it all on yourself alone. If you ever need to talk, you can come to me anytime. I'm sure your father will be home soon and you can sit down and talk to him about your dream. Until then, relax, take it easy. We won't ever force you to do anything you weren't comfortable with."
"I know, thanks Uncle Lance."
"I mean it, Dec, you're not alone. All you're doing is making yourself sick with nerves and making your girlfriend worry about you. Try not to worry too much about this, we still don't have all the details on Erik's condition. This might all just be stemming from your worry about him."
"I guess I was just surprised to have the dream, I just assumed Erik would come back and take over flying again."
"Maybe you should go see Black," Lance suggested.
"I was thinking about doing that."
"Take a little time and do that, see what happens."
Declan nodded, "Thanks, Uncle Lance, I'll do that, but first, I have a rather angry girlfriend to see to."
"You took your stress out on her, didn't you?"
The young pilot blushed slightly and shrugged.
Lance smacked him upside the head, "You're an idiot, Dec. Go, grovel and beg her forgiveness."
"That's the plan," Declan nodded to him and entered the castle. He took a deep breath and tried to smooth his hair down as he made his way to the Voltron Force's wing. When he knocked on Brina's door, he didn't really expect her to answer.
But she did. The door slid open and she glared at him, her hands on her hips and her lips set in a straight line.
"Brina."
"Yes?"
"I, uh," he hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm sorry, Brin, I was a jerk."
"Was?"
"Okay, I am a jerk and I am really, really sorry," he raised his eyes to hers, seeing her hardened expression start to soften. "Can we talk, please?"
"Only if you promise to tell me what has had you so…distracted lately," she replied softly.
Declan nodded.
Brina stepped aside to allow him entrance into her room. She watched as he walked in and looked around as though he had never been in the room before. He walked over to her desk and picked up the picture of her and her family taken at Christmas a couple of years earlier. "Declan."
He turned to face her, setting the frame back on the desk and rubbing his hand on his thighs. "Yeah, um, I don't know where to begin. I haven't even spoken to Gid about this, I just talked to Uncle Lance, but then he kind of made me tell him what's going on. I just didn't know who to talk to or what to do. I wanted to talk to my Dad, but, well, he's a little preoccupied with other things at the moment, I mean, there is so much going on with Erik and Cady, the last thing he needs to do is worry about something I have no control over…"
"Declan," she interrupted. "What is going on?"
"I…I got a calling. From Black."
Her eyes widened and she took a step closer to him. "What?"
"I had a dream, about Black, it was a calling. And Blue has been acting strangely, like she wasn't listening to me and…it scared me, Brin. I had the dream before we heard about Erik and I…I thought it meant he was dead. Now that I know he's going to live, I couldn't imagine taking Black away from him."
"But if he can't see, then he can't fly."
"I never wanted to lead the Voltron Force," he admitted quietly. "I just wanted to fly."
"But if you got your calling…"
"I know, I can't turn my back on the Force or my planet. But I don't to give up flying Blue and I don't want to take Black away from Erik."
"Honey," she stepped closer and wrapped her arms around his waist. "You don't have to keep things like this all to yourself, I can only imagine how stressful this has been for you. Why wouldn't you come and talk to me?"
"I just," he hesitated, wrapping an arm around her. "I just didn't want to burden anyone, especially you, with this."
"Dec, you are never a burden to me. What worries you, worries me. What scares you, scares me. What makes you happy, makes me happy. I don't want you to think you ever have try and shield me from anything in your life. If we're going to be together, I want us to be able to share everything. I was really worried about you, so was Gideon. If you had just told us, we could have helped you work through it."
"Work through it?" He asked. "Work through it. Brin, I just found out that I am next in line to command the Voltron Force. I don't even know what to think. I'm not ready to command anyone, let alone the most powerful military Force in the known universes."
She tilted her head back to look up at him, "You sound like you have to do this all alone. You have the Force to work with you as well as your father and the original Force. If this is what you are meant to do, then we will all help you face your destiny."
"But…" Declan's voice cracked. "I guess, uh, I guess this means Erik really isn't coming back."
"I don't know, hon, I mean, he is going to come back, I'm sure that once he is back on his feet he will work with you. Erik will always be our friend, he's family, he will always be a part of our lives. Maybe you were called to Blue as a way to prepare to one day take over Black."
"But Red was always the second-in-command, if that were true, wouldn't I have received my calling from Red?"
Brina chewed on her lower lip a moment, "But, Dec, wasn't Sven originally the second-in-command before he was injured?"
He considered that a moment before asking quietly, "What if I give a wrong command and something happens to Sky? Or Gideon? Or…you?"
"What if you don't? What if you become a commander to rival your father's reputation?"
"The whole idea of flying Black, commanding the Force, it terrifies me."
"It would intimidate anyone, Dec."
"You really think I can do this?" He asked, nervously.
"Of course I do," she replied, stepping out of his embrace. "So stop whining and accept your destiny."
"Thanks for the support, Brin."
"Oh, come off it, Declan, you've had us all so worried about you. But you have to know that we would all support and help you in any way we can."
"I know."
"So stop your brooding and grow up."
"I don't know what I ever did to deserve such a supportive girlfriend," he mumbled sarcastically.
"Keep this up and you won't have any girlfriend," she replied, taking his face in her hands. "Have you slept at all?"
"A couple of hours."
"Are you on duty tonight?"
"I was on earlier."
"Why don't you take a nap?"
"I'm really not tired."
"Declan…"
"Really, I'm fine. I should probably go talk to Gideon."
Brina put her hands on her hips and studied him. A slow smile spread across her lips as she cocked her hip and brushed her hair back from her face, lowering her voice she whispered, "What do I have to do to get you in bed?"
Declan cracked the first smile he had shown in days as he leaned down and kissed her, "I love you, beautiful, but I have to go mend bridges with my brother first."
"Yeah, I guess you should. He's been pretty worried."
"I guess I haven't been very pleasant, have I?"
"No."
"Now see, Brina, that's where you're supposed to say 'Oh no, Declan, darling, you've been just as wonderful as ever'."
"I don't think I've ever called you darling."
"I think you should start."
Smiling, Brina raised up on her toes and brushed her lips over his, "Let's get together after dinner."
"Yes, let's," he agreed before giving her one last quick peck before leaving to find and apologize to his brother.
Romelle shifted uncomfortably in the hard chair. Sky had been in with her son for nearly twenty minutes now. Why didn't he want to see me? She thought. What is taking Sky so long? I want to see him too.
Sven took his wife's hand in his and squeezed gently.
"I can't just sit here," she whispered to him. "I want to see him."
"I know, but ve need to allow him time vith Sky. She is his fiancée now."
Romelle sighed heavily, "When did our baby grow up?"
"Vhen ve veren't looking."
Cady looked down, noticing the way Tristan kept running his thumb over her knuckles. He sat on her left side and had wrapped her small hand in his larger one, his thumb moving back and forth over her knuckles. "Let's go for a walk," she whispered, tugging on his hand.
They quietly left the waiting room and moved through the hushed hallways of the hospital.
"You're wondering where my ring is," she said.
"Well…yeah," Tristan admitted.
"When I woke up this morning, the first thing I did was hold up my hand and study the ring. I was so excited. Then I really got to thinking," she explained as they walked through the main entrance and out into the cool morning air. "My getting engaged is a big deal. The press will have to be alerted, there will be at least two balls to announce it and officially introduce you, and the wedding itself will be a large affair. I am going to be the Queen of Arus some day and you'll be the prince consort. This is huge."
Tristan nodded, "And this is probably the worst possible time for it to be announced."
Cady smiled softly and nodded, "Don't get me wrong, sweetie, any time you propose to me is the best time of my life, it's just that I think we should hold off on the announcement until Erik is back on his feet."
"And I talk to your father."
"He would appreciate that."
Tristan smiled down at her, "So we're secretly engaged?"
"Yup. That sounds so romantic, doesn't it?"
"Can I ask what you did with the ring?"
Cady reached beneath her blouse and pulled out the chain around her neck. Dangling beside the locket her parents gave her for her birthday a few years earlier was the diamond ring he gave her. "I am never taking it off, even if I'm wearing it around my neck."
Tristan's cell phone vibrated on his belt. He unclipped it and checked the caller I.D. "It's my mother. They just left fifteen minutes ago, I wonder what happened." He hit the button and brought the phone to his ear, "Hello?"
Cady watched the expression on his face harden as he spoke to his mother.
"When did they say they'd come by…uh huh…okay, that's fine, I'll talk to Keith…we'll probably be home soon...tell the press you have no comment…Keith and Sven said they would make a statement as soon as they had more information…yeah, you can tell them that…uh huh…I know…okay, tell them we'll be there in an hour…okay…bye, Mother."
"What's going on?" Cady asked when he switched off the phone.
"The police called saying they would like to interview you. My father told them you would only speak with them at our house, the press would be at the station. So they're sending two investigators to our house in about an hour."
"And the press?"
"They've called a couple of times, we're giving no comment until Sven and your father gives them a statement."
She nodded, "All right, we need to go tell my parents about the police interview."
